Chike gifts N1m to troll who said Mohbad helped his career

On August 14th, 2024, Nigerian music star Chike-Ezekpeazu Osebuka, popularly known as Chike, made headlines by gifting N1 million to a critic who claimed he owed his success to the late singer Mohbad. The incident unfolded on Chike's X page, where he shared a snippet from one of his yet-to-be-released songs. The critic, Daniel Omowonuola Lawal (@Hateofx), responded with the comment, "Mohbad made you," insinuating that Chike's fame was due to his collaboration with Mohbad.

Chike, known for his highlife and soulful music, subtly tackled Lawal, expressing doubt about the critic's potential for independent success. The exchange escalated when Lawal argued that Mohbad enabled Chike to achieve 40 million streams on music platforms. In a heated response, Chike taunted the critic, suggesting he was hungry and offering to send him N1 million to alleviate his hunger. True to his word, Chike transferred the amount, sharing the receipt with the remark, "hungry boy go and eat."

This act of generosity coincided with the release of Chike's third studio album, "Son of Chike." The 12-track project includes songs like "Unto You," "Lifetime Love," "Apple," "Mma," "Someone," "Your Loss," "Not Your Daddy," "One Day," "Balance Am," and "Man Not God." It also features earlier releases such as "Ego Oyibo" and the hit track "Egwu," which prominently showcases images of the late Mohbad in its music video.

Chike described the album as a celebration of his heritage and identity, adding to the legacy of music and culture passed down from previous generations. The 31-year-old artist began his music career in 2015 with his participation in Project Fame and later became the first runner-up on The Voice Nigeria in 2016. He is currently signed to Brothers Records.

In February 2024, Chike released the official video for "Egwu," a chart-topping song featuring Mohbad. The colourful visuals open with diverse dancers moving to the song's rhythm, seamlessly integrating images of Mohbad throughout the video, honouring the late street pop singer.