In 2019, Ajayi Tolulope, aka T-Classic, had just completed his contract with a record label. The singer/ songwriter was at a crossroads. Tolulope was now free to pursue the law degree that he had always wanted. At the same time, T-Classic wished to leave a lasting impact on the music industry. So, he sought his mentor and former manager, Darasimi Famoyin. “I just called him like: yo bro, I have a song I want to drop. After this song, I’m just gonna drop it and forget about music,” Tolulope recalled.
After T-Classic dropped the single, he could no longer walk away from making music. As it turns out, the songwriter’s effort had impressed Darasimi, who owns a record label. This marked the beginning of a beautiful partnership.
As in any other profession, success in the music industry requires the right support system. That’s what Tolulope enjoyed — unconditional support from both the record label owner and his mum, Mrs. Alirat Famoyin. Mrs. Famoyin was T-Classic’s biggest fan. Not only was she the first to listen to the singer’s new singles, but she would also offer guidance when needed. “She was loving, caring, and really supportive,” T-Classic described his relationship with Mrs. Famoyin. “She would call me every time she heard my song played on the TV or radio.” Unfortunately, the budding friendship didn’t last as long as T-Classic would have wished. In April 2020, Darasimi Famoyin lost his mother to acute pneumonia.
Rather than lose themselves to the pain that followed, T-Classic and Darasimi chose to channel it into the one other thing that they had in common — music. “We miss her. And we just wanted a way to let her know that she’ll always have a place in our heart,” the singer mused. The death of Mrs. Alirat Famoyin led to the birth of Alirat, the EP. For Tolulope Ajayi and Darasimi Famoyin, the EP, Alirat extends beyond merely making good music. It’s about honoring their lost loved one — an extended playlist dedicated to a dearly departed mother.
T-Classic’s Alirat is already enjoying steady airplay on some top radio stations in the country. The extended playlist features relatively young producers such as Reward Beatz, Yalababayala, and godOmarr. According to record label owner, Damilare Famoyin, that did not happen by chance.
“I’ve always wanted to put out a body of work that showcases new talent, and Alirat provided such opportunity,” Famoyin says in an interview. “Everyone that contributed to this project are all new faces, from the producers to the featured artists.”
Famoyin states that the music industry is now open to young talents. Unlike the older generation, these young faces bring a sort of counterculture vibe to the music-making process, from the beats to the sing-along lyrics. “I feel like more people now demand for good music, and that’s what these guys make,” he says.
Alirat is a four-track extended playlist, that includes songs such as La Cream, Hold On, Pour Me Water (PMW), and Love You For Life. T-Classic is currently working on the visuals for two tracks in the extended playlist — Hold On and Pour Me Water. The team intends to donate twenty percent of the extended playlistʼs proceeds to an NGO.
The EP features the likes of producer Yalababayala, godomarr, Reward Beatz, engineering by Mowizzy and additional vocals from Olutimi.