Nigerian rap icon Jude ‘MI’ Abaga has shared a striking memory from the early days of his career, recalling how he was chased off the red carpet at the 2008 Headies Awards to make way for veteran actress Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde.
Speaking on Vbyz TV Cartel, MI described the period leading up to the awards as one of hard work that went largely unrecognized. Despite being nominated for ‘Best Rap Single,’ many attendees at the red carpet didn’t know him and asked him to move aside so Omotola could take her photos.
“I had been grinding for years and no one really noticed me. In February 2008, I was announced as the winner for ‘Best Rap Single,’ and that moment completely changed my life,” he recalled. “I was walking into the crowd with my manager when Omotola arrived with her security. The red carpet officials didn’t even know I was nominated—they just told us, ‘Come on, get out of here.’ We kept getting moved around while she posed for pictures.”
Holding his award later that night, MI said the perception of him shifted instantly. “Two hours later, I had a gold plaque from Ayo Animashaun in my hands, and from that point, everyone knew MI was in the game. After that, it was hits like ‘Safe,’ ‘Talk About It,’ and ‘Incredible Music.’”
His story highlights the dramatic shift from being overlooked to gaining recognition, underscoring the persistence that propelled him to become one of Nigeria’s most celebrated rappers.
