Photo file MI

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The Chocolate City rapper had toured some African countries, he had dropped 'crowd mentality', and he had bagged fans from Abuja to Jos and Kaduna. But, would he hit it big in Lagos, like P-square and 2face? It seemed very unlikely. Many rappers before him had left Abuja and Jos for Lagos. None had made it 'commercially'. Not Mode 9. Not Terry Tha Rapman. Not Six foot Plus.

Just like these rappers, MI had talent; loads of it. But he lacked big-budget support - he's signed to Abuja based label, Chocolate City. With no family in Lagos, he moved in with singer, Djinee, and began his journey into the heart and soul of Lagos.

He had no car. No contacts. He had no bookings or press enquiries. He would go to an event and red carpet reporters would ignore him. How could they have noticed the diminutive, unknown under-ground rapper, when giants like Ruggedman and Mode 9 were in the vicinity? Who wants to book a 'short black dude' with no hit tracks where kids from Sokoto to Ogbomoso are rapping and bouncing to Naeto C's 'Kini big deal'?

Really, it would have been safe to think Mr Abaga had no chance in this city. It would appear like we had it all figured out: the next big thing would be Ikechukwu or Sauce Kid or Gino or Lord of Ajasa; the one who'll wrestle with Ruggedman would come from the Mode 9 camp; the next big thing would be a Lil' Wayne-like dude, who'll get all the kids attention, but fail to impress mature listeners; or maybe some rapper that'll successfully wrestle Ruggedman for the club arena…

And we would have been dead wrong. Because, MI has since taken over. The debutante, arguably the hardest-working rapper around now, has followed an unusual blueprint; and it has worked for him like a miracle.

And, that blueprint is not some sort of document. It's his debut album, Talk about it - a collection of rap songs that continues to garner critical and commercial acclaim. Talk about it has a bit of what Mode 9 needs to reach commercial relevance; and what rappers like Ruggedman need to restore their critical respect. And the young man's album appeals to a section of people who hitherto didn't give a care about rap or hip hop. And for true hip hop heads, he has already released a fresh 'free' album appropriately called 'illegal music' because it contains uncleared samples of some of his favourite songs/beats.

"I would say MI is the best thing I've heard since me," rapper, Freestyle told e-Punch this week. Most other artistes share the same sentiment, and they continue to lavish their colleague with praises.

"He's the hottest rapper out there right now. Probably not the biggest yet, but he sure is on fire'' Efe Omorogbe, Now Muzik CEO told e-Punch.

Two weeks ago at the Silverbird Galleria, MI's popularity was put to test. And he passed in flying colours. And now that he has recruited fans en masse, he might just be ready for that big stage; moving to join the league of concert headliners who rake in big money from January to December.

By the way, he's already started making that money. Sources told e-Punch a Nissan Murano is on the way, and he's currently chilling in the UK, after performing at the Notes and Swag event in London.