Afrobeats sensation Lil Kesh has revealed that his breakout hit Efejoku almost never made it into his own discography, as he initially planned to give the song away to hit producer Young Jonn.
In a recent interview, the music star shared the surprising backstory behind the track, admitting he didn’t initially see its full potential. According to him, his focus at the time was on melody-heavy tracks, and Efejoku didn’t quite fit that mold. As a result, he offered the song to Young Jonn, the producer behind the beat.
“I recorded the song, but I didn’t know the value of it,” Kesh said. “I was like, ‘Yeah, it’s nice, but not really my sound.’ I told Young Jonn he could have it, and he was happy to take it.”
However, a late-night hangout with music executive Olamide (Baddo) changed everything. While chilling at Oriental Hotel, Kesh played the track for Olamide, whose enthusiastic reaction made him rethink his decision.
“I played it for Baddo and he was blown away,” Kesh recalled. “He was like, ‘You gave that away? Go and collect your song!’ So I called Young Jonn and said, ‘You know that song… let’s have it back.’”
The song eventually became one of Lil Kesh’s biggest hits, helping to cement his status in the Nigerian music scene and adding a defining track to his early career.
Now, he says Efejoku is one of the songs he’s most grateful for: “That’s a crazy story, but I’m so glad I recorded it and took it back.”
