We were lucky to catch up with OG Jonah recently and have shared our conversation below.

OG, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I never grew up dreaming of making music. Like most people, I just loved listening to it. Back in high school, though, I’d find myself freestyling with my friends—at parties, in the car, wherever we were hanging out. We’d rap over instrumentals of our favorite tracks, and I’d get hyped hearing my words flow. Friends kept telling me to start recording, but I had zero clue where to even start.

Then one day, my friend got a new MacBook, and it came with GarageBand. He was as clueless as I was about making beats, but he was hyped to show me the basic one he’d put together. I went over, he plugged in these $10 headphones, and we started recording my freestyle right there. We threw it up on SoundCloud and didn’t think much of it.

A couple of days later, my phone was blowing up—people loved the track, asking when the next one was coming. That response caught me off guard, but I couldn’t shake the feeling I got from it. It was crazy knowing I could turn some idea in my head into something people were vibing to, something they could play over and over. From that day on, I was hooked.

We kept recording freestyles on his laptop until one of my friends, who was an actual artist, invited me to his studio. That’s where things really leveled up. Fast forward seven years, and now I run one of the biggest studios in Alberta. I’ve toured with Grammy-winning artists, headlined tours and festivals, locked in partnerships with brands like Foot Locker and Sobeys, won awards, and hit millions of streams. That first freestyle was just the spark—the journey’s only getting started.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I started off freestyling at parties, just having fun with friends, and now I’m one of Canada’s biggest rappers—a path I never really saw coming. But once I got a taste, I knew I wanted to make something real of it, and I set out to be the best. I wanted to put Edmonton on the map in the music industry. Back then, I didn’t know any other rappers from my city, so I decided to build something from the ground up, not just for me but for a whole movement.

I created a record label called Y.E.G.M.G., which stands for Edmonton (YEG) Music Group, and I’ve put in work to build a platform for local talent. What makes me proud is seeing how many artists have emerged because of it. I’ve helped nurture an entire generation of creatives from Edmonton, and I love supporting the younger artists coming up by giving them resources and sharing the wisdom I’ve gained along the way.

Musically, I’ve explored a wide range—rap, hip-hop, R&B, pop, and afrobeats. My catalog is mostly hip-hop, but over the past year and a half, I’ve focused on afrobeats, reconnecting with my Nigerian heritage. My diversity in sound and genre is part of what keeps things fresh for me and my fans.

One thing that sets me apart is the way I connect with my fans. I’m always engaging with them on social media, holding meet-and-greets, and making appearances at schools where a lot of my younger fans are. I love giving away merch and making my fans feel valued because, to me, they’re a huge part of my success. I’ve grown from being just an artist to being a leader in my city, and I’m proud to be a role model for my fans, especially coming from a rough background myself.

For anyone who’s new to my music or my story, I’d say expect authenticity. I’m here to keep growing, creating, and giving back to the community that’s helped shape me into the artist I am today.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My mission has always been clear: I want to be the biggest rapper and artist coming out of Canada, and I want the world to know that Edmonton has some serious talent. I’ve put in years of work to put my city on the map, but it’s bigger than just my own success—I want to inspire others to dream big, especially those who come from places that might not get the spotlight.

For my fans, I want to be a beacon of inspiration and hope. I know what it’s like to have a tough start, so showing them that they can push through anything and make it to the top means everything to me. And for my fans back home in Nigeria, I want to be a reminder of what’s possible, to motivate them to go after their dreams no matter where they start.

This journey isn’t just about me; it’s about creating a legacy and giving others a reason to believe in their own potential.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

When I first started out, the support was real—everyone was hyped, cheering me on. But as time passed, some people around me thought I’d just fizzle out, that maybe this was just a phase. But instead of fading, I kept leveling up, shining even brighter. And that’s when I started to notice a shift—people, including some close to me, went from being supporters to haters.

Despite that, I stayed focused. I pushed through and secured big opportunities: tours, festival stages, brand partnerships, co-signs, and more. Those wins were a turning point. The same people who doubted me or switched up eventually turned back around, becoming fans again. But for me, the real strength wasn’t in proving them wrong—it was in never doubting myself. I saw myself as great before I’d even put music out, so no amount of recognition changes how I see myself. It just changes how the world sees me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ogjonah.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/og.jonah
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ogjonah
• Twitter: http://twitter.com/ogjonahyegmg
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/ogjonah
• Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1FYeZexC6hHTB4X5kJBKlo?si=V4F40Mx9SHOzoY_CrXUZpw
  Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/og-jonah/1223334694

Image Credits

Divine Media Group