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Portable : From the streets of Sango to the top of the charts

If “wahala” had a picture in the dictionary, Portable’s face would probably be there. But did this stop him from getting the No.1 song in Nigeria? Hell no!

Habeeb Okikiola, widely known as Portable, is a Nigerian musician whose unabashed confidence and candor has propelled him to prominence in the music industry.

It’s uncommon for a musician’s persona to eclipse their music, yet this has been the case for Portable since his breakout with Olamide’s feature on “Zazoo Zeh” in 2020.

His outspokenness against injustice and exploitation or “reaping” as he calls it, in the industry has earned him both allies and adversaries, a fact seemingly of little concern to him as he continues to speak his truth.

Despite stereotypes suggesting that his rugged appearance and aggressive demeanor might hinder his progress, Portable defied expectations when Skepta, a prominent UK rapper, collaborated with him, opening doors to a global audience.

Skepta & Portable – Tony Montana

‘Tony Montana’ is out now. Listen to the single here https://hypeddit.com/skeptaxportable/tonymontana #KnifeAndFork Artist: Skepta Title of Film: Tony Montana Directed by Capone Twitter: @Skepta Instagram: @Skeptagram Facebook: @SkeptaOfficial TikTok: @SkeptaTV

Their track “Tony Montana” topped the Apple Music Nigeria chart on March 2nd, marking Portable’s first chart-topping success.

Portable’s journey to success has been a long ride that we’ve all witnessed, and even though his lifestyle may not be aspirational, his relentless work ethic is undeniable.

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Written by Tunmise Olasokan

Creative writer from 9-5, but an Idan 24/7.