CDQ Says He Wore Borrowed Suits to a Job He Hated Before Music Fame
Popular Nigerian rapper CDQ has shared the struggles he faced before rising to fame, revealing that life was far from easy. Known today for his street anthems and bold confidence, CDQ once lived a different life—working at a bank and wearing borrowed suits just to keep up appearances.
In an emotional interview with The Echo Room, CDQ said he took the bank job out of respect for his late father’s wishes, not because he loved it. He recalled quitting the job secretly and not telling his family right away. “I quit my bank job. I couldn’t tell my mother or any family member then,” he shared.
His real passion was always music, and he soon found support in a longtime friend and music producer, Masterkraft. CDQ explained how Masterkraft didn’t just help him musically but also gave him suits to wear to work. When he finally decided to leave banking behind, he moved in with Masterkraft and focused completely on his music dreams.
“I told him banking isn’t my passion. I’ll probably just do it to survive. But music makes me happy, whether or not I get anything in return,” he said.
Masterkraft encouraged CDQ to focus solely on music for six months. CDQ took the advice, and it paid off. Within that short period, he had his first big breakthrough and began gaining attention in the Nigerian music scene.
After his breakout hit Indomie, CDQ said that superstar Davido contacted him with an offer to join his record label. Davido had just returned from a successful African tour and wanted to grow his music brand by signing new talents.
However, CDQ said the deal didn’t go through because Masterkraft had a different idea. During their meeting with Davido, Masterkraft suggested a partnership instead of a normal record deal, based on CDQ’s rising popularity in the streets. Davido didn’t agree to the new terms, and the deal was dropped.
Today, CDQ is one of the leading voices in Nigeria’s music industry. Despite the challenges, he continues to grow his brand with several hit songs and major collaborations. His journey is a reminder of how far belief and hard work can take someone, even from wearing borrowed suits to stardom.
