Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Titi LoKei. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Titi, appreciate you joining us today. Do you have an agent or someone (or a team) that helps you secure opportunities and compensation for your creative work? How did you meet you, why did you decide to work with them, why do you think they decided to work with you?

In the midst of the 2020 Pandemic, I hit rock bottom, contemplating the abandonment of my music career. It felt like I had already surrendered to the challenges. Then, a pivotal phone call from a music comrade changed everything. They introduced me to a producer, and through that connection, I found my way to Smash Coast Music Sync agency. SYNC, the heartbeat behind your favorite TV shows, the melody in the background—that’s now me :-). Smash Coast Music secured a project deal with Audio Network, resulting in over 600 placements worldwide.

Initially, I hesitated; mentally, I wasn’t in the best place to dive back into the world of music creation. Yet, through the Grace of God, I summoned the strength and found success within SYNC. Remarkably, that very project catapulted me into the running for a GRAMMY! Reflecting on it now, I often wonder where my career would be if I hadn’t taken that producer seriously. It’s a testament to resilience and the unexpected turns life can take.

Titi, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

So my mom loves sharing this story about me at 2, grabbing a mic at church and mumbling songs from my head. Well, turns out, that was the start of my music journey. From there, sang in the Nigerian church choir and developed my dance skills a long the way. My first solo performance was at 5 years old, in front of the entire park district, which consisted of 300+ audience members. I performed a choreographed dance to 69 boyz ‘tootsie roll’ and ‘Hey kitty kitty’ LOL! Danced my way into being a backup dancer for local artists.

Later, being the youngest at home, I never felt heard, so I started pouring my heart out in writing—stories, poems, journals, you name it.

Those words later turned into music when I got into rapping, dropping my first track in high school. Started performing as a rapper state to state, used my time and network in college to hone my craft and I’ve just been riding that wave ever since, evolving and perfecting my game. My Nigerian roots heavily flavor my music, from choir days to pioneering Afrobeats in the USA. It’s amazing to see how far we’ve come.

When I create music, it’s straight from the heart. Whether I’m feeling hype, sexy, fun, sad, or mad, I just want people to vibe with it. The dancer in me lives for those big stages—I’m all about that spotlight life. From that 2-year-old mic-grabber to sharing stages with Wiz Kid, Davido, Jeremiah, and more—it’s been an interesting ride. I just want the crowd to forget their problems, have a blast, and live in the moment!

Proud of myself for staying true through the years—I’m like fine wine, getting better with time. :-) I’m betting my next project will shout loud and clear that I’m here to stay. Oh, and most proud for starting my own label, N.I.N.A.A Ent! The Motto is “No Is Never An Answer”! Chase your dreams, ’cause it’s your life, and you call the shots!

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most gratifying part of being an artist and creative is having the freedom to express myself on MY own terms. It’s incredibly rewarding to witness the smiles on the faces of the audience as they genuinely enjoy my performance. Entertaining and bringing joy to others while simultaneously letting go of my stress is what makes music my ultimate stress reliever. It’s in those moments that I feel truly liberated—what could be more rewarding than that sense of freedom?

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I ran away from home once, after I graduated college. I guess I was “grown” so it wasn’t necessarily running away…. but I left the house because I felt like my mother wasn’t supportive of my music journey. I had already give her a college degree, what more did she want from me?

Either way, while I was away, she finally saw the light. Im sure all my aunts/uncles calling to brag about how they saw me on TV, News Articles, etc helped too ;-) When I finally returned home, she said something that stood out to me. She said God told her, “if God gives you a passion, you must pursue it”. I keep that in my heart til this day and that keeps me going on this musical mission.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.iLokei.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/LoveLokei
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/ilokei
• Twitter: @LoveLokei
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/titilokei
• Other: linktr.ee/lovelokei