Tobby Drillz is an American based Afrobeats artist from Lagos, Nigeria. He describes his music as Razz Soul which he also calls his alias.
“A lot of people see me and my persona gives them a different insight on me. A lot of people think I’m a Rapper or a Reggae artist but Razz Soul is a fusion of melodic sounds and it is a ‘diamond in the rough type of sound…you just don’t see it coming.”
Tobby Drillz, like many artists, admits he has always been interested in music. He credits his uncle who was a great singer, for teaching him how to know what should be tagged as great music and what shouldn’t.
He first got exposed to music-making in the church where he was praised for his skill as a young and phenomenal drummer. By the time he got to High School, he was performing to classmates and girls with his Acapella group, ‘The Relevance.’
Currently, with a growing career as an Afrobeats artist based in the USA, Tobby Drillz’consistency and work ethic are undeniably reaping good results and his latest project, “Stealing The Show” is a testament to this.
“Stealing The Show (STS)” is a 6 track body of work ranging from Amapiano to Afrobeats to House music. The similarity in these genres with the production, delivery and vocals give the EP a pleasant listening experience.
The title points to the artiste’s unwavering confidence in himself and his art. On the intro track, “OPP”, he talks about his passion and desire to make it in the music industry no matter what. In the next song, “Koleye E”, a fun Afrobeats number, Tobby Drillz emphasizes the need to do you and live your life ‘jeje’ because people would talk regardless.
The sound switches to an Amapiano fused record on the next song, “SAPA’ and for a song named after a popular Nigerian term used to depict hard times, it’s such an effortlessly feel-good song. On “Loose Guard”, he takes things down a notch but keeps the energy up at the right tempo as he sings about being cautious over a House production.
He goes on to end the project on a love note, crooning about his love on the song, ‘Kilimanjaro”, a not so soft ending to a jam-packed project.
We caught up with Tobby Drillz to ask a bit more about himself, his music and the STS project:
Q: For some artists, it takes a lot of experimentation to find their sound. How long did it take you, and what was the process like for you?
Honestly, my process of making music is very simple and this is not to sound arrogant but for me, making music is just a lifestyle. When I hear a beat, I go into the booth and do what I can do and I want to thank God for that. I don’t think I have a process, I just go in there and let the vibe flow and enjoy what I’m doing. I guess that’s the process right there, through the session and the process of making a sound (music).
Q: What’s the story behind your name?
Tobby Drill simply means “Tobby’s life”, Tobby’s workout, Tobby’s process. You know everything we do in this life is a drill. Military personnel do that every day in the process to make them stronger, as a process to make them who they are. People go to the gym every day, and they do drills, they work out. So, the name Tobby Drill for me is like Tobby’s life, Tobby’s workout, Tobby’s process to getting it. This is my everyday drill, my process to greatness basically.
Q: Who are some of your biggest inspirations? And which one was the determining factor that made you think “I should be doing this as a career?
My biggest inspirations are God and my family, and also, what made me really want to go full time into music is my love for the comfort and joy I bring to people when I make music. If I can make you forget about your problems for even 5 minutes I feel like I’ve done something, I’ve made an impact.
A lot of people are going through things, and it’s amazing to get on stage and watch people who came there with different forms of life challenges and problems (everyone’s going through it.) just vibing to the music, being happy.
I love the fact that I can make music to exonerate people, make people feel better about their day, feel better about what they are going through even if it’s for a few minutes, a smile goes a long way, a split second can change someone life. So yeah, those are my biggest factors and inspirations for doing this.
Q: What other interests do you have?
I love to play basketball. I love doing outdoor activities, I love to eat, I love making money; I’m a hustler so I get down and dirty if I have to (legally of course). I love to make people laugh too! I’m low key a comedian to my friends and I love it.
Q: What’s it like, being an Afrobeats/Afropop inclined artiste based in the USA?
Being an Afrobeats artist in America is a different ball game and honestly, it’s actually beautiful. The fact that you have all the aesthetics to make things easier for you is great. The world is opening up right now and people are gravitating to sounds they never envisioned themselves listening to, so I wouldn’t say it’s different.
I wouldn’t say making songs out here is different because anywhere you are you got to put in work to come on top of your game, regardless of where you are. So, it’s no different, but I find it interesting and treat it as an adventure.
Q: Tell me about your project, STS. What’s the story behind the title and the project?
STS, “Stealing the Show” is a personal project. I will describe it as candy store or grocery store music because it contains the essentials needed in preparing a “meal” which is music. I’ve got different sounds in there, and I’ll say this is my most inclusive music, not limited to one specific genre or listener.
It touches on everything hence the title, “Stealing the Show (STS)”. If track one doesn’t do the trick, track two definitely will. It has a captivating edge to it. The whole point is to make people understand that I got y’all, regardless of the sound. I got you guys, and I’m here to stay and make my claim and take what’s rightfully mine in the industry and that’s what Stealing the Show basically is.
It gives a little insight on who I am as a musician, it gives an update on what my process has been like, it’s like me coming to HR (Human Resource) and giving an update. This is not everything this is not me trying to bring out the big guns yet, but this is what the process looks like so you can imagine what is in store and yet to come, the journey has only just begun.
Q: What’s a memory you’d always associate with the making of this project?
Honestly, sitting down with my producers and making this was beautiful because I went through different changes at different times in my life so, the songs in there are my stories, my pain, my turmoil, my sorrow and my growth.
The making of the project was beautiful because, for a lot of the songs in the project, we took our time to make and perfect over the years. It was quite the process, bringing the album to fruition. For context, some songs are even a year old.
Q: What should new fans expect from you in the coming years?
New fans should expect Music! Music! Music! Like they’ve never seen before. I also want to add this, I have a lot of elements in me (musically). When it comes to STS, I only unleashed six of my elements on six tracks and I have so many elements and approaches to music that people haven’t heard before.
I want them to stick around and get to feel this element and get to understand what we doing here and how amazing this journey is going to be.
Thank you to the new fans and to old fans stick around and listen to Tobby Drillz.
Listen to Tobby Drillz’ project on all streaming platforms now Stealing The Show
