Nigerian rapper Illbliss has revealed reasons why it took him almost four years to release his seventh album. The acclaimed lyricist said COVID-19 and his wife’s premature delivery of a baby girl affected his plans.
“It was 2020, during COVID, when we thought we were all going to die, and my wife was pregnant, it took me by surprise. I was battling how to save my daughter and wife, and she delivered the baby after 25 weeks, you know that’s really, really premature” he said.
“My album suffered a lot of promotional setbacks, I was trying to focus on my wife and child, and I wasn’t physically present then.”
The musician went on to discuss how his life has changed since then, with fatherhood being part of what made him focus more on producing TV content. “The Last thing on my mind was doing music,” he said.
With six albums under his belt, which makes him one of the most prolific Nigerian emcees, Illbliss said he considered retiring from making music.
He said, “This is God telling me it’s time. You know I have six albums, four EPs, but little did I know it’s not about your timing; it’s about God’s timing.”
The title of his latest album is inspired by his daughters. It talks about the impact fatherhood has had on him. This new phase is evident in his lyrical perspective, embracing wisdom gained through experiences and collaborations.
The album is set to drop on February 24.
According to him, ‘Sideh-Kai’ is a combination of two words, Sochikaima and Kachimsideh. “These are my daughter’s names. I have two beautiful daughters and I decided that I was at the point in my life where the music just wasn’t about me being Illbliss or being Oga Boss. It wasn’t just about me. It was about two incredibly beautiful, smart, intelligent children that myself and my wife have been blessed with,” he said. The album features the likes of Vector and Odumodublvck.
