Nigerian rapper Jeremiah Chukwuebuka Ani, professionally known as Jeriq, has credited music with steering his life away from crime and a possible prison sentence.
Speaking during a candid interview with YouTuber The Smallie, the Enugu-born artiste revealed that he had been arrested on several occasions in the past due to his involvement in vices before his music career took shape.
According to Jeriq, encounters with law enforcement agencies were frequent during that period, leaving physical reminders of those experiences.
He explained that discovering and committing fully to music became a turning point that helped him break free from a destructive path.
Jeriq expressed gratitude for the role music played in his life, noting that without it, his story might have ended very differently.
The rapper also reflected on the challenges he faced while trying to establish himself in Lagos, Nigeria’s entertainment hub. He said his first visit to the city yielded little progress, as he was still relatively unknown and struggled to access collaboration opportunities.
However, persistence paid off. Jeriq noted that when he returned to Lagos in 2021, circumstances had changed significantly, allowing him to collaborate with fellow rapper Dremo on a joint project titled East and West.
Looking ahead, the rapper expressed confidence in the global appeal of his sound, stating that he believes he can achieve international recognition while rapping in his native Igbo language.
Jeriq’s story adds to the growing narrative of Nigerian artistes using music not only as a creative outlet, but also as a powerful tool for personal transformation.
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