On the December cover of Media Room Hub magazine is BBNaija 2020 winner, rapper, songwriter, and the Icons’ President, Olamilekan Agbeleshe, popularly known as Laycon.
Describing Laycon, here’s what the magazine says about him:
If you watched the show, you probably won’t be surprised at the end results seeing how bright the 27-year-old was. Perhaps, why he was also loved and voted for the most. Being one of the most sought-after stars ideals for all sorts of endorsements, the rap act has achieved quite a lot for himself already.
… The Icons’ president was named the ambassador for youth in Ogun State, awarded a cash prize of 5 million naira and an apartment by the State governor. Also, he is the first BBNaija star to become an Oppo Nigeria brand ambassador.
Laycon didn’t stop there as he also signed endorsement deals with Origin Nigeria, GOTV Nigeria and Mentos Nigeria amongst others. At the moment, Laycon is shooting his first originals on showmax titled, “I AM LAYCON.”
Safe to say BBNaija has opened more doors for young Nigerians to thrive in their various endeavours in recent years than their government.
In this interview with MRH, the star opens up on his creative process, most memorable moment on stage, his take on the aftermath of the peaceful EndSARS protest, relationship status, future plans and more.
Read excerpts from the interview below:
On his EP garnering over a million streams on Boomplay recently:
Honestly, when I put out Who Is Laycon, I had no idea it’ll go that far. I mean, I knew that the songs were great but going into the house and returning to see the numbers it has done is crazy. However, there’s something about the Boomplay one million streams because it was deliberate. The album really went from 800k+ to over a million in two days because Icons did that. They said they wanted to reach that milestone for me. Honestly, I feel loved, appreciated, I feel these people have my back, I feel they want the best for me because as an artist, every other thing comes from the music and now, I believe they’re getting to see me as an artist much more than anything else. That’s definitely something I don’t take for granted.
On the story behind that his hit single “Fierce”
“Fierce” was created courtesy of the record label that I’m signed to, Fierce Nation. While making the song, it was what I had at the fore. The song entails going for what you want regardless of whatever odds, ensuring that you have a goal and pursuing that goal with all energy, aggressiveness. That was really what I had in mind while creating the record. That’s about my kind of mentality which I want to extend to people. When I sang sho re pe bayi, shey wan bami soro…, I was implying that you can’t come at me just anyhow because I’ve got people around that’ll go all the way out for me and as people have seen, the people in my corner, team etc. It also feels like a prophecy because now I have fans who have my back, who’ll go all out for me.
On the likelihood of a Laycon and Vee collaboration in the future
Definitely. There’s an existing synergy and I’m certain about this. We’ve had sessions already and we’re still working. You guys should expect things from myself and Vee. The type of record is what I can’t say at the moment because I don’t like to put a cap on how we express ourselves. Today, we might feel like expressing through R&B, tomorrow might be HipHop, Fuji etc. That’s how it works for me and also, we have to find a balance with our individual type of sound because the whole point is to make quality music and make people enjoy the music.
On what he misses about the BBNaija house
I miss the tasks, the fact that we don’t know what’s going on outside. If I had known about a lot of things going on outside, I feel y’all wouldn’t have enjoyed the whole process and I’m not sure I would have too. I miss the intrigue about people watching you without having an idea what they think about you out there. I miss the early morning alarm, the bonding, the free time we had to relax and cruise. I miss the Saturday night parties and my time with the housemates too because it was just us, without other people influencing how we related with each other.
OdumoduBlvck recently praised Mavin Records founder Don Jazzy in an interview with Beats FM.
The rapper discussed his latest project, “Nothing Changed,” a collaborative effort with the Anti-World Gangsters crew. The album features Don Jazzy on the track “Asampete.”
OdumoduBlvck revealed that after recording “Asampete,” he felt the song would benefit from Don Jazzy’s contribution. When approached, Don Jazzy readily agreed to the request.
During their meeting, Don Jazzy not only added his vocals to the song but also surprised OdumoduBlvck with a generous gift of $10,000.
Impressively, Don Jazzy declined any royalties for his contribution to the track.
“When I went to his house to get his vocals, he gave me $10,000 and even my friend was asking me why he gave me such a huge amount of money,” he narrated in the interview.
OdumoduBlvck further praised Don Jazzy, describing him as the most original personality in the Nigerian music industry and a true icon.
“There’s nobody more original than Don Jazzy…The way the younger artists look up to Burna Boy, Davido, Wizkid, and Olamide today is how they used to look up to Don Jazzy”.
OdumoduBlvck’s praise for Don Jazzy’s generosity and influence on the Nigerian music industry echoes sentiments expressed by numerous artists whose careers have been shaped by the Mavin Records boss.
Four-time Grammy nominee Davido has credited Don Jazzy and D’banj’s flamboyant lifestyle for inspiring him to relocate to Nigeria and pursue his musical aspirations.
Don Jazzy’s philanthropic endeavours also continue to make headlines. Recently, he donated a substantial sum of 100 million naira to Very Dark Man’s charity.
Nigerian actress and evangelist Eucharia Anunobi shared a compelling message about self-empowerment through her Instagram platform on December 19, 2024.
The Nollywood veteran directly addressed her followers in a social media post, urging them to break free from seeking external validation.
Anunobi, known for her influential roles in the Nigerian film industry, stressed that individuals should cultivate a strong sense of self-worth independent of others’ opinions.
The acclaimed actress articulated that personal growth and fulfilment stem from embracing one’s authentic self rather than conforming to societal expectations or public judgment.
In the video posted, Eucharia Anunobi enquired, “Why do you want everyone to like you? Even ice cream isn’t liked by everyone, come on.”Her post caption read,
“Seeking to be liked by all is a sign that you are emotionally and spiritually imbalanced! Some people will hate you because to hate is what gives them joy!! Because they are genetically wicked!!! So get used to not being liked!!!!1 John 5:19.”
The actress’s post ignited a flurry of reactions in her comment section, with followers expressing support and sharing their personal reflections.
Actress Sola Sobowale commented simply, “Fact.”
Other followers shared their thoughts, with one writing, “Anyone who is always seeking validation from the public whenever he or she does something, just know say that person no clear 💯.”
“Caring what people think about you is natural. Letting it drive your behaviours and keep you from doing things you believe in is usually a sign of,” said another person.
Another Instagram user shed more light on the issue, saying,
“codependency conditioning. The core belief in codependency is: what people think of me defines what I think of me. My mother always said, “Your opinion of me is none of my business.” It can get real exhausting perceiving yourself through the eyes of others. No matter how pure your intention, you cannot control how people receive you. Give others the freedom to perceive you as they wish, for it’s merely a reflection of themselves and not your reality. Never mind who sees you. Do you see you?”
“I don’t like people who wanna be liked by everyone, just do you and move on,”
“Thisss ,it’s okay to be a bad person in another persons story ,Only God is PERFECT 👍”
Former BBNaija star and content creator Elozonam revealed how Nigeria’s “japa” syndrome—where individuals emigrate in search of better opportunities abroad—has impacted his personal relationships, especially with friends and family.
During a conversation on the Uncoloured Podcast, hosted by fellow BBNaija alum Venita, Elozonam candidly shared how his twin brother’s relocation has significantly altered their once-close dynamic.
“For my twin brother and I, being twins, we naturally used to argue a lot,” Elozonam said. “But after he left, there was nothing to fight about. Now I have to consciously reach out to him because there are days or weeks when I don’t hear from him. It’s frustrating, but I understand that everyone has to do what they need to survive and build a better life.”
Elozonam reflected on how the japa wave has reshaped his social circle. He traced the trend back to 2018 when his former boss moved abroad with his family.
“That seemed to open the floodgates,” he said. “Since then, people have been leaving one after the other. It’s exhausting. You become hesitant to form new friendships because you don’t know if they’ll just up and leave tomorrow.”
He expressed deep frustration about Nigeria’s deteriorating economy and infrastructure. He acknowledged that unemployment, insecurity, and poor living conditions push many Nigerians to seek better opportunities in other countries.
“Between 2018 and 2024, I’ve seen so many people leave. Nigeria isn’t improving, and everyone wants a better future. It’s hard to blame them, but it’s also hard for those of us left behind.”
Watch the interview below.
“…you’re now too wary of making new friends. Nigeria is not getting any better. We all know this”
Elozonam speaks about living in a different country from his twin brother and the downsides of japa. pic.twitter.com/zc7KMuLcdX