Legendary Nigerian artist 2Baba (born Innocent Idibia) has marked 25 years in the industry with an emotional open letter shared on Instagram.
The message, brimming with gratitude and introspection, shows the collaborative spirit that propelled him from humble beginnings to global stardom, crediting mentors, fans, and collaborators for shaping his iconic journey.
The letter comes as 2Baba, often hailed as the "King of Afrobeat," continues to captivate audiences with timeless anthems like "African Queen" and "If Love Is a Crime."
Emerging in the late 1990s as a member of the groundbreaking group Plantashun Boiz alongside Faze and Blackface, 2Baba's solo career exploded in the early 2000s, blending soulful R&B with Afro-pop rhythms to redefine Nigerian music on the world stage.
Over the decades, he has amassed multiple MTV Europe Music Awards, BET Awards, and a shelf full of accolades, while championing social causes through his 2Baba Foundation, which supports education and youth empowerment across Africa.
In the letter, 2Baba opens with raw vulnerability: “As I stand on the threshold of 25 years in this incredible journey called music, my heart is full of gratitude, memories, lessons, and love.”
He quickly shifts focus outward, insisting, “This celebration is not mine alone. It belongs to everyone who played a role in shaping the story of Innocent Idibia, 2Baba.”
The artist singles out key figures who ignited his spark, including music executive Nelson Brown, whom he thanks for being “the first to see light in the dream of three young men when no one else believed.”
Brown, a pivotal talent scout in Nigeria's burgeoning hip-hop scene, provided Plantashun Boiz with their breakthrough platform, leading to hits like "You and I" that dominated airwaves in 2000.
2Baba also honors producers Baba Keke and D1, crediting them as “mentors and big brothers” who “opened doors that led us from dreams to destiny.”
Their collaboration forged Plantashun Boiz's signature sound, blending raw lyricism with infectious beats, and paved the way for 2Baba's solo triumphs.
“We made history together; we won together,” he writes. “Your names will forever be etched in my story.”
Reflecting on broader influences, 2Baba acknowledges the unsung heroes fans, family, and industry supporters who offered corrections and unwavering belief amid challenges.
“Without the people who believed, corrected, and supported me, my story would have been incomplete,” he concludes, a nod to the highs and lows, including personal controversies and the group's 2004 disbandment that tested his resilience.
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