I was wearing borrowed suits to a job I disliked – CDQ on life before fame

Nigerian street-hop rapper CDQ is known today for his electrifying lamba and unapologetic swagger, but before the spotlight, his story was far from glamorous.

In a candid chat with The Echo Room, CDQ opened up about his life before music, revealing he once worked a bank job. His banker profession was not out of passion, but out of respect for his late father’s wishes. He said:

“I quit my bank job. I couldn’t tell my mother or any family member then.”

Driven by a growing void inside, CDQ found himself drifting away from suits and spreadsheets into the arms of his true calling, music. He shared how his longtime friend and music producer Masterkraft, helped pave the way.

According to CDQ, Masterkraft wasn’t just a collaborator, he was a lifesaver. He continued:

“He used to borrow me suits to wear to work. When I quit, I left the house and went to stay with Masterkraft in the studio. I told him banking isn’t my passion. I will probably just do it to make ends meet. But music is something that whether it gives me a return-back or not, I’m still happy doing it.”

Realizing how unhappy he was in the corporate world, Masterkraft urged him to give music six months of undivided attention. The rapper revealed:

“He told me to face music and watch how things change. I did, and in less than six months, I had my breakthrough.”

Today, CDQ is a household name in Nigeria’s music scene, with several hit singles and collaborations under his belt.

In same interview, the Nowo E Soke crooner revealed that shortly after the success of his breakout hit ‘Indomie’, Afrobeats superstar David Adeleke aka Davido reached out to sign him to his label.

According to CDQ, Davido was fresh off a successful African tour and wanted to invest in his growing music empire by bringing him on board.

While the offer sounded juicy, there was one condition CDQ couldn’t overlook and that was the involvement of his producer and longtime collaborator, Masterkraft. 

The three eventually met to discuss the terms, but the conversation took a different turn when Masterkraft, recognizing CDQ’s strong street following, suggested a partnership deal instead of a traditional recording contract. Davido declined and the record deal fell through.