Nigerian musician Mr Eazi has revealed the defining moment that convinced him he had truly become a recognised artiste, recalling his first headline show in London in 2016.

Speaking in an interview with Brut, the singer recalled that his performance at O2 Kentish Town on July 22, 2016, completely changed how he viewed his music career after witnessing fans sing his songs word for word.

Mr Eazi said the overwhelming response from the London audience erased all his doubts about pursuing music full-time.

“I would say to the crowd, ‘I don’t know if you know this song,’ and point the microphone to them, and they would sing everything. That is when I said I am officially an artiste,” he added.

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According to Mr Eazi, he was still running his used mobile phone business in Lagos at the time and had deliberately kept his music career separate from his entrepreneurial ventures because he feared people would not take him seriously in business if they knew he was an artiste.

“I remember the first time I had a show in London, and I promoted the show myself at O2 Kentish Town. I came out and saw the crowd. July 22, 2016, that was the day I said, ‘From now, I am a musician,’” he recounted.

He explained that before that moment, he had been living “multiple lives,” balancing business with music while trying to keep the two worlds apart.

“There is even a video where I was speaking as an entrepreneur and promoting music on the side. I didn’t want anybody to know because I felt like if they knew I was a musician, they wouldn’t take me seriously in business,” he said.

“I officially declared myself a musician when I had my first show in London at the O2 Kentish Town. At the time I did the show, I was still doing my mobile phone business in Computer village. I didn't want people to know I was a musician because I thought they wouldn't take my… pic.twitter.com/AsPvsXbPQ9

— Proper9ja Boy (@Proper9jaboy) September 5, 2026