Jude Abaga, born 4th October 1981 and better known as MI Abaga, is a Nigerian rapper, songwriter and record producer. MI became the CEO of Chocolate City from June 2015 to 2019 after just recently being signed by the music group.
The talented rapper has won himself notable awards and nomination; MI’s story, however, is one that transcends obscurity.
Abaga has won Best Hip Hop and Best New Act at the 2009 MTV Africa Music Awards and was nominated in the Best International Act category at the BET Awards 2010.
The rapper rose to prominence in 2006 when his song “Crowd Mentality” became popular in his hometown of Jos. His critically acclaimed debut studio album Talk About It was released on 11 December 2008. Four years after that, he released The Chairman as his third studio album.
On the 6th of March 2020, M.I Abaga announced his exit from Chocolate City Music and launch of another record label ‘Incredible Music.’
Just before he left Choc City, MI had been tagged both controversial, misunderstood, over and underappreciated, and a host of other things.
Here’s A Timeline Of His Activities Just Before He Left The Group
The Transition From Signee To CEO
M.I moved from being an artist who signed to Chocolate City without an advance as he pointed out in ‘Head of The Family,’ in 2016 into being the rapper who gave a chance to his comrades, Jesse Jagz and Ice Prince.
Then, in an excellent change of story, the rapper became a shareholder on Chocolate City (as he rapped on ‘The Viper’) and then, CEO.
The Warner Deal And The Rumours
The Warner deal is the partnership announced by Chocolate City and Warner Music Group on March 28, 2019. This would ordinarily mean more reach, more buzz and more for Chocolate City, but rumor had it that Abaga was fired from his position as C.E.O by Maikori who is the C.E.O of Chocolate City Group, the parent company of Chocolate City Music.
However, that seemed phony except the articles of association of the Chocolate City Group gives such power to the group CEO (Maikori) to fire any of his subordinates.
The First ‘Two New Company’ – TASCK, Loopy Records
On April 13, 2012, MI Abaga announced Loopy Records – his own record label. Interestingly, Audu Maikori, Paul Okeugo and Yahaya Maikori were missing at the launch. At the time, rumors swirled that he had left Chocolate City.
On September 11, 2019, M.I. Abaga alongside, AQ, Loose Kaynon and Blaqbonez of 100 Crowns released their second Martell Cypher within the space of seven months. It was released under Chocolate City, 100 Crowns and a new company, TASCK.
On the evening of the same day, M.I. Abaga posted a picture on his Twitter page. It was beneath an inscription, “TASCK.”
MI As Choc City Boss (2015-2020?)
M.I. Abaga had a four-year stint as the Chief Executive Officer of Chocolate City Music. He assumed the role on June 30, 2015. One of his first acts as CEO was to green-light the Indestructible Choc Boi Nation. It was a step in the right direction, but it came too late.
Before then, Brymo and Jesse Jagz had left the label. On the roster were Ice Prince, DJ Caise, Pryse, Victoria Kimani, and so forth.
During Abaga’s stint, Koker, DJ Lambo, CKay, Classiq, Kahli Abdu, Dice Ailes, Yung L, and Ruby Gyang were signed to the label. Jesse Jagz also returned to the label in 2015.
Abaga himself has also released three projects since he became C.E.O. During that period, he had the hit clarion call, ‘You Rappers Should Fix Up Your Lives.’ Track was on the album, Yxng Dxnzl: A Study On Self-Worth. For the track, Abaga was named Lyricist on the roll at the Headies Awards in 2018.
The Beef Between Other Rappers
MI Vs Kelly Handsome:
M.I. Abaga is one of the greatest rappers of his generation, for that, he is not liked by his peers and he knows it.
Some of these were addressed on M.I’s seventh studio project, Yxng Dxnzl: A Study on Self-Worth. It’s only normal that greats are not liked because they can’t please everyone who has a theory about how they should act.
Even though the dislike has always been alive, M.I’s first beef was with Kelly Handsome.
On his track, ‘Talk About It’ MI rapped that, “Kelly Handsome is Handsome, I’ll tell him when I see him. If I wanted a man, it would be Keke (Kenny Ogungbe) or D1 (Dayo Adeneye)…”
More currently MI has had his moments with Vector the Viper, Iceberg Slim and many more.
