Chiabuotu Victor Otuu—better known as Mr V.ic or Sabiboy—is a storyteller whose melodies carry both the weight of struggle and the light of hope. His forthcoming EP, ‘Melody and Pain’, set to drop soon, is a raw and soulful chapter in a journey that began far from the spotlight.
In a candid conversation, Mr V.ic recounts how a chance radio win, a broken record deal, and unrelenting drive transformed him from a fashion designer into one of Nigerian music’s rising voices.
Born in Afikpo North, Ebonyi State, Victor grew up in a home where music was ever-present, yet it didn’t immediately shape his path. “I grew up in a family of music, but that didn’t really influence me,” he says. His brother owned a recording studio, but by the time Victor’s passion ignited, his siblings had moved on, leaving him to find his own way.
Before music, Victor was a fashion designer, stitching clothes and dreams in a small shop. In 2015, a radio freestyle competition changed everything. “I just did a freestyle on the radio and won. I’m like, if I can do this, then yeah, let’s go,” he recalls.
His sound reflects a blend of global and local influences: Drake’s introspective lyricism, Sarkodie’s native-language rap, Wizkid’s Afrobeats swagger, Fela’s revolutionary spirit, and Osadebe’s highlife soul. “I do different kinds of music. It’s hard to choose a name to call what I do,” he admits, weaving Igbo, English, and patois into his own unique style.
After studying at a polytechnic in Anambra, he pursued music full-time, signing a record deal in Abuja in 2019. The promise of stardom fizzled when the label’s lack of structure left him stranded. “Talent wasn’t enough. There needs to be love for the artist,” he reflects. The failure became a harsh but valuable lesson—teaching him to trust his vision and prioritize authenticity over empty promises. By 2020, he was back in Lagos, determined to build his career on his own terms.
That resilience birthed *Melody and Pain*. His first EP, *Let’s Begin*, marked a defiant restart after the failed deal. “I felt like I had to tell my fans, let’s begin again,” he says. His follow-up, *Gangster Loverboy*, solidified his niche, blending street grit with romantic melodies. “That EP was where I defined my sound. I went intentional with what I wanted to achieve,” he shares. Fans embraced it, streaming it relentlessly.
But ‘Melody and Pain’ is his deepest work yet—born in an intense two-day recording camp with producers Memo Sounds, YEBO, IBK, Okisi, and Ted Beat. “We recorded seven songs in two days. Crazy, right?” he laughs. The camp’s creative whirlwind captured the highs and lows of his life in eight tracks, from anthems for the ladies to raw, introspective cuts. “When I’m listening back, I’m finding out I actually talked about myself. I didn’t even know until I started listening,” he admits.
One song, in particular, feels like “lyrics written on a wall for me,” setting the emotional tone of the project. The vulnerability in the music makes it universal, connecting his personal pain to listeners’ own stories.
“My music be like professor wey dey teach people something,” he says proudly. “I want people to understand I enjoy every moment of my life. I’m not in a rush.” The EP blends struggle and joy, inviting fans to vibe with its truth—from heartfelt ballads to street anthems. “The most beautiful part of art is the one you really can’t explain,” he muses.
As Nigeria’s music scene continues to shine on the global stage, Mr V.ic is carving out his place—one melody, and one story, at a time.
