A shock because Project fame has churned out ace entertainers like Praiz, Chidinma, and Iyanya and they are all doing well in the Nigerian entertainment industry.
So what could have happened to Olawale?
In a chat with Punch' Saturday Beats, the singer said that he turned to cab driving to support his music career and he was quick to dismiss notions that he squandered the N5m prize money he got in the music competition.
Olawale said, “It is very true that I am a cab driver. Everybody knows that money finishes, especially when you are in an industry where you have to pay for virtually everything. To promote your songs, you need money. When I completed the Project Fame competition, I released some songs, even after the one year contract I had with them expired. To release all those songs cost me money; it is not as if I won N200m. There were some other personal things I spent my money on.
“I have a video that tells my story and I mentioned a lot of things I faced in the song, titled, ‘Blessing’. There are so many things I cannot outline word for word. I did not spend the money lavishly and there are a lot of things people do not know. I went back to school and that is something a lot of people do not know. When I was in 400 Level, I had some challenges but at the end of the day, I completed it and had my national youth service in 2017.”
“I resorted to driving cabs because a white collar job would not give me time to face my music career. At a point, I thought about how I could support my music career while working; I thought about jobs that would allow me to have time for my studio session and do what I love doing without being tied down under someone’s employment.
“That is why I resorted to driving cabs. If I take up a white collar job, I would be in the office from 9am to 5pm and I would not have time for music anymore, which is what I have a passion for. Music is what I love doing,” he said.
Olawale said that he often picked people who knew that he was once a winner of the Project Fame competition, but that the situation never made him feel embarrassed about his job. He added that he often played his new songs for his passengers, just for them to know that he was keeping his dream alive.
The singer said, “I have never felt embarrassed about being a cab driver and that is the truth. I have grown past that stage where I would feel embarrassed about what I do to earn a living. As far as you are not feeding me, why would I feel embarrassed or be concerned about your opinion of me?
“Most times, when people order for my service and see me as the driver, they ask if I am the Olawale that won Project Fame and I let them know that I am the one. Most of them ask if I am still doing music and I reply in the affirmative; then, I play my latest songs for them to enjoy while I am driving.
“This is just to let them know that I have not stopped doing music. I make them realise that since music is not putting food on the table right now, I have to find another source of income so that I can eat. Being a Project Fame winner does not stop you from being hungry or in need of basic things of life, like every other person. I have to do what I have to do to survive.”
*Whatver rocks your boat young man
Money doesn't finish when you have to pay for everything, money finishes when you don't have backup plans.
ReplyDeleteAlways draw out a plan before you hit it big and stick to the plans.
A man of Dignity will do an honourable job to see himself tru life.
DeleteStella u r judgmental, even if he squandered it,which I doubt, he still put shame behind him and is doing something good. I
Still ask pple who has a different opinion this questions, What will it take dis young man to join a bad group for a quick cash? Fuck married women for cash? Do rituals for cash and what have u? Absolutely nothing
He held his head up and put shame to SHAME!!! Taxi driving is a lucrative job, it allows u meet pple . all he needs is encouragement, what's d difference bw his story and d actor Nikky Minaji helped?
He is right. Money finishes when you have to pay for everything. Back up plan? You can have that and it would still finish . As long as the source of income isn’t steady it will finish ( in his case, source was the money Given to him which he used to pay up for his needs) he said what he said and he knows what he said.
DeleteThere’s dignity in labour! with proper planning and Gods favour, he will come out of whatever it is.
Put the shame to SHAME, indeed! Nice one.
DeleteNah Olawale, money finishes when you don't invest wisely, don't have enough talent and don't know your way around the music industry
ReplyDeleteErrr, I don't think Talent was the issue as he clearly won a well recognised music show.
Deletecritique na your way! your life aint better anyways
DeleteSince he's a graduate, I think the best thing for him is to look for a job and forget about music, music may not be his calling
ReplyDeleteIt is well with you
ReplyDeleteWhat's the difference between this case and the american actor who was job shamed?
ReplyDeleteHe's making a honest living and not being a nuisance to the society.
Keep you head up Olawale. Better days are ahead.
With the money he went back to school, wise decision my dear! Quality Education is very expensive in Nigeria.
ReplyDeleteJust Krix!
May God bless your hustle Olawale
ReplyDeleteI like your Fuji voice then
Surviving and thriving in Nigeria is grace
As long as it's legit, no shame in owning your job jare. Better than those faking it up and down to keep up with the jonesses
ReplyDeleteTrue talk.
DeleteNo shame in labour my dear. Better to be a cab driver than to be a robber.
ReplyDeleteWálé, if you'll be honest with yourself, you know deep down that you squandered that price money.
ReplyDeleteYour pride after the show suddenly went to Harvard and graduated with honors.
There are testimonies of how you went about school, smoking all the smokables and gallivanting with no do gooders.
For a boy who hustled slightly hard before the fame, trading in mobile phones and all you could lay your hands on at the time, you honestly can't tell me paying bills is what got you in this current position.
5million naira at a time when there was no recession yet? My dear you had no plans.
Sadly, you still seem to be rolling with a tiny bit of the crowd that refused to tell you the truth in time past.
Má go ara ẹ Ogbeni. The kind of music you produce up till now is barely there. Does no justice to your vocal dexterity, is not unique, and can hardly retain the attention of any producer looking to make profit.
Go back to your drawing board and plan your life better.
May God bless all your endeavors.
Wawu!
DeleteYou have spoken wisely.
DeleteI was at a wedding when he was invited to perform, and guess what! He started playing his boring songs. Didn’t even flow with the crowd. The couples were as bored as hell, and he continued with his boring flow.
Olawale needs training. He has got a musical voice but isn’t a stage performer
NICE ONE OLAWALE GOD WILL UPLIFT U. AS LONG AS YOU ARE DOING SOMETHING LEGIT BETTER DAYS AHEAD.. GOD WILL USE SOMEONE TO CHANGE YOUR STORY...
ReplyDeleteGod will help u
ReplyDeleteOlawale is a good singer but not a marketable singer..i could remember Ty mix always criticizing immaculate telling her that she is shouts too much while singing,but later told the girl that she will be a marketable singer..ige was there advising Olawale not to let the industry Change him.especially his genres of music.now see where the guy ended up. Money is important bro olawale.follow your brothers sing shaku shaku and robo ske ske you will blow ..seee chidinma she changed from project fame type of music to what the industry wants..who blues help for hungry nation like Nigeria.we love shit hole musics because we are a shit hole country
ReplyDelete5million in Nigerian economy will not go far. And especially if he is not even sought after to work with other musicians in the industry. I commend his work and I hope he makes it.
ReplyDelete5m in 2013 was a whole lot of money.
DeleteBetter days ahead Olawale.. Nice one.
ReplyDeleteAnon 12:02, I'm guessing you're a fellow alumnus of Lautech because you're absolutely right.
ReplyDelete👌🏾 Yes I am.
DeleteI think he didnt have good advisers and he didnt follow the right crowd.
ReplyDeleteThere is dignity in a labour.
For your music to blow, you have to sing the kind of meaningless songs that are trending now.
I think he didnt have good advisers and he didnt follow the right crowd.
ReplyDeleteThere is dignity in labour.
For your music to blow, you have to sing the kind of meaningless songs that are trending now.
You are not into yahoo+, drug pushing or ass marketing. Be proud of your hustle. I have big love and respect for those who find dignity in honest labour. May God take you higher.
ReplyDeleteSeconded!
DeleteIt is well ......one day ground go level for you
ReplyDeleteI voted for Omolayo that year..... I cried when he didn't win
ReplyDeleteCry Baby You had excess tears to waste that year.
DeleteTo be truthful he lack talent and never deserve that winning. But becos he sang yoruba song he won. See am now lolz
ReplyDeleteI wish you well Olawale
ReplyDeleteThe gospel truth here is that he didn't manage the money well, he never utilised the platform he was offered.
ReplyDelete1. He was too young and left out in the cold entertainment industry where the "brotherhood" determines who climbs what stage.
2. His genre was basically juju music which was not selling anymore in Nigeria, if not one collabo with Shina Peters and he would be made.
3. He failed to work with his benefactors. Secular music with autotunes is selling faster because Nigerians just wish to feel the hype and "dance away their sorrow" for now.
Know that the only 2 nightlife musicians in Nigeria are Flavor Na Abania and Mr Sunny Neji. When they wanted to "bury" Flavor's career he flew to West Africa to run his things on a good low.
Olawale when the odds were against you, why didn't you leave "ibadan gees" out of your circle and branch out? Or leave that useless Ikeja circle where your group live lavishly on a daily?
Ride on with your Cab business but know that this is a Smear on MTN NIGERIA as a Brand. They won't forgive you.
This is one if the reasons most reality tv shows are off the screen;
MTN Project Fame
Glo Naija Sings
Nokia One Chance
The Voice
Nigerian Idol
Gulder Ultimate Search
The Next Movie Star
And many others.
This is September, none for this year
#pity
*highlife musicians
DeleteOnye Omam😘
Delete