Nigerian Afrobeats singer, Zinoleesky, has revealed that he ran away from home at a young age to pursue a career in music.
In a recent interview with SB Live, the ‘Kilofeshe’ crooner said he faced strong resistance from his parents, who preferred he study a professional course or learn a trade, instead of going into entertainment.
“Nigerian parents are always in denial when you want to do stuff like music. They want you to study something serious,” he said. “Me, I did some crazy stuff. I ran away from home to do music.”
Zinoleesky, whose real name is Oniyide Azeez, said he started out as a rapper before switching to singing. He became popular in 2017 after several of his freestyle videos went viral online.
The singer later signed with Naira Marley’s Marlian Music in 2019, turning down an earlier offer from Davido’s DMW, according to reports at the time.
He gained fame with his debut EP Chrome Eccentric, which includes hits like ‘Ma Pariwo’ and ‘Kilofeshe’. Today, Zinoleesky is considered one of the leading voices of the new generation in Nigeria’s Afrobeats scene.