OREZI EXPLAINS HIATUS: “I TOOK MYSELF OUT OF THE COMPETITION”
Afropop singer Esegine “Orezi” Allen has opened up about the self-inflicted lull that has kept him largely off Nigeria’s mainstream music radar in recent years, admitting the break was not caused by industry politics or external pressures but by a loss of personal drive.
“I became less ambitious—comfortable where I was,” he told Hip TV in a newly aired interview. “I took myself out of the competition.”
Orezi, whose 2014 hit “Shoki” and 2015 album The Ghen Ghen Album established him as a club favourite, said a dwindling hunger for success gradually eroded his industry presence.
Praising Davido’s Relentless Work Ethic
Contrasting his own complacency with the tenacity of superstar Davido, Orezi praised the DMW boss for maintaining a relentless work ethic despite already being at the top.
“David dey hustle like say he never blow before,” Orezi said in Pidgin. “Money dey, everything dey, but he keeps hustling. That’s the spirit.”
Concern for Afrobeats’ Dance DNA
Addressing the evolving sound of Afrobeats, the Delta-born singer voiced concern that the genre’s signature danceability is being watered down.
“We love to party, we love to dance. If you begin remove that from Afrobeats and replace it with all this vibey-vibey, you’re killing Afrobeats,” he argued.
A “Full-Force” Comeback
Now, Orezi insists his hiatus is over. “I’ve been around. I’m back—full force,” he declared, adding that he is ready to compete with “any artist” on charts and dance floors alike.
With a new single expected later this quarter and rumoured collaborations in the pipeline, fans will soon see whether Orezi’s renewed ambition translates into another run of club anthems—and whether his warning about Afrobeats’ dance core will resonate across the scene.
Watch the full Hip TV interview below.
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