Odumodublvck to Aspiring Artists ‘Lagos Might Be a Career Trap’

Abuja-based hip-hop artist Odumodublvck has issued a stark caution to emerging artists: think twice before relocating to Lagos. In a pointed message shared on X, he labeled the city “the worst place for a young artist to grow” and warned that its cutthroat music scene fosters greed and ego over genuine artistry .

Odumodublvck’s critique isn’t just rhetorical, he positions his nurturing environment in Abuja as the bedrock of his artistic authenticity. He attributes part of his success to avoiding Lagos’s “packaged beast” culture, arguing that staying rooted in Abuja allowed him to emerge organically and “run through the industry as the machine he is.”

Lagos is undoubtedly Nigeria’s cultural and economic epicenter, especially within entertainment, booming music venues, bustling festivals, and high ambitions define its landscape. Yet, this competitiveness comes with a price: intense pressure, saturated markets, and fierce gatekeeping that may erode artistic integrity.

On the flip side, Abuja’s smaller scene offers a different kind of runway. Odumodublvck’s success from that environment underscores that strategic visibility and mental well-being can matter as much as proximity to the big stage.

Odumodublvck’s comments spotlight a broader question, must every ambitious artist flock to Lagos to make it? Or can other hubs like Abuja, Ibadan, Port Harcourt offer sustainable, creative alternatives with room to grow?

This insight challenges the traditional narrative of Lagos as the only viable launchpad for talent, opening up conversations about regional development, infrastructure, and mental safety in the Nigerian music industry.

Odumodublvck’s warning is a timely reminder that success isn’t just about location, it’s about maintaining authenticity amid pressure, choosing environments that nurture growth, and rethinking what it means to “make it” in music today.