Iyanya Reveals Why Nicki Minaj Turned Down the Offer to Feature on Kukere Remix

Photo: Iyanya/Instagram

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Veteran Nigerian singer Iyanya is a dreamer who had dreams that once took him to the US to work out a collaboration with Nicki Minaj but he couldn’t afford to pay her. 

This was way back in 2012 following the release of ‘Kukere’ which shot him to stardom. His thought was getting an international artist to work with him in his bid to make it to the international market. 

He talked to his then-manager and business partner Ubi Franklin and challenged him to make his dream come true. He told him that being scared to dream big meant he wasn’t big enough as a star and this challenged him so much. 

They both identified the Trinidadian-born American-based rapper Nicki Minaj and they flew to the US to meet her and pitch their idea. Minaj made time for Iyanya and Franklin but her $200,000 charge for collaboration left them dumbfounded.  They were only able to raise $70,000 but that wasn't enough for Nicki Minaj's management declined to accept that amount. 

“Ur waist was so massive we decided it should go international and we needed the right artiste to help with that journey. @ubifranklini suggested Nicki Minaj and I asked how we're gonna pay for that he laughed and said 'if your dreams don't scare you they aren't big enough," Iyanya said in a post shared via his Twitter page. 

Iyanya later did a remix of the song and featured fellow Nigerian artist D’banj.