By Ata Ukuta
When the Grammy and Oscar-winning songstress Lady Gaga was making the entertainment world go gaga during the early years of her career with her crazy outfits and videos, many called her different names from demon-possessed to Jezebel’s incarnate. Today, we are having a somewhat similar phenomenon in Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable Zazu. Portable, is the fast-rising Yoruba rapper who some can call an overnight success. But unknown to many he has been creating music for about ten years before his breakthrough in the last quarter of 2021. The report making the round is that he hails from Ogun State and was born on the 12th of March 1994 to Mr. and Mrs. Okikiola. While in secondary school, Portable became interested in rap music from American top rappers like Dr. Dre, Tupac Shakur, The Notorious B.I.G, and Snoop Dogg.
This interest in rap music flourished and metamorphosed into something more doable with the successes of Yoruba rapping greats like Dagrin, Lord of Ajasa, Olamide, QDot, and CDQ among others. Portable moved to Lagos to promote his musical career and tried producing several songs which did not become hits. His big break in music happened when a blogger, Don Blue, used ‘Zazu Zeh’ as a soundtrack on a post that went viral in the Southwest and got the attention of one of Nigeria’s top rappers and record label owner – Olamide. His recent meteoric rise that has seen him perform alongside Nigerian greats like Wizkid, Tiwa Savage, and Comedian AY, can be credited in part to the success of his debut single ‘Zazoo Zeh,’ featuring award-winning singer, Olamide and dancer Poco Lee. Portable is presently on tour in the UK with plans for a US tour already in the works.
This fairy-tale rise to the top has gotten many to ask how can I become the next Portable in whatever career I chose to pursue? The answer lies in what is common to most successful people in the world. I believe it starts from the discovery of what they are good or great at. This can be in computer programming as is the case of many in the Forbes’ top ten richest people in the world. Or Sports like the first Sports billionaire Michael Jordan. Or Music with the likes of Kanye West, Rihana, and Jay Z their great influencer. Referencing the Parable of the Talent in the Bible, every man or woman has at least one talent. I believe this is our passport to greatness, happiness, wealth, and living a fulfilling life. Another equalling great quality of the truly successful is their ability to develop their raw talent from something good enough for family and friends to a gift that can be enjoyed in all corners of the world. However, the most important trait for success after discovering and developing your talent is discipline. If Portable can incorporate discipline into his habits and character, he stands the chance of becoming one of the greats in the Nigerian music industry.
Ata Ukuta, Editor – Towncryyers