Nigerian Star, Bad Boy Timz Speaks On ‘Lotto’ - A Collaboration With Mixtape Madness
Olorunyomi Oloruntimilehin known artistically as Bad Boy Timz is a young, dynamic afrobeats artist from Ondo State, brought up in Lagos.
His feel-good album ‘No Bad Boy, No Party’ released June 2023 was just in time for summer events and motives, but his talent reflects longevity within music and beyond. In interview, we discuss his recent collab with Mixtape Madness released Friday 18th August, his life experience, aspirations and the global influence of Black British culture. It is a great echo of synergy, celebrating contribution, collaboration and inspiration - a snapshot of the future.
Image via Wonderland Magazine
You’ve got a collaboration with Mixtape Madness, your track ‘Lotto’, amazing. How did that come about, how did you come to work with them?
“I’ve always been hearing about Mixtape Madness from Nigeria, but someone on my team reached out to them, but right now those at Mixtape madness are more like family to me, they were involved in the whole process. And I think we’re going to hit diamond, trust me.”
How long have you known about Mixtape Madness because it started for UK mixtapes; have you been following them for quite a while?
“I think the one I saw was with Digga D’s Mixtape Madness collaboration, that’s the one I really remember. I’ve always wanted to go on that platform and perform and represent Nigerian culture.”
Ah that’s fantastic. So your debut album came out 1st June, ‘No Bad Boy, No Party.’ What was your creative process in building such a great project?
“I just had it in mind that you know, life is a market so any chance you get you should try and be happy you know and have fun, so I created every track on the album with the party theme in mind. There are some songs on the album that are like street party, carnival, festival, those sorts of things. And another one will be like wedding parties, then other ones where you might hear at like street jams, like Nigerian corner street jams and there are some songs that are just different, like heartbreak songs. So, there’s just a blend of a lot of things, but I kept it in mind that there is a party theme to the song and different things to create the album.”
Yeah! So, with the UK, I know it has a big influence which you spoke about in a previous interview (New Wave) and its impact on your career and music, if you could go into a bit of detail about how the British market has embraced you and also its influence on music you may make?
“Yeah, okay. So, the first song that I did that went viral was appreciated by the likes of J Hus, so at that point you know it was just like a realisation point for me, because I was like if this artist from the UK who was big at this time could have enjoyed my music, that means something, you know? And I know there’s something happening with my other songs as well, the UK has really embraced my music from time and I listen to a lot of proper UK music, the likes of J Hus, Central Cee, Dave. Having in mind that I have fans out here and trying to you know reach a larger audience in the UK, it’s like one of the majority listeners of my music, so whenever I make music I have it in the back of my mind that okay, there are other regions where I have core fanbase and I should be able to appeal to them. So, that’s basically how the UK has played a major role in how I make music and how I present my music.”
Yes, you definitely have a lot of fans here, myself included (both laugh). With that, how do you choose the track titles? For example, the one with mixtape Madness being called ‘Lotto’ and there’s an interesting intro, the audio, where did you source that from?
“So that audio was from the veteran actor. His name is Osita Iheme, there are like two guys (Chinedu Ikedieze being the other pairing) and he is one of them. Growing up, that movie is one that I grew up really liking, you know, and that sound just stuck from over the years. And I felt like since this is a love song (Lotto) and he was professing his love to a girl in that statement, imma just infuse it and appreciate the veterans, you know. And for the song titles, literally like when I make the songs usually I use the hook or a line in the song as the title. For ‘Lotto’ it is the chorus, and the song is about winning a girl’s heart, it feels like the lottery to me, because I’ve know this girl for time and finally winning her heart and winning some money at the same time, luxury shop, it’s just like stars aligning for me.”
Lovely, it’s like some of the other track listings on the album, the metaphorical play using two things in comparison, I love hearing creative processes. But I guess it is something you have grown up around because your father is a musician, so it’s like bred in you. But you did go to University to do Computer Engineering, was there ever a time you were considering not doing music, or something else as well as music?
“Erm... never ‘cause my first … went viral when I was in my second year of University. I dropped my first hit song, in either my second year or my third year so I’ve always known that I wanted to make music you know. Growing up in a background where having a parent that does music and I used to help him you know pick money up from his own band, because he owns a band and like whenever they’d play their gigs I was there from young, I used to pick up their money, stuff it up in my hat (both laugh) so nobody could steal the money, you know. So, I’ve never at some point forgot music because I blew up really early in my University days. At some points I got frustrated but I had my family behind me and made me understand the importance of being an educated person, it was not easy, but you know, I made it happen. God made it happen.”
It’s just testament to your hard work and especially being a creative person, you’re so passionate about it - it’s not something that you can ignore like you’re being called to do it, so you find a way however.
“Yeah, I definitely did.”
Image via Wonderland Magazine
So, you won Rookie of the Year at the Headies in 2020, was that when you were like yes, going in the right direction? And what other dream collaborations and achievements do you have for your career?
“Yes, the Headies was a heads up for me like yeah, you’re doing something right and for future aspirations, I’d like to win Grammy’s, at some point be the biggest artist in the world. I’d like to also expand my reach to the point where I can actually infuse my computer engineering skills with the music and build a gadget, like a headset or so somewhere in the future, you know, and collab with some high-tech companies. For future collaborations I’d love to make music with Central Cee, J Hus, some guys in the US, like Drake. I really feel like my music can blend with theirs easily and we make like a madness.”
So, do you feel a really nice vibe when you’re in London?
“Yes, I’m here on the streets of London (laughs). Definitely, definitely I’ve got a couple of friends down here. I also have family staying out here as well, and where I go I feel the hospitality since I got here and just enjoy myself out here.”
From 2021 you’ve got Shock Absorbers Music, that’s your label and you have a distribution deal; would you consider being signed to a label again or do you prefer to own your own?
“I wouldn’t mind being signed to a label, but I would love to do a lot of things on my own, so with a label, I’d have to be able to decide some things like with my projects you know, and just have a lot of priority in music basically. Because a lot of these labels have a lot of talent as well, but I don’t want to just be one of those talents I want to be the talent like you know where it’s like the focus, you understand what I’m saying?”
Yeah-
“Because I know like I’m really young and I’ve got my perspective and can make any type of music so why settle for less.”
I agree, because there’s a power in having your own projects and being able to mold yourself in your image, your legacy, how you want it to be.
“No question, definitely.”
With that, I know as an artist you have to do a lot of self-promotion, but how do you balance social media and your private life?
“When it comes to social media I let you see what I want you to see, I’m always mostly using social media to promote music and my private life will always be private, you know? Whatever I want the audience or media to see.”
Do you have any upcoming tours on the back of your album?
“Yeah definitely, I’ve got my US tour, and in other countries promoting my music, like Canada. And also doing an African tour coming up.”
Keeping very busy then and in high demand, as I can also see! I appreciate your time; it has been great speaking with you.
Bad Boy Timz, Mixtape Madness - Lotto is now available on streaming services.