Last year, I had the pleasure of interviewing FirstKlaz, and I can confidently say it’s been nothing short of inspiring to witness his meteoric rise since then.
For those unfamiliar with him, allow me to introduce an impeccable creative genius and versatile artist—FirstKlaz is undeniably one to watch.
His journey has been fascinating, marked by his groundbreaking social media content, out-of-this-world storytelling techniques, and the development of genre fusions that seem almost unimaginable. His prowess is unmatched, and it was a privilege to delve into the mind of such a visionary artist.
Our conversation began on a light and friendly note, with FirstKlaz exuding positive energy and a contagious spirit. We even shared a moment reflecting on what had been a particularly stressful week for both of us.
If you know FirstKlaz, you’re likely aware of his controversial social media presence and the lengths he goes to promote his craft. I asked him how he manages the demands of this. “It’s a lot. Most people don’t know the amount of work that goes into bringing those contents to life. It’s crazy, but I can’t complain,” he revealed. And guess what? We might someday get a masterclass on content creation from FirstKlaz himself—fingers crossed!
FirstKlaz has released several tracks where he introduced fresh sounds, such as Gen Z Fuji, Gen Z Fuji II featuring Terry Apala, Gen Z Faaji featuring Joeboy, and Gen Z Arewa. Notably, in promoting Gen Z Fuji II, he spotlighted Aunty Ramota, a move that was as endearing as it was clever. When I asked what inspired these tracks, he explained that he wanted to blend old-school genres with new-school melodies and lyrics that resonate with Gen Z, hence the recurring title. How did this idea come about? “To be honest, I’m a deep thinker. I feel like while everyone around me sees things with their normal eye, I have a third eye. I like to be green while others are red,” he shared, offering a glimpse into his unique creative process.
It was clear that thinking outside the box was second nature to him.
We discussed how he managed to collaborate with artists like Terry Apala and Joeboy. “I’ve known Terry Apala for close to a year now. I made a freestyle and promoted it by mimicking bigger artists like Olamide, Burna Boy, and Jeriq. The first one I did was of Terry Apala, and it blew up. He then reached out to me, saying he was impressed. So when I did Gen Z Fuji, he reached out again, asking me to send him the beat, and that’s how Gen Z Fuji II came to be. With Joeboy, it was a similar story. We’ve known each other for about a year, and he’s surprisingly mentioned me in some interviews. I was just doing my thing, and people were watching.”
FirstKlaz recounted how he and Joeboy became acquainted. “When I posted that freestyle, he reposted it on his story. We eventually connected, and when I dropped the first and second verses of the song, Joeboy told me he liked it. I was in the studio when he sent me that message, and I was like, ‘Big bro, can you please give me a verse?’ and he said, ‘Why not?’ In less than two days, he sent it.”
As we delved deeper into who he is as a person, FirstKlaz opened up about where he draws his inspiration. “I like to do things the way I feel in that particular moment. I don’t drink or smoke, but if I want to be in that zone, I can be there without any influence. Sometimes I feel like I have a talent for zoning out to any zone I want to be in.”
He also spoke about his motivation and background. “Where I come from and my family. I grew up in a crazy part of Abuja, Yanyan,” he explained, likening it to a box. “There’s an OG every youngin wants to become. It’s like we didn’t know any life outside the box. I thank God for the secondary school I went to, where I mixed with the rich kids. My parents spent all their money on my education, and that’s when I realized there was more to life than that lifestyle.”
He fondly recalled a particular girl he met during his secondary school days, Amanda “She changed my mindset.”
Folks! there you have it the person who inspired the name of his popular signature piece, his doll ‘Amanda’.
FirstKlaz recently debuted a new hairstyle, inspired by none other than Frank Ocean. “I was on my Afro and didn’t know what to do with it. The day I was thinking about going to the salon to cut it, I saw a picture of Frank Ocean, and then I told my neighbor to help me plait my hair like that.” This ties back to something he’d mentioned earlier: “I like to do my things organically.”
When it comes to handling critics, FirstKlaz maintains a positive outlook. “If everyone loves everything you do, then you have a problem. A lot of times when I post stuff, I get hate comments, but when it starts blowing up, the same people who criticized come back praising the song.”
Looking ahead to 2025, FirstKlaz has big plans: “I’ll be everywhere, not just Nigeria or Africa—I’ll go global.”
In an interesting revelation, FirstKlaz shared that his real name is Justice Elsa Joseph—a detail he tends to keep under wraps (though I might just be the first to document it!).
During our chat, he spoke about how his family motivated him, especially his older brother, who was the first to believe in his craft and sees him as a global artist. “He made me start believing it more.”
Fun fact: FirstKlaz loves to draw, paint, and has a passion for fashion. And here’s something new—he’s a fan of toys, particularly his fidget spinner and action figures.
But his journey hasn’t been without struggles “There was a point when I was feeling like nothing, I started doubting myself and everything I was doing.” This brought him to share a story of when he put out a freestyle to a song and it blew up. He’d shown his friends and nobody liked it but he put it out like that and it took a few days but it blew up all of a sudden “I saw my phone vibrating. That was the first time I saw my phone like that, getting that amount of buzz. I was using one iPhone 6, and half of the screen wasn’t working. I wasn’t even seeing anything with half of the screen so I had to turn the phone to check what was happening”
He talked about how he felt before putting out that freestyle “When I put it out and didn’t get engagement I felt bad somehow because my friends were like ‘I told you this stuff was not mad’ but still I said Omo I don’t have anything to lose, I wasn’t concerned with engagements and I was just doing my thing. The freestyle was everywhere and the artist had to do an open verse for the song but he didn’t post my version though.”
As for his future collaborations, FirstKlaz dreams of working with Kanye West, who he feels shares a similar mindset, Frank Ocean, and in Nigeria, Rema and Asa.
He left a powerful message for other emerging artists: “Be yourself, walk with God, and don’t take no for an answer. I got a lot of no’s, but I kept moving. People told me to my face that I would never blow, but I just kept moving.”
As our conversation drew to a close, I asked FirstKlaz how he felt after reflecting on his journey. “I thank God for where I’m at today, but I still feel there’s a lot I need to do. I’ve not even started; I just need to keep the fire and keep it going.”
FirstKlaz’s love for music shines through when he speaks about the songs that resonate most with him—Rema’s Calm Down and Burna Boy x Jorja Smith’s Gum Body.
As he continues to push boundaries and redefine what it means to be an artist in today’s world, one thing is clear: FirstKlaz is just getting started.
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Get ready to dive into the extraordinary world of Firstklaz, the rising artist and songwriter who has been making waves with his infectious song “I Like Girls.” This visionary talent has captured the hearts of music lovers around the globe. In this exclusive interview, we have the privilege of delving into Firstklaz’s creative process, exploring his experiences in the entertainment capital, and uncovering his grand vision for the future. Brace yourself for a captivating conversation that will leave you inspired and eager to learn more about the mind behind the music. Prepare to be enchanted as we uncover the triumphs, challenges, and brilliant future that lies ahead for Firstklaz. Let’s get started!
Andrea: Hi Firstklaz, we’d love to know more about you and your preferences when it comes to the perfect night out. Can you share with us your ideal evening and the kind of company that would make it truly special?
Firstklaz: Absolutely! As an artist who values my personal space and finds comfort in quieter settings, my ideal night out reflects my innate introverted nature. Picture this: a cozy atmosphere with soft lighting, accompanied by a captivating art gallery or a serene acoustic performance. Surrounded by a select group of close friends or perhaps someone who understands my introversion, we would engage in deep conversations, appreciating the artistry and the beauty of the moment.
Whether it’s sharing laughter and stories amidst the company of like-minded souls or simply basking in the peaceful ambiance of a cozy reading nook, my ideal night out is all about nurturing meaningful connections and finding solace in the things that truly resonate with my introverted soul.
In summary, my perfect evening embraces the warmth of intimate settings, intellectual conversations, and a true appreciation for the arts. It’s all about creating unforgettable memories with individuals who understand and respect my introverted nature, allowing me to fully embrace the beauty of an ideal night out that aligns with who I am at my core. Thank you for the fantastic question!
Yeah, that’s good that’s interesting.
Andrea: Okay, so on days when you must go out because I mean it’s not something we can entirely rule out but on days when you just must go out, who would you like to go with you? Who would you take with you?
Firstklaz: Yeah, I have a friend whose name is web-plug.
Andrea: Web plug?
Firstklaz: Yeah, I like going out with him because he’s outspoken. Those kinds of people create opportunities for you. There are things I can’t say myself as an artist because it might come off as trying to brag, so I like going out with him because he says them on my behalf
Response (Andrea): I like that. I’m with you on that. I’m with you on that, everyone likes an intellectual speaker, and having that kind of person as a friend is a plus, a huge plus, and a breath of fresh air, I can’t lie.
Firstklaz: Yes, I’ve listened to your song, your music is so thrilling, and it catches my attention and the attention of the whole of A&R Duty, I can say that for sure.
Response (Andrea): Thank you.
Andrea: Who do you make music for?
Firstklaz: Everybody. yeah, my music is not boxed like it’s not limited to a particular set of people. I don’t like limiting myself because I feel like as humans, we can do anything we can imagine so I don’t like putting myself in a box. I try to do something everybody can enjoy.
Andrea: Firstklaz, networking plays an integral role in the art world, and we’d love to know more about your approach to it. How do you go about networking, and how does it fit into your artistic journey?
Firstklaz: That’s a great question. When it comes to networking, I believe it’s an essential part of the art world and a vital tool for any artist seeking to make their mark in the industry. For me, networking involves a multifaceted approach that encompasses both physical and digital outreach.
In terms of physical networking, I attend art events, exhibitions, and other gatherings within my community. These events provide an opportunity for me to meet other artists, art collectors, and industry professionals. By engaging with them and building meaningful relationships, I can expand my knowledge of the art world, gain valuable insights about exhibition opportunities, and build my reputation as an artist.
When it comes to digital networking, social media platforms are an excellent means for me to showcase my artwork, connect with other artists and industry professionals, and engage with a wider audience. Posting regularly, using relevant hashtags, and interacting with followers are essential aspects of digital networking for me.
Networking is not just about finding new opportunities, but it’s also about building lasting relationships. When you focus on building genuine connections, it becomes more than just a means to an end and instead becomes a fulfilling experience that helps you grow both professionally and personally.
Andrea: Your latest single “I like girls”. It has stunned our speakers and it has kept them awake a lot. I love it. Like I said before, I love it and I’d like to ask what the vision behind the track was. And tell us who was involved in the creation of that song.
Firstklaz: Okay the vision for that song is… most times when I pick up my phone, I’m on Twitter especially.
When I scroll through, I see people trying to insult women and say nasty stuff about them. Most people saying those things have sisters, we have significant others, we have so many special women in our lives, so I don’t know if they really like the fact people say stuff about their sisters and all that. women are very special; I think they deserve better
And in the creation of that song; The producer, hit sound was the producer that made the beats, crazy and he sent it to me then I just like created a song and I told him the song was going to blow up.
Response (Andrea): And it did. That’s interesting, it’s good to know and I like the fact that you put women in front of your music. you made something for them, gave them a place, gave them a voice, gave them confidence, it’s good to have people stand up for women. it’s good it’s good, I like that.
Andrea: So how are things with you and how has the reaction been since you released the music “I like girls” what has been the reaction of people?
Firstklaz: It’s been crazy I really had to log out of my Instagram from my phone now when I’m talking to you because I mean like my phone right now, notifications from different places so I just don’t want anything to distract this special interview, so I had to log off my Instagram. It’s been crazy people really love this song.
Response (Andrea): Interesting, interesting.
Andrea: Okay, moving on, do you have a particular project coming out soon?
Firstklaz: Yeah, okay I’m the type of guy that I might decide to drop something today, tomorrow I’ll stop feeling it then the next day after tomorrow I’ll come up with different stuff altogether. So, I’ve recorded more than seven projects. As I said earlier, I’m a very boring guy so music is the only thing I do, most of the time. like I have other stuff, but music is what I give like my hundred. yeah, so I record a lot.
I have a project that’s supposed to come out soon, “invalid”, or “format”. like a pack of three songs. oops; oops is a song on its own. Invalid, this is a song on its own, format is a song on its own. Oops, I’ve recorded it, I’ve done everything, I even shot the video for oops but like I said I’m this type of person now that will do something, and I’ll change my mind so that’s the only thing holding that project for now and I have a short feel for it.
I’m saying it here for the first time. This is the first time I’m announcing the project.
Response (Andrea): Oh, great Thanks for sharing that with us Well, we’ll be very happy to listen to those songs and see what you have for us we’ll be delighted to. so please try and release it soon for us, we’re starving.
Andrea: Yeah, lyrically we really like your storytelling and you really let us into your current mindset which is good do you feel that writing is becoming easier for you? like over time do you think writing has become easier for you?
Firstklaz: Yeah I think so and I have always wanted to write movies and books so that’s one of the things I’ve learned a lot of like from the lyrics I learned a lot from movies like those people writing movies script writers and those people writing book authors and all that I learned a lot from their steps everything like how they break things down so I think that is helping me in my songwriting.
Andrea: That’s impressive really, very impressive. Okay, we’ve basically gone over all the questions I’ve had scheduled for you do you have any questions you would like to ask?
Firstklaz: Uh not at all. yeah, and I would like to say big ups to you guys. You are doing a great job because we artists, Artists like me need to go through a lot to get ahead so people like you make our work easier.
Response (Andrea): “Appreciate the love! ❤️👏”
Response (Firstklaz): Yeah, keep supporting Afrobeat. It would be the next great thing. It would be the new R&B.
Response (Andrea): It will. well, the plan is to grow together and with talents like you I’m sure the sky is the stepping stone. so big ups keep it up we are very impressed with everything you’ve done and what you plan on doing moving on and we do hope to keep the relationship it’s been a great time having you on it’s been very interesting, very fun I like where you communicate I like your vision and of course, I love your song so thank you very much and like I said I do hope to hear from you soon I do hope to see more stuff from you soon yeah keep up the good work keep on mastering your crafts. The sky is just your starting point. Thank you.
Andrea: Okay one more question, what do you have planned for the rest of the year?
Firstklaz: Every year, I set a milestone I want to achieve for myself. And this year, I said I want to get like 500k followers on Instagram, and on every platform earlier this year I was at 4,000 followers and this is just June and I’ve gotten to like 25k so I still believe I can get there so and I have a lot of stuff coming to a lot of work like I really want to do this I don’t want to like I said earlier I don’t want to be boxed doing stuff for this set of people I want to do global stuff I want to like I’m really going to take afrobeat global like what I said earlier. Afrobeat is going to be like the next R&B. So, like before December I know a lot of things are going to happen and a lot of things will change.
Andrea: Definitely. You are in Lagos?
Firstklaz: Yes, I’m in Lagos.
Andrea: How has the vibe been since you got here?
Firstklaz: It’s been crazy!!! Lagos is not for the weak.
Andrea: So, what have you been up to since you got here?
Firstklaz: I have been recording. Working on more projects.
Andrea: Interesting, interesting. Okay, that’s good. That’s good. I guess we will wrap it up now. Thank you, thank you for having me. Thank you for giving us your time. I’ll leave you to enjoy the rest of your day. Enjoy your holiday. Thank you so much.
Firstklaz: Thanks for having me
Listen up further on his Spotify.
See more via the IG page.
Interviewed by “Andrew Ebosetaleh Andrea”