Just as the iconic hip-hop genre turns 50, acclaimed music powerhouse Mavin Records unveiled their latest signee, a cheerful young rapper called, Life Size Teddy.
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Her presence powers a very strong hope for the resurgence of female rappers in the Nigerian music scene, a shared aspiration by many who remember the enigma of the era of Weird Mc, Muna, Sasha P, Eva Alordiah, among other queens, who made a recognisable impression on the scene.
Growing up on the island of Bonny, Rivers State, Lifesize Teddy, born Treasure Apiafi Banigo, grew up among a paste of cultures in her home base Bonny Island. She started writing music before the age of 12, after being influenced by her mom’s collections of music. Drawing influences from Lucky Dube, Tupac, Shania Twain, Rex Lawson, Kanye West, and Brenda Fassie, among others, she honed her skill in aptly documenting her life and perspectives within her music.
On her eponymous debut, she serves an impressionable and experimental blend of five songs which testifies to her impressive range, artistic intelligence, and sonic talent. She sits with Guardian Life, to share her come-up experiences, creative process, as well as her vision as one of the newest lighthouses for female rappers.

How does it feel joining the industry right now?
I feel wonderful, I feel super wonderful. Perfect timing is great, I just really, really feel wonderful.

When did it all begin for you, joining the Mavin Records?
I joined the Mavin Academy in 2020, February or March.

Yeah, and how were you discovered?
Really funny story. My story is quite different from everyone else’s. I’m a big fan of Ladipoe, and I mean you know as a fan, just like you told them how amazing they are doing. How much of a fan you are, you know, and how important their work is. So, I did. Over the years, I have sent messages to Ladipoe.
He signed into Mavin in 2017. So, around 2018, he was just going through his Instagram. And trying to figure out who to invite, a super fan for his show. And he stumbled on my page. He then went to my page. He listened to my music, and he invited me over to be with him on his show. And it was really, really, weird. I came and we had so much fun. I had no idea people were watching me, it was really fun with Ladipoe. But after the show, I saw Rima and I followed her on Instagram, I mean we followed each other, we kept contact over the years. So, fast forward to 2020, COVID has been right? There was a lockdown, everywhere was shut down and, for some people. Especially for me, I was going out of my mind at home, I didn’t know what to do, I didn’t have a studio in my house. So, I reached out to Rima on Instagram, to come over to Mavin and maybe use the studio. Cause I figured that the big artists won’t be around, you know and she was welcoming. She asked me to come over, and I came over a couple of times with my producer. Maybe for about a week or two, or three then I started hearing chats about an academy. And then I realised, they started saying other artistes from the academy. So, I reached out to her again, and asked if I could join the academy. And she asked me to send my music, and I did and she told me she was going to send a message to Don Jazzy. So, I sent my music, and I guess, she spoke to Jazzy about it. And they welcomed me, he was okay with it, and somebody from Mavin reached out. A couple of weeks later, they told me they were interested in my music, and they would like to move forward with me. It was so exciting.

Tell us about your early music influences.
I was influenced by a whole lot of music, I mean if you have listened to Perfect. You can already tell that I draw my influences from so much music. And I’m seriously, and heavily inspired by people, all the way from Beyonce to Rihanna, Nicki Minaj to Sasha P, M.l Abaga, Ladipoe and all. To Jayz, you know like Doja Cat, to Dua Lipa. I listen to so many different people, and all these people you know, somehow in some ways, influenced my music. I forgot, Burna Boy, man I listen to so much music.

Why is your name Lifesize Teddy?
I look like a teddy, I used to look like a teddy. When I was much smaller, I used to look like a tiny teddy. I mean I look like that now, but everybody used to call me Teddy. So, I just woke up one morning, thinking that I would personalize it, and make it my own, you know. And Lifesize was the first name that popped in my head really. So, it starts Lifesize Teddy. Cause I’m really, really small, I’m 5 ‘2 so, it makes sense for me to be a Lifesize Teddy.

Why are you sticking to music?
That’s a very interesting question because I studied mechanical engineering at the Imo State University of Science and Technology. Before going to school to study, I had been rapping, you know I have been writing raps in my room. I had been making noise in the house. It was just, music was just going to lead the way, it was just a matter of time. You know I just had to go to school and get that degree, so I don’t disappoint my family you know. And after that happened, the only path to follow was just music, I couldn’t do anything else.

What’s your typical creative process?
I like to make my music in the studio, with just my producer. I don’t like crowded studios, so, I just hang with my producer, and look up for his vibe.
As one of the few existing female rappers, does it give you any sort of pressure?
No, it doesn’t, I’m really really comfortable, with my person, yeah. I will say being in the spotlight is my job. I’m in your face, and I’m also in my house.

Who are some of your contemporaries that you would like to make music with?
The industry is so filled with good music. That it is wild to even pick right now, but I would really, really, love to make a record with Rema. I will really, really love to make a record with Obongjayar. I would really really love to, oh my God, names are just popping up in my head. I would really love to have a record with Obongjayar. I would really love to have a record with Arya of course. Oh my God, I would love to make a record with Tiwa, that would be an ultimate, you know that would be so banger, yeah I would like to make a record with Tiwa.

There’s so much stigma around rappers using songwriters. How do you feel about it?
But growing up, I have realised that most of the biggest records take a village. So, having those types of thoughts, really just stops you from a lot, you know. And I think people should explore more, I think people should do more. I think people should collaborate more, it is very important to collaborate more, really. Because ideas don’t just happen, you know, a lot of people come up with so many beautiful ideas. Imagine being in a space with so many beautiful ideas, and you know what I mean. Being collaborative is a superpower I think, I think people should do more, to be more, yeah.
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