Zlatan Ibile: I was terrified the first time I recorded in music studio

Zlatan Ibile, the rapper, says he was terrified and fidgety the first he recorded music in a studio.

The music star was speaking about his career outset during an interview with Joey Akan, a music journalist.

Zlatan recalled how a church friend, who was a choir member, introduced him to secular music and a Lagos studio.

“I loved music because my dad is a pastor. I served in church and played drums. At home, a friend who was doing music asked me to listen to his song. I said I could do the same if he could make music,” the rapper narrated.

“I asked him to let me know anytime he was going to the studio. From Ikorodu, we went to Ketu and I was asked to record. My heartbeat was so loud, that it was getting to the mic. I was scared. I didn’t know what recording was like.

“I was fidgeting ad couldn’t bounce on the beat well. I was asked to go outside and relax for 30 minutes, and come back. I recorded the song, they gave me 8 bars. It was rap. I went back to the hood and played it.”

Zlatan, while recalling his humble beginning, spoke of how a lack of exposure nearly imperiled his career outlook.

“Growing up in an environment where you don’t get to see the Benz [and luxury], your dream is limited. You finish school and your parents can’t afford your university education. You work on borehole [drilling],” he added.

“My parents didn’t have so much. We never had cable TV until 16, 17. We never had a generator until a year before I left home. We didn’t have a flat-screen [TV]. My parents just made sure we attended a private school.

“There was nothing to inspire me. It was crazy. Entertainment for me was street football, playing catch-me-I -catch-you, arguing football. I wanted to play football. I wrote WAEC in 2011, failed, and retook the exam.

“I had to get the papers right and it took me three years. Olamide’s story was a ghetto story that motivated me.”