Few producers in Nigeria can lay claim to making music that has been certified in different parts of the world– Gold in France, Platinum in the UK, Gold in the Netherlands, and Gold in the USA. Well, Phantom is not an average producer as he has continuously redefined what pop music in Nigeria (and Africa at large) is. Today, he has a multi award-winning songs under his belt and has worked with some of Nigeria’s biggest stars in Zlatan (“Bolanle”), Fireboy DML (“Diana”), Tekno (“Skeletun”) and more.
2022 has been a prolific year for the producer; he is the hitmaker behind the biggest pan-African hit song with Ghana’s Camidoh’s “Sugarcane (Remix)” featuring Nigeria’s Mayorkun, Ghana’s King Promise and UK’s Darkoo. He has produced Fireboy DML’s fan-favorite “Diana” off the artiste’s third studio album Playboy – featuring none other Afrobeats favorite international collaborator in Chris Brown and Shenssea.
Earlier this year, Phantom inked a deal with global publishing company, BMG – further evidence of his growing reputation as an international hitmaker and his status as one of Nigeria’s best.
Phantom had a chat with our correspondent at TurnTable Charts and here is the conversation below;
The conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity
Can you give us a bit on your background?
Phantom: I grew up in a polygamous family as the last of three children from my mother. I was and brought up in Abule Egba area of Lagos. My father is a businessman and my mum was a headmistress of a primary school when I was younger. I had my primary education at St John's Primary School, Abule-Egba and secondary schoo, education at Vetland High School. I’m an Alumni of University of Lagos, studied Urban and Regional Planning.
How did your early life shape you as a producer?
Phantom: If you told me as a child that I would make a record that would become an anthem for Nigerians across the world, I probably would have laughed it off. But God has his plans and I want to believe my early life set me in this path to make “Ye,” “Sugarcane” and even “Diana”
So about your deal with BMG
Yes, it is a global publishing deal with BMG, I feel it is a start of something amazing for me; sort of like a new season unlocked, and of course, more hits coming your speakers. I would say trust the process, and I hope to keep getting the flowers I deserve and more this year.