Why I Chose Music After Success in Acting, Tee Famous

My choice to go into music came from a role I played in a film. I acted as an artiste, and when the movie came out, many people were surprised to learn I could sing. They would say, “Ah, so you know how to sing?” My first attempt wasn’t great, maybe because people already saw me as an actor, but their positive feedback pushed me to take music more seriously.

This choice has changed my acting career a lot. I noticed that when I started getting attention as a musician, some people struggled to see me as an actor. Some would say, “We don’t know you still act,” while others thought I had become too expensive for their films. I think that's one challenge that comes with being popular in another area.

Both acting and music are tough. For a new actor, it takes hard work, consistency, endurance, and prayers to make it. The same goes for music. Before people will listen to your songs and enjoy your sound, you need to work hard.

There are sleepless nights in the studio, working with talented people, making sacrifices, and showing endurance. The entertainment industry is demanding. You have to keep putting in the work and praying to God.

I believe music has brought me more financial gain.

It has not been easy. Building connections and getting people to accept me in music has been hard. I have heard people say, “Ah, Baba, you have already made it in acting; what are you looking for in music again?”

But music is also a talent God gave me, and I feel I should explore it. Even though acceptance has been tough, I am thankful that things are improving.

I see myself as an actor who sings because I started as an actor before people recognized me as a musician. They knew me as an actor first, so that's how I see myself.

I would say both are important, but music takes 60 percent of my focus, while acting takes 40 percent. Many people know me as an actor, so I am still trying to establish myself as a musician and show that I can do both.

To find that balance, I must work harder on my music career. That is why music currently gets more of my attention.

Finance! These days, everything costs money. You have to keep spending and investing in whatever you want to achieve. I haven't overcome that challenge yet, but I am working on it.

No, I am loved by everyone. Both my colleagues in acting and music have been great. While I haven't won many fans as a musician, the few I have worked with have been wonderful.

About the idea that the Nigerian entertainment industry is full of rivalries, I don’t know much about that since I have not faced it myself.

I don’t keep close friends in the way of having one particular person I am very close to. I see everyone as a colleague. You are either a senior colleague, a daddy, a junior colleague, a brother, or a sister. I consider everyone part of one family, so I don’t think I have faced anything like that.

I always tell people that I don’t care how others choose to build their brands. It’s their brand, and they can do what they feel will promote it.

If something can promote my brand without making my fans see me negatively, I will think about it. But I will not do anything that makes me look bad in my fans’ eyes because they come first.

Any conflict I might consider getting into to promote my music must not damage the image I have built. I have created a brand as an easy-going person, and I won’t do anything to wreck that image.

I don’t think I have issues with anyone, unless someone has a problem with me that I don't know about. I am not the type to have disagreements and take them to social media.

Unless my life is at risk, I don’t see the point of bringing personal conflicts online. I believe we should solve disagreements peacefully. I can send a direct message, call you, send a WhatsApp message, or contact someone close to you to sort things out.

I believe relationships are becoming friendlier than before. People are supporting one another more.

For example, as an actor, you might need a content creator to help promote your film. Nowadays, many entertainers are also becoming content creators to promote their work.

I think the relationship is getting more supportive because everyone needs each other. If I want to drop a song, I need to reach out to content creators, influencers, and fellow actors to create content with my music. They are often willing to help.

Likewise, if someone is launching a movie and invites me to help create content or promote it, I will gladly do so. If they need me to perform at an event, I will also be there.

In the end, everyone is working together to build a bigger brand.

It did not hurt my confidence at all. As I mentioned in that interview, I am someone who does not easily give up. If you tell me no or say I cannot do something, that’s when my determination increases. I feel more motivated to work hard and prove that I can do it.

Instead of hurting my confidence, the experience made me more determined to succeed. I realized that my family worried and thought I was wasting time, but entertainment is what I love.

I wanted to show them I was not wasting my time and that I could build something meaningful from my passion. So, the experience made me more determined rather than affecting my confidence.

Yes, there were moments when I struggled to afford things to help my acting career. I had many ideas and projects I wanted to do, but I didn’t have the money to make them happen.

No, that wasn’t why I went into music. Music came as a surprise. I have always loved good music and listened to it a lot, but the chance came unexpectedly. I embraced it, discovered my talent, and started developing it.

I think what sets me apart from other artistes is that I do not limit myself to one type of music. I try different sounds. Today, I can rap; tomorrow, I might drop a song with a Jamaican vibe. Another day, I can create a street-inspired song or reggae. I can explore almost any genre.

I think this makes me different from many artistes. Some musicians are known for specific genres, like R&B, but I do not stick to one style.

To establish myself, I think it comes down to finance. I need money and people ready to invest in my music. With enough funds to promote my songs, I can reach a wider audience and be more visible.

The deal is more like a brotherly relationship.

It is like family, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t professional. It is a professional arrangement.

The CEO of Idan Nation is someone who takes life simply. So, the relationship feels like a family setup, and we are working together to move forward.

Many opportunities and connections have come from this deal, and we thank God for that.

Fans should expect a lot from me. Before the year ends, I will release a joint EP with another artiste from the label.

I also plan to produce my first movie, which will be a series, in 2027, God willing. Plus, I will drop my personal album next year along with several singles. My fans should be ready because we are coming.

I don’t think I have reached my biggest milestone yet because I still have many dreams. Sometimes, when I think about how big my ambitions are, I feel scared. My dreams are huge, so I don’t think I have achieved the major things I want. But I thank God that things are going well.

As for my greatest regret, I don’t dwell much on regrets. I might think about something for a few hours or days, but then I ask myself, “Okay, I made a mistake. What’s the next step? This went wrong, so what do we do next?”

I don’t spend too much time regretting past mistakes. Even when something happens that should make me regret my actions, I quickly try to move on and focus on what comes next.

There are so many. As I said, my dreams are big. I want to win awards as both an actor and a musician. I want to be recognized for my work in film and also win awards in music.

I want to reach different places, touch people’s hearts, and bless them through my music and my life. Above all, I want to be a blessing to many people.