Mohbad's childhood friend is called Ibrahim, popularity known as Primeboy. They grew up as kids with their houses mere stone's throw away from each other at a dusty side of Ikorodu called Eletu.
Following the absence of Mohbad's mother from his life after she separated from Mohbad's father, Primebo's mother became a mother figure in Mohbad's life. He use to spend all his spare moments whilst nut in school, at church or at his father's carpentry workshop at Primeboy's Mom's shop who sells cooked rice and beans by the roadside or at their house.
Now, Primeboy was the one originally fanatically interested in becoming a music sensation from their childhood. He wasbthe one totally understand in the hip hop scene, followed developments and worked hard at being a hip hop singer.
Mohbad wasn't inclined to music but he was a multi instrumentalist. "I use to play some musical instruments like guitar, keyboard and drums but I didn't sing. I wasn't into sing. I thought I did not have a good singing voice... I thought I couldn't sing," Mohbad said in an interview to PlusTv .
But, he could dance well. He, alongside a few friends even firmed a little dance band which was performing at church programmes in the Ikorodu atea for stipends.
It was Primeboy who use to tell him he could sing, that he had a good voice and would be astonished if only he could try it. Mohbad disagreed. Around this time, he was admitted to Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, to study Accounting. He left for school.
Somewhere along the line, Mohbad capitulated to Primebo's badgering and started picking up.microphone to sing. He said he lacked confidence the first time he did but astonishingly, people lived and raced about how good his voice was. From then on, the die was cast.
But, there's a twist. He grew up in a church and his circle devout Christian friends especially the co dancers and his preacher cum choirmaster dad, would frown at his plunge into worldly hip hop.
So, he hid this interestf his bosom Christian and fellow dancer friend who was also his roommate at the polytechnic and his father. Soon, the friend, who was senior academically by year, left Mohbad behind for the one year internship in-between studies.
Upon getting this independence, Mohbad started performing at musical shows on campus.. Somehow, he became a regular performer at Lagos State University (LASU). LASU loved Mohbad, he fast became very popular in the school for his musical talent He met Omah Lay, Oxlade, Bella Schmurda among others as student hip hop performers during this period.
He and Bella quickly became fast friends and kindred spirits. They started hustling and scouring for musical shows and record deals together.
Soon, they decided to quit schooling for full- full time music. During Mohbad's trips to Lagos for musical shiws, he hibernated at Primeboy's mom's house. He dared not go to his father's house and leave from there for a worldly music concert. He hears his father's voice as he greeted Primeboy's mom as passes by and he dared not step out of the house in daytime lest his dad or someone close saw him.
When he abandoned schooling finally, he was living with Primeboy and.mom, practically stone's throw from his dad's house, who slaved and got loans to ensure he gets higher education. Old man suspected nothing, thought he was in school.
Mohbad was gaining acclaim in the underground circuit. Producers like wereLil' Kesh were showing interest in him.
But fatefully, Naira Marley, spotted him on a skit he said he posted online, spotted his talent and sent for him. Marley just floated Marlian Records and wanted fresh talents on his label. Though Mohbad was in talks with Kesh, he signed with Marley for he reasoned he had a bigger and more visible platform. He got signed on and instantly, became a huge sensation.
This all happened to a shy, then insecure Mohbad who thought he is not musically talented. Until his friend, Primeboy, gave him that confidence and pushed him to step up to the spotlight, pick the mic and sing.
Now, what happened to Primeboy who was the one who intensely had hip hop singing ambition from the start? His career never took off. Even when Mohbad was getting little gigs, Primeboy often got scant attention from show promoters. He lived with Mohbad at the start with him in Marlian mansion for a while and despite many push, Marley never signed him.
Gradually, resentment settled in. The life Mohbad had should have been his. He couldn't live down the cruel fate life dealt him. Jealousy reared its green-eyed self and the two hitherto close buddies from childhood started quarelling and fighting at the slightest whim.
Eventually, it created a strain. Primeboy kept getting setbacks whilst Mohbad was coghi g the limelight which often prod Primeboy to stubbornly continue seeking musical success. All to no avail. The competition Primeboy exhibited was plain for many close associated to see.
The strain exacerbated as time passed. Even when Mohbad released his independent EO after quitting Marlian Records, he didn't feature Primeboy. The only feature was from Bella Schmurda, his closest buddy and confidante. All these fuelled the fire.
But, they remained civil. Mohbad included Primeboy in his shout-out to clise buddies in Beast and Peace. His call to him that fateful Sunday of the Ikorodu show was to satisfy all righteousness, so Primeboy and especially his mother shouldn't hear he was in Ikorodu and never called him to be there. Mohbad wasn't including him in his Entourage to shows and he rarely stays at his house any longer. The strain had thickened.
That's why he told the world that when he saw Mohbad's call that morning, he was ",very very happy, that ha! My friend called me today...," adding, " he then told me he was coming to Ikorodu for a show..." If they are still as tight as before, he won't be getting aware if that fact that very morning.
Primeboy is a diehard Marlian. He kept his loyal ties with Marley, the Marlian crew even after Mohbad's acrimonious exit from the group.
Is this toxic jealousy and maintaining close ties to people beating up Mohbad, his childhood friend, enough to suggest as some people said, that Primeboy was snitching on Mohbad to Marley, touched Mohbad with fetish ring during their altercation which caused Mohbad's arm to swell or collaborated with whoever to kill Mohbad?
Soundoff in the comments.
#mohbad #primeboy #nairamarley #marlianrecords
