Singer Khalid Said – My dad was a tailor, I was a mechanic

Rising Nigerian artist Khaid, real name Sulaimon Shekoni Solomon, remembers his upbringing with a mother who was a teacher and a hairstylist and a father who was a tailor.

The singer, who is nominated for a Heady Award, disclosed that he was born into a family of ten, consisting of his parents and eight other children.

He claimed that he did not finish his education because, after high school, he was terrified of writing the JAMB and did not want to attend college.

The ‘Anabella’ crooner, however, noted that in the course of hustling after high school, he has worked as a mechanic, painter and barber.

“I was raised in an eight-child household,” Khaid remarked. My dad was a tailor and my mum was a teacher as well as a hairstylist. I grew up in the Ojo area of Lagos State. My primary and secondary education was at Ola Greater Tomorrow School, Ojo. I started singing when I was in secondary school after which I dabbled in different street hustles. I was once a mechanic, painter and a barber.

I was influenced to do music from a very young age because my parents were music lovers. My dad loved fuji music and my mum listened to Michael Jackson. From constantly listening to Michael Jackson, I got exposed to more foreign music. That was where my love for trap music grew and I started making trap songs.”

“I was still a mechanic then when Sydney Talker sent me a message on Instagram. When I saw that he followed me and ‘liked’ some of my posts, I thought it was a fake account.

So, I did not bother to check it out. When I eventually checked it, I wanted to send him a message to thank him for following me. But I realised he already texted me. We kept talking until one day, I just told him I was in Lagos Island and asked if I could come see him. I went to his house and I came up with about six songs. After a freestyle session, I later got signed and we did the paperwork.”

Regarding finishing his education, Khaid stated, “I still intend to attend college. Immediately after I left secondary school, I did not want to go to university because I was scared of writing the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination. In addition, I worked as a mechanic until I was signed to a record label.