I was charging ₦5,000 per beat before stardom” – Singer Flavour says

Chinedu Okoli, popularly known as Flavour, a leading figure in Nigerian high-life music, recently reflected on his modest beginnings in Enugu and his rise to stardom. 

In an episode of the *In My Opinion Podcast*, Flavour recounted his first professional experience, collaborating with rapper Nigga Raw, now known as Mr. Raw, where he played the piano in the studio. Driven by a passion for music production, Flavour approached Nigga Raw’s producer for lessons, paying a weekly fee of 1,000 naira to learn the craft.

Through dedication, Flavour honed his skills in music production, eventually reaching a stage where he could produce his own tracks and began charging artists 5,000 naira per beat. “I started doing jobs as a producer, and I charged 5,000 per beat,” he shared.

Flavour also recalled accompanying Nigga Raw, a prominent artist in Eastern Nigeria at the time, to various performances. His breakthrough moment came when he recorded a chorus for one of Nigga Raw’s tracks, which became highly popular in the region. This experience marked his first significant success and opened his eyes to the realities of being an artist, something he credited Nigga Raw for teaching him.

During the interview, Flavour discussed his internal debate between pursuing RnB and Highlife, ultimately deciding that Highlife Fusion was more rewarding, leading him to fully embrace the genre.