Popular Nigerian rapper Temidayo Omoniyi, widely known as Zlatan Ibile, has opened up about his tough beginnings as a struggling artist during his days at Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The Zanku crooner revealed that despite winning the Airtel One Mic Talent Show in 2014, life was still far from rosy as he struggled to make ends meet.
Speaking in an interview with popular content creator Shank Comics, Zlatan disclosed that he turned the car he won from the competition into a source of income to support himself.
“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,” he recounted.
The rapper, who won the talent competition at just 19 years old, said his major career breakthrough came in 2017 when he featured Olamide on his hit single ‘My Body’.
Zlatan described that collaboration as a life-changing moment, crediting Olamide for giving him a verse that completely transformed his career trajectory.
Today, Zlatan stands as one of Nigeria’s most successful street-hop artists, running his own label, Zanku Records, and mentoring young talents inspired by his resilience and story.
