In a country filled with songs born on street corners, every producer has a story. Some start in polished studios. Others? In church halls, crowded bedrooms, and borrowed laptops. Here we have  Todi—Lagos-born producer, genre-bender, and sonic strategist whose beats now stretch from Nigeria’s indie underground to ears overseas.

But before the cross-border collabs and Afroswing experiments, there was a boy playing drums in a church down the street, quietly falling in love with rhythm.

A Soundtrack That Started in Church

“Damn, music has been a part of me for as long as I can remember.”

Long before he was Todi, the producer, he was just a kid surrounded by tambourines and tenors in his neighborhood church. He played keyboard and drums with a curiosity that bordered on obsession. But his official music journey didn’t begin until 2015, when he picked up rapping—recording lyrics on his phone, fueled by raw passion and shaky audio.

By 2018, frustrated by the lack of free beats and determined not to wait on anyone, Todi turned to YouTube tutorials and his father’s laptop. His nights became classroom sessions in sonic architecture.

“I used to stay awake all night watching YouTube tutorials and remaking beats. That’s how I got into music production.”

His first song “Lagos” dropped that same year — a heartfelt ode to the city that shaped him. It wasn’t just a debut; it was validation.

“Even my sisters, who never really took my music seriously, started listening. That felt amazing.”

A Sound Shaped by Burna and the Beatless Blues

Todi doesn’t remember much of the music he made pre-2018 — most of it likely buried in the graveyard of forgotten SoundCloud aliases. But he does remember the moment he found his musical compass: Burna Boy.

“His blend of Afro and soul really built my style and taste.”

There’s a quiet audacity in Todi’s tone — the kind that knows its worth but isn’t desperate for validation. He’s not trying to mimic Burna. He’s trying to do what Burna did — build a universe of his own.

FL Studio or Nothing

Forget the hype around Ableton, Logic Pro, or whatever plugin is trending on Producer Twitter this week. For Todi, the love is loyal and old-school:

“I work only on FL Studio. I just can’t seem to see the hype in any of these other software.”

It’s less about the gear, more about grit. Nigerian producers have long known how to turn little into magic. In a country where studios are sometimes solar-powered and data is a luxury, FL Studio isn’t just a DAW. It’s a way of life.

Success Looks Like This

To many Nigerian producers, success means plaques, placements, or a shoutout on Davido’s Instagram story. But for Todi, it’s more personal — and poetic:

“Success to me now is being able to win over multiple genre lovers by my music.”

He recalls a listener once telling him they only loved electronic music—until they heard “Butty” with Sickoboy and discovered they might have an Afroswing heart too.

That’s what Todi aims for — not just plays, but conversion.

Todi’s Studio Philosophy: Study First, Then Seduce

When working with new artists, Todi takes his time. First comes research. Then comes rhythm.

“I love to make enough research about their style… over time I slowly drag them into mine. And it always seems to work out—if they stick around long enough.”

It’s a dance of sonic diplomacy: study the artist’s sound, then slowly slide them into your own orbit. The result is often a fusion neither party expected — but both end up loving.

The Producer Problem: Underrated, Underpaid, Unshaken

There’s no mincing words here. Todi, like many Nigerian producers, knows what it means to be overlooked.

“Producers are underrated. Everyone plays a part in music, but how many people would listen to only a cappella?”

Despite the fact that the Nigerian music industry is booming—with N58 billion payout from Spotify to Nigerian artistes in 2024 alone—producers are still often treated as accessories rather than architects. Recognition remains scarce. Royalties? Scarcer.

But Todi isn’t bitter. Just brutally honest.

The Track List of Pride

Ask Todi to pick a favorite production and he fumbles—not for lack of options, but for love.

“Honestly, I can’t pick. I’m genuinely proud of every track and artist I’ve been blessed to work with.”

There’s no false modesty here. Just a man who views every beat like a child—different, beloved, and filled with potential.

Staying Inspired in a Saturated Scene

In a digital age where a new beat drops every minute, staying inspired is no easy feat. But Todi has a secret:

“Keep a modest mentality. Always be learning. Try new genres and styles.”

Inspiration isn’t luck, he believes. It’s labour. When you start to believe you know it all, you close the door on magic.

“The moment you think you know it all as a creative—that’s when you throw away your creativity.”

Final Track: Who Is Todi?

Todi is not just a name on a credit line. He’s part of a growing vanguard of Nigerian producers reshaping what it means to be versatile, visible, and valuable in music.

From beatmaking by moonlight to working with names across the globe, his story is still unfolding. But one thing is clear: Todi isn’t chasing trends—he’s building soundscapes that convert, compel, and connect.

So, who is Todi?

He’s the echo of Lagos churches. The bassline behind the breakout. The bridge between genres. And, most of all, a reminder that sometimes the real stars are behind the boards.

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