MM Exclusive: Cheque

Words by Ralph Okobz

Cheque has risen from a university campus rapper known as Kyle B to one of Afrobeats and hip-hop’s most versatile voices. After graduating with a degree in Chemical Engineering from Obafemi Awolowo University and releasing his early gospel-hip-hop, ‘S.O.O.N’ EP in 2015 (featuring Fireboy DML, Chinko Ekun, and Virus Zamorra), he was signed to Phyno’s Penthauze Records in 2019.

His breakout came with the 2020 ‘Razor’ EP, anchored by the trap-infused hit “Zoom” (later remixed with Davido and Wale), followed by a feature on
Olamide’s “Warlord” from the 999 EP. In 2021 he dropped his debut album Bravo, which included standout collaborations like “History” with Fireboy DML, “Dangerous” with Ayra Starr, and “LOML” with Olamide.

Subsequent projects such as the 2023 ‘Chequemate’ EP (with Crayon on “Sunflawa”), the 2024 ‘What Would You Do Without Me’ EP, 2025’s
“Desperado,” and the 2026 ‘YAZI’ EP have showcased his evolving sound across Afrobeats, R&B, and melodic rap. Cheque’s accolades include winning Best Duo African Hip-Hop at the 2021 All Africa Music Awards alongside Fireboy DML for “History,” plus earlier nominations such as Headies Next Rated Act; he continues to build a catalogue that blends street energy with emotional depth, cementing his place as a consistent force in Nigerian music.

Can you take us back to your early days in Ondo State? What sparked your passion  for music, and how did your upbringing influence your style? 

I started music when I was in the university, studying chemical engineering. My  upbringing didn’t have much influence on my music. The only way I could say my  upbringing influenced my music was that my father was always playing music in the car.  That’s probably it but that didn’t influence me because I was just always listening to music.  I started music when I was in the university. I just stumbled on it and you know, it just came. 

As a graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University, how did your time at OAU shape  your musical journey, especially in terms of networking and early performances? 

I started music during an ASUU strike in the university. When I got to the  university, I was not singing, but there was an ASUU strike that made all of us go home.  So, I just went home and all I did was study till I completed the curriculum for the semester  and then I had nothing to do. Then I met somebody who was singing and I was like, “what  do you do? You sing for a living?” and then I just tried to sing and realised I have a good  voice.

My voice was very, you know, I like how it sounds and then I just started singing. Like, in my house, just singing people’s music during the period of the break, no school, hoping that when I got back to school, it would be back to my education. The original  intention was to chill and have fun with it but then I started and I never stopped. 

How did your relationship with Phyno begin, and what role has he played as a  mentor in your career? 

My relationship with Phyno started in 2019 when I was already in Lagos after I finished in school. There was this rap challenge by Reminisce (Alaga) going  on at that time. I put a video out for the challenge because I could rap and sing and then he just texted me out of the blue. It made sense because he raps and sings too. Although it was in his language there was a connection. He just helped me know that it is possible to have a rap hit and an Afrobeats hit as well. 

Walk us through the story of how you got discovered and signed to Penthauze Music  in 2019, what was that pivotal moment like?

Oh, It was good because it was a very important moment in my life to be signed at that time. If I wasn’t signed at that time, I don’t know what would have happened. That moment, somebody had to find me. I don’t know how I can express it but I didn’t know what it was and what was going to happen, but somebody had to find me because it was the last straw. 

You’ve collaborated with heavyweights like Olamide and Fireboy DML. Which  collaboration has been the most memorable for you, and why?

All my collaborations are great but the most memorable for me is History. I’m  very passionate about the song. The song is very personal to me. When I made the song, I was just listening to it and when I brought Fireboy in, it was like he just fit into that part of my crazy life. That was very personal for us so yes, I would pick History. 

Looking back at your discography, from “Nyem Space” to tracks with Phyno, how have these joint projects helped evolve your sound? 

My sound has always been the same. I always do the same thing. I sing a lot and  I rap a lot. I have always been all-rounded. I have always been able to do all kinds of music.  I’m always thinking of trying different things; afrobeats, trap, different things, because I just love music to be honest but yeah, my sound has always been the same. 

Your friendship and collaborations with Blaqbonez, like on “Best Friend,” seem effortless. How did your relationship start, and what makes working with him special? 

Well, we met in the university and he was the closest friend I had and we just  matched. It was like two pieces of a puzzle. We were together all the time. It was just so  seamless and we stopped going to classes together. At some point, we woke up, had fun, food, everything together. It was just seamless when we met. But we don’t wake up together anymore you know (laughs). But that’s how life is. I guess that’s what makes it special. 

You and Yhemo Lee both hail from OAU, can you share some fun stories from your  university days together and how that connection has influenced your paths in entertainment? 

Yhemo Lee was my first friend in the university. I don’t know how to put it but he was my first guy. I met him when I started music. I would go to an  entertainment ground where people were singing and he was always there. I would sing too and he would usually host. This was around 2011 or so, I can’t really remember but I went to shows and events where people sang and that’s how I met him. He was mutual friends with a girl that I was working with at the time we all just started moving together; himself, Asake and I were always together a lot.

He was an entertainment guru. He had his ways and like that, there was a connection. I was singing, he was promoting and hosting. All of us were just moving together, going to shows, he does the MC and brings us out,  we go back to the same house and we were all very supportive of each other and just  doing shit together. So, that helped us and everybody around us evolve. 

Rumors have been swirling about you kicking off your own label. What inspired this move, and how does it differ from your experience at Penthauze? 

I’ve always been somebody who knew that, one day, I would start my own  thing. My contract expired and my relationship with Phyno is good. So, I just created my own stuff, we talked about it and he was okay with it. He supported and assisted with whatever he needed to do. 

Let’s talk about your newly released album ‘Yazi.’ What was the creative process  like, did you draw from personal experiences or current trends in Nigerian music? 

Everything I do is from personal experiences, especially with Yazi. It is like an  initial step to where I am going to. It feels like a brainwashing technique for me. The way  I have made music, I have put my hands in different pockets in the past few years. In my eyes, music is a long journey. It is something that is infinite. It is like I have put my hand in a different pocket and this is the start for me. It is a brand-new step of what is ahead. The beginning of something  memorable. It reflects who I am and the music is why it is personal. This is in-depth for me. It has nothing to do with influence from another person. I just had to make it personal for me. 

How did you approach the production and songwriting for ‘Yazi’? Were there any  challenges in blending different genres or working with new producers? 

No, there was not too much blending in general. It was just my emotional trap  music. I just pray to God and I just make the music that I want to make. It is very much in my lane. There were no major challenges. The challenges were with selecting the songs.  Working with producers, you need to know which ones fit and which ones don’t. I didn’t really have too many challenges because for Yazi, I already knew what I wanted so I could  direct them myself on what to produce and I tried to let them know where I’m going. 

The public reception to ‘Yazi’ has been buzzing. What feedback from fans has  surprised you the most, and how has it impacted your view of the project? 

My view of the project would remain the same even if nobody liked it. I made  the project to be the start of something. Even if somebody told me “I don’t Like it”, that would have been cool. It wouldn’t move the needle because I made it in a honest way. I couldn’t change anything from that, but it’s great that people like it. It’s a great thing. I’m happy people like it. There’s no surprise. It’s good because I would love people to love my music and because I don’t want them to hear nonsense, I don’t really want to feed people nonsense. I don’t want to be a problem in their ears. I want to help you be better. I want to make you feel better about yourself and take you to a higher ground.

With ‘Yazi’ out now, what’s next for Cheque? Any hints on future works, potential  tours, or new collaborations in the pipeline?

Oh yes! Yes! Yes! I have new stuff; I’ve started a great movement so I want to  keep going with endless possibilities in life. That’s what life is all about. You just keep exploring until you can’t explore anymore.