Timaya Recalls Selling His First Album ‘True Story’ for ₦500,000: “It Was a Big Opportunity”
Nigerian Dancehall legend Timaya has shared the story of how he kickstarted his music career with a humble but life-changing deal. Speaking on the Afrobeats Intelligence podcast with Joey Akan, the veteran artist revealed that he sold his debut album True Story for just ₦500,000 to a marketer at the popular Alaba International Market.
At the time, Timaya was still an up-and-coming artist looking for a breakthrough in the competitive Lagos music scene. According to him, the offer came as a major opportunity to get his foot in the door.
The album, released in 2007, would go on to become a massive hit. With songs like Timaya, True Story, Dem Mama, and Ogologoma, the project quickly established the Bayelsa-born artist as a rising star in Nigerian music. Its success caught the attention of the marketer, who later rewarded Timaya with an additional ₦7 million to fund music videos—and even gifted him a car.
“He gave me 7 million naira for the music video, paid for the videos, and even bought me a car… He called me a good market,” Timaya said, reflecting on the unexpected commercial success of True Story.
Riding the momentum of his debut, Timaya went on to record his second album Gift and Grace, which cemented his position in the industry. He revealed that while initial offers hovered around ₦10 million, he ultimately sold the album for ₦24 million to Abu Ventures—making him one of the highest-paid artists at the time.
“I was being priced at 10 million by the first marketer, then Abu Ventures came and offered to buy the album. He ended up paying 24 million for the album. At that point, only 2Baba, P-Square, and D’banj were paid that kind of money,” he said.
The massive payout inspired Timaya to record his hit single I Don Blow, a celebratory anthem marking his rise from the streets to stardom.
With nearly two decades in the Nigerian music industry, Timaya has become one of the country’s most iconic music figures. His distinctive blend of Dancehall, Highlife, and hip-hop has produced a catalogue of street anthems that continue to resonate with fans across generations.
From earning ₦500,000 for his first album to becoming a household name in African music, Timaya’s journey remains one of the most inspiring success stories in the industry.
