Before the fame, the luxury, and the hit songs that made dance floors quake, Zlatan Ibile was just another struggling student trying to make ends meet in Abeokuta. The Nigerian rapper, whose rise to fame inspired a new wave of street hop artists, has opened up about the grit and grind that defined his early years, including how he once turned his talent show victory car into a source of daily survival.
In a candid interview with popular streamer Shank Comics, Zlatan, whose real name is Temidayo Omoniyi, shared that winning the Airtel One Mic Talent Show in 2014 did not immediately change his life. Despite driving home in a brand new car as a 19 year old winner, financial struggles still shadowed his dreams.
“Back in school, when there was no money for food, I would just wait till night and use the car I won from the Airtel One Mic Talent show to run cab from Abeokuta to Shagamu for ₦350,” the rapper recalled, painting a vivid picture of resilience and survival.
Zlatan was then a student at Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, balancing his education with a burning desire to make music. But with limited financial support, the young artist had no choice but to hustle. The same car that symbolized his talent victory soon became his tool for survival.
Despite those difficult days, Zlatan’s breakthrough came three years later in 2017 when he featured rap heavyweight Olamide on his viral hit, My Body. That collaboration, he said, was the turning point of his career, the moment that transformed him from a hopeful campus rapper into one of Nigeria’s most influential street music sensations.
“Olamide gave me a life changing verse,” Zlatan has often said, reflecting on the single that marked his rise in the music industry.
Today, Zlatan Ibile is the CEO of Zanku Records and a household name in Afrobeats, known for his energetic performances, street smart lyrics, and trademark dance moves. Yet, his story serves as a stark reminder that behind the fame lies years of sacrifice, perseverance, and the kind of hunger only dreamers understand.
What began as a cab ride for ₦350 is now a journey worth millions, proof that even the toughest beginnings can drive greatness.
