The Public Menace: Portable Zazuu

This is a must read for every young up and coming entertainers in Nigeria!

Last December 2021, Portable (real name, Habeeb Okikiola) became a street-pop star overnight -- after the successful collaboration with Olamide and Pocolee on the song, Zazuu. Since then, it's been one controversy per day for this self-acclaimed Sango Ota's glory.

When Portable dropped Zazuu remix, many Nigerian youths connected with his street upbringing and were ready to reward him every minute. Many people, young and old, including celebrities doled out cash and gifts to this Ogun state indigene. He got $3,000 from Wizkid. $3,000 from Davido. He also got thousands of dollars from Burna Boy and Tiwa Savage.

Brands started associating Portable and individuals were falling over each other to hand him their hard-earned cash. A businessman in Ikorodu Lagos gifted him a whole Range Rover jeep. He also got a massive endorsement deal with Obi Cubana's Odogwu bitters brand, among many others.

Today, Portable charges nothing less than 1.5 million naira just for club appearance and up to 3.5 million naira per stage performance anywhere within Nigeria. He now owns a fleet of cars and eventually bought a house in the Sango Ota trenches this July 2022. He's performed in many Nigerian states, even in Muslim conservative states like Kaduna. He's also performed abroad in London, Turkey, Dubai, Kenya, and Benin Republic.

Portable is arguably the fastest rising music star in Nigeria today, and that was evident when HipTV nominated him in two different categories for the 2022 Headies awards.

Habeeb, a man with children from different women, courts problems everywhere. And the reason for that isn't farfetched, he loves the attention and social media clout for all his controversial doings. In his own words, "woto-woto" (which literally means a talkative) brings him money. Now that same woto-woto has not only brought him money, but it's about to bring him a serious problem with the police authority that could send him to prison and spell doom for his rising music career.

To make matters worse, Portable adorns himself with the craziest monikers you can ever imagine. When other musicians become super stars, they take on monikers that signifies their top status. Take for instance, Wizkid, you'll hear Big Wiz Machala. Davido, 001 OBO. Burna Boy, Odogwu African Giant.

Portable is the opposite of his senior colleagues. His favorite monikers are unfathomable. Here are some of them with their meaning: Madman Werey Olorin (mad musician), Kesari (a dangerous armed robber movie character), Idamu Adugbo (street problem), Anibon Majale (owns a gun but doesn't rob), Ogo Sango (Sango's glory), Federal Government property, government liability, and many others.

Can you imagine going around with those thuggish and hellish monikers and not attract bad problems? If you head to Google or YouTube right now and search for "Portable Zazuu fight," you'll be greeted with many blog posts and videos of his thuggery and uncouth ways.

How can you come from nothing, became a notorious cultist and thug while honing music craft, then got help into limelight...and continue with your old ways?

Who are Portable's representatives? Where are his management team? Does he even have a legal team? Why are there no one in his team and extended family members giving him solid advices to keep him grounded and focused on his music?

Madman Werey Olorin has changed his management team thrice now, and it was all because of one or two irreconcilable issues of theft and cheating. He has a penchant for thinking everyone that comes close to him only wants to gain from his wealth and fame. He refers to everyone working around him as a "reaper."

Kesari is now surrounded by real sycophants who can't tell him any truth to his face. He also exhibits a severe sense of entitlement that pushes him to seek support from others and expects them not to receive any reward in return.

This Portable guy is a real street problem, a public menace that everyone wants gone. His recent challenge started after he was seen frolicking with APC leaders before the Osun Guber election. Meanwhile, his senior colleague Davido was also in town throwing support behind his Uncle, Ademola of PDP.

That created a lot of buzz among the youths, bashing Portable for siding with "oppressors." Portable, in his usual fashion, responded and claimed he was paid to come campaign for Governor Oyetola of APC and he has no choice than to deliver. Instead of facing his job squarely, he started throwing shades everywhere -- and it seemed like most of it was directed at Davido. This led to different attacks on Portable.

Instead of calming the situation, Portable fueled it by further claiming he is the street king and nobody can touch him anywhere. He then started mentioning all the bad gangs in different Lagos neighborhoods. While mentioning his gangs, he incriminated himself by claiming to have founded the notorious dangerous group "One Million Boyz" that terrorized some parts of Lagos state during the Covid 19 lockdown. He also mentioned top entertainment industry men like Sam Larry, Abu Abel, and IBD Dende as his sponsors and supporters.

The particular video where he made this statement on Instagram has now been deleted. And he has released different statements both in writing and video that he was misquoted. He claimed he doesn't have any association with the notorious One Million Boyz group. But at this time, it is now too late. The Inspector General of Police has released a statement asking for the investigation and legal prosecution of Portable.

As keen music fans and "vawulence" observers, we await the police investigation and positive outcome. If you ask me personally, I want Portable gone too -- even though I was one of his earliest fans. I want sanity restored back into the Nigeria's music industry. We have had enough of this uncouth mannerless razz man. He's topping trending topics across all social media platforms and the people are yearning for his arrest. That's how quick fans can turn on one.

So if you're an up and coming entertainer, Portable is not the type of success to emulate. Don't even wish to get his kind of favor. You may not survive it.

Here are some things to keep in mind:

1. You need a professional team. If you're prepared for future prosperity, then you must have a team in place that'd make your transition into stardom smooth. Forget all the guys you started with in the structure. I'm not saying abandon your old guys, but hire a proper team of professionals that'll ensure you're doing things right.

2. You should act right at all times before and after you blow up. You can't be seen doing crass and razz things. You're a star now or going to be one, so act like one, like a proper professional.

3. Avoid thuggery. No matter how tough you might be, don't try to one up thugs because you're one too. Remember, the real lowlife thugs have nothing to lose. If you go one on one with them, you'll always be the loser -- even when you win. You have a name to protect, shun thuggery and violent cultism. Stop risking your life and that of your associates and family members because you want to act and appear tough. Don't be like Portable who's had his cars damaged by thugs numerous times in different parts of Nigeria.

4. Rebrand if you have to. Stars like Kizz Daniel (formerly Kiss Daniel) and Buju (now BNXN) had to rebrand at some point and their star power never dwindled.

5. Be a celebrity, not a "yeyebrity." As a public figure, you have to lead by example. You'll have millions of fans around the world, so whatever character you portray will have an influence on your fans. That's why you have to be a proper respectable celeb.

6. Be respectful and never defame old players in the industry. If you act like Portable and talk to anyone anyhow, it won't be long before you're bundled out of stardom. Always pay respect and give back the support you enjoy.

Those are some of the things you need to do differently from Portable to be able to have a chance at super stardom longevity. Never forget that you're not going to be the only talented person ever. Talented people have been here before you, even more talented people will still come after you. So take it easy and be good always.

Don't be like Portable!

Written by Jim Rapport

(Mynd44 Ishilove pls send to front page for everyone to learn. Thanks)

Ugly thing