J.Derobie Reveals Family Support And Early Love for Music Shows Shaped His Career

Ghanaian musician J.Derobie has said his upbringing between the Northern Region and Accra, as well as years spent watching music talent shows with his mother, played a key role in shaping his career.

Speaking on Chef It Up on 3Music TV, the singer said he was born in Yendi before moving to Accra as a child, where he grew up in Nungua.

He recalled attending Henry Preparatory School and later a basic school in Nungua before relocating with his family to Medie. He later returned to Yendi for senior high school, where he studied General Arts at Dagbon State Senior High Technical School.

“I used to write music in high school and I knew that I would become a musician one day,” he said.

J.Derobie said watching programmes such as American Idol, Vodafone Icons, MTV Mentals and The X Factor with his mother encouraged his interest in music.

“We used to watch them and judge the contestants together,” he said, adding that hearing a woman in his neighbourhood sing also convinced him that he could pursue music.

Although he is known for his dancehall-influenced sound, the musician said his original ambition was to make Afrobeats music.

He cited Jamaican acts including Popcaan, Masicka and Vybz Kartel among his influences, while also crediting Ghanaian musicians Kojo Antwi and Daddy Lumba.

“Dancehall was something I used to massage my brain with. It wasn’t the main thing that I wanted to do,” he said.

Before music became his full-time career, J.Derobie said he worked as a waiter, cashier and later a chef at a restaurant while studying System Engineering at IPMC.

He said balancing work, school and studio sessions made recording difficult, revealing that it took him about six months to complete his breakthrough song Poverty because he could only record around his work schedule.

The singer said his career changed after he entered Mr Eazi’s Empower 100 initiative by submitting a video performance of his music.

He said he almost decided against posting the clip, but encouragement from a friend convinced him to upload it.

According to J.Derobie, the response online the following morning marked a turning point in his career. He also added that his parents fully supported his decision to pursue music professionally.