An MM Exclusive Interview With Baby Boy AV

Thanks to the infectious breakout single “Baby Boy”, Baby Boy AV has been making waves in the music scene. Following a string of singles and his 2022 Thug Love EP Baby Boy AV’s rapid rise to the top of his field has been nothing short of spectacular.

Fresh from releasing his highly anticipated ‘Pace’ EP, we sat down with Baby Boy AV to talk through his musical journey so far, his father influencing his career and the evolution of his sound:

Talk to us about your upbringing. Did anyone influence your career?

My father was a singer, but he wasn’t famous. He just made music. He didn’t get to blow up. He was also a guitarist, and my siblings picked from him. I have four brothers and one sister, all of whom started doing music before me. Once they started, I think I picked up from them because I didn’t really stay with my dad that much.

Congrats on all of your success so far — we’ve had Big Thug Boys on repeat, so it’s nice to see it achieve great success. Having already experienced what it feels like to achieve such significant success, what was that experience like?

Yeah, Big Thug Boys was a turning point for me. It was the song that really helped me break into the international scene. I was incredibly humbled and excited when it peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Triller Chart. That was a big milestone. But what really blew my mind was that it became the most Shazamed Nigerian song of all time. It even ranked No. 7 on the global Shazam charts in 2021/2022. That kind of recognition from people all around the world really helped solidify my place in the global music conversation. It felt like the beginning of something special, and I’m grateful for the support I’ve gotten from my fans and the industry ever since.

Why did you choose to name your EP Pace?

I chose to call it Pace because it’s been a journey — like I’ve been explaining, my career up until now, being indie, still being able to do shows around the world. It’s not been an easy journey. It’s been full of ups and downs. So pace is kind of like my peace. After all these hurdles, I’m still happy. I’m still making music, and I still want to make music. So this project represents that. It also means peace in Italian.

So do you speak Italian?

Oh, no, no. That’s just what the project represents, you feel me? Just good vibes, good music, and, you know, just like representing the whole journey I’ve been through.

You’ve toured in various regions like North America, Europe, and Africa. What was that experience like?

I never thought my first tour would be my Europe tour. I hadn’t left the country before then. It was amazing!

What do you think sets your shows apart?

I would say I approach my live performances with pure vibes and good energy. As much as I love my fans to enjoy each and every show that I put on, I want to enjoy it myself also. I’m always giving 100% of myself, coming prepared, and the energy that I share with my fans is what sets my shows apart.

You’ve had incredible success so far, and that’s helped you break through internationally. Now, with your new release, how do you feel this will help you elevate your success moving forward?

I feel really excited about where things are going right now. Big Thug Boys was a massive breakthrough for me — it helped me get the attention I needed, not just in Nigeria but globally. So, with this new release, I’m hoping it builds on that momentum. It’s different in a lot of ways, but it’s still very much me. I’m continuing to evolve, and I think this track will help people connect with me even more deeply as I share more of my journey and my growth as an artist.

Looking at the future, I believe this Pace will serve as a bridge to the next stage of my career. It’s about expanding my sound, reaching new audiences, and showing that I can keep pushing boundaries while staying true to my roots. In terms of impact, I see this release not just as a continuation, but as something that will raise the bar for what I do next. Every project is a step forward, and I want to keep building a legacy that’s not just about hit songs, but about creating real connections with my listeners worldwide.

As an emerging artist on the global stage, what are your hopes for the future in terms of your music career and the messages you want to convey through your work?

I do not know what the future holds, but I will always do my best. I will always make sure that whatever I’m putting out is my best work — you feel me? So, whatever the future holds, it holds. But I would love for people to listen to AV and find happiness, find peace; find a piece of themselves when they listen to AV, and, you know, always be happy and want to dance! That’s it