“I have an incredible story to tell.” Qing Madi has given quite a few interviews since emerging as the hottest kid on the block, but that particular line sticks out as a white guy in the middle of the Oshodi market would. It’s been just a year since she kicked off her professional career, but hers is a story that gets more incredible the closer you look. Earning over 10 million streams barely weeks after turning 17 years old? That doesn’t happen around here. Scoring 1.1 million YouTube streams within 11 days of dropping a music video to your latest single? Be serious, please. Possessing a talent so immense it has Kanye West’s manager flying to Nigeria twice in one week to lock you down on a contract? That’s just plain fiction. And yet it isn’t. It’s exactly how Qing Madi’s career is playing out right before our eyes.
As mind-blowing as the feats mentioned above are – and there are still a couple more in her vault – it’s important to mention that none of them happened by chance. Everything happening for Qing Madi now is not random spells of good luck. On the contrary, they are dividends of a long and diligent process she passed through to forge her not just into a talent with the potential to be a world-beater but one who could deal with the pressures of stardom at such a young age. The driving force – or puppet master, if you will – behind that is her mother. Mrs Chukwuma, who was herself a singer and dancer, noticed early that Chimamanda Pearl might have inherited her gifts and never looked back. She gave – and still hasn’t stopped giving – 100% support every step of the way, enlisting her child for talent shows and enrolling her in ballet dance classes. Her father was not as supportive, but it’s safe to say he has come around now that his daughter’s voice is in constant rotation on TV and radio stations.
If you’re wondering why there’s so much fuss about Qing Madi, it’s simply because she’s got everything. That sounds like a bold claim to make about a 17-year-old, but the evidence speaks for itself. She combines her singing with compelling dance moves reminiscent of the late R&B queen, Aaliyah. Several years of performing for diverse audiences have honed her stage presence. Hence, she has held the audience spellbound at every live performance, Homecoming and July’s Mainland Block Party being prime examples. So, it makes sense that top labels and talent management brands were queueing up to sign her up. Jton Music was first in line, and the imprint put Bu Thiam onto her. For those who might need help understanding why that’s a big deal, Bu Thiam is Kanye West’s manager and has worked with megastars like Rihanna, Akon, and Lady Gaga. He is also the current Executive Vice President of Columbia Records and was previously an A&R Def Jam. Enough said.
Despite all her many great qualities, Qing Madi will mainly be judged on her singing and songwriting. She won’t mind that because she’s fine at that too. She has been writing songs for a decade and even functioned as a songwriter for local artists in Benin, where she grew up and later in Lagos after relocating. Her biggest inspiration is Kendrick Lamar, and she continues to study the elite American songwriter with the intention to match his levels. Her singing has no immediately obvious flaws, either in terms of vocal prowess or delivery. So, it’s no fluke that her latest release, “Ole”, has been streamed four million times in less than a month of its release. It’s no fluke that her two preceding releases, “See Finish” and “Why”, became instant hits for their flair and relatability.
What’s next for Qing Madi? Well, there’s a ton in store. The teenage sensation has an EP in the works. Provided her output remains at its current high level, the project will be a success. We can expect her to step out of the comfort zone of her preferred Afro-R&B sound. In fact, she has revealed she has a rap song recorded and ready to go. If it makes the cut, we will see how much she has learnt from her idol. But it’s not all just about music for Qing Madi. She still has a school in her plans, with a law degree high on her priority list. Any route she opts to take, you get the feeling she’ll emerge a trailblazer. At just 17 years, the world is at her feet, and she almost definitely will use it as a stepping stone to reach the stars.
