Portable, the adjective, means capable of being moved, especially with ease. Portable, the musician, means virtually the same, but in this case, it’s his mood or temper that is easily moved to controversies. But then, any Portable biography without the word ‘controversy’ is incomplete.
This brings us to brands.
If musicians were like brands with payoff lines, like Gulder – The Ultimate or Nike’s Just Do It, One-week-one-trouble would fit perfectly with Portable. But he goes by the phrase, Zazu Zeh – another controversy. But did we call it a phrase? Well, like Sapa, Zazu Zeh stays in our lingo!
Are you still interested in knowing more about the Fuji-looking but indigenous rap-singing musician? We present a portable biography of Portable.
Birth and Early life
Habeeb Okikiola, aka Portable Omolalomi or just Portable, was born on March 12th, 1994. The singer, rapper, and songwriter hails from Ogun state, southwest Nigeria.
We are yet to gather enough information on his parents, siblings, and childhood, but the fast-rising artiste grew up in Abuja, the federal capital territory.
Education
Portable had his primary education in Ogun state. He could not complete his secondary school education and opted for music instead.
“I went to school, but I didn’t finish and earn a certificate because of music,” he said.
“Music brings money and is a fast-money-making machine. If you sing, you must have money unless you’re not good at it. If you’re a musician, you must be rich. I observed I make a lot of money whenever I sing.”
Portable moved from Ogun state to live in Nigeria’s most popular city, Lagos, to further his music career.
SEE: What is the Meaning of Zazu?
Portable Wife and Children
Portable married his partner, Zainab Balogun, during their second child’s naming ceremony in 2022. The couple, wearing matching outfits, exchanged wedding bands in the presence of Islamic clerics, family members, fans, and well-wishers.
But it seems more of such celebrations are earmarked for the future as he has “many girlfriends.”
“They’re just coming, and I get tired. It was like that before my big break. They’re the ones breaking each other’s hearts, not me.”
And unsurprisingly, he dropped a bombshell: “I’m ready to snatch people’s wives”.
In January 2022, the Zazu Zeh crooner disclosed he was a victim of his wife snatching before he attained fame and fortune, and now, he’s ready for a pound of flesh.
“If you no get money clear, near wall. We are talking about money,” he said, in a heavy mix of Yoruba and Pidgin.
“You don’t have money. They slept with your wife. You’re reporting instead of you to sleep with someone else’s wife. They’ve used money to sleep with my wife once. I’ll use money to sleep with someone else’s wife; nothing will happen.”
Indeed, nothing will happen to someone already planning to have 12 wives before age 40. He’s already halfway there, as he currently has six wives at 27.
“I never reach 30. I don get six wives and plenty children,” he said.
“Before I reach 40, my housewives would be up to a dozen. I am not 30 and I already have six. I just want to inform you so you would be aware.”
Thanks for the information.
Now, let’s talk about his career outside the bedroom.
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Portable Career
The controversial musician has been in music for a decade, even before his popular track, Zazu Zeh, shot him into the limelight. According to him, he has about 400 songs uploaded online.
Portable was introduced to Olamide by dancer Poco Lee, and he immediately picked interest and called for a duet. That was how Zazu Zeh was born.
And since its release on December 14, 2021, the track has amassed over 10 million views on YouTube. It’s one of the most played songs on Spotify, an online audio streaming platform.
Before achieving fame, though, Portable met people who almost derailed his career. Those experiences contributed to his ‘craziness’.
“You know if they don wicked you severally. So, I brought the whole craziness into the music industry,” he said.
“Even if you want to do business with someone who rips you off, make sure you let them know you are aware of the person they are, but you still want to do business, but they should also be mindful that you are not weak,” he said.
“They know say I sabi sing, but they did not open the door. I have met many people that said I’m good, but it all ended there. They will sign you and keep you in a room, even when you meet influential people who intend to sponsor you, but they will kill your career with over-packaging.”
Olamide, however, proved to be different.
It all started when a blogger, Don Blue, used ‘Zazu Zeh’ as a soundtrack on a post, which eventually piqued Olamide’s interest.
“I met Don Blue. I have never seen him physically. He reposted my song, and I showed him gratitude,” he said.
“Shortly after, Don Blue called me and told me that Baddo wanted to meet me, so I rushed to Lekki to meet Baddo.
“Na Baddo, sponsor me. Na him pay for my video, in fact, na him pay for everything.”
The success of Zazu Zeh opened up so many opportunities as he met popular acts like Wizkid, Phyno, Peruzzi, Burna Boy, and others.
A few days after the track’s release, Portable shared a stage with Tiwa Savage at the Livespot X concert on December 17.
A star is born!
Portable Music Style
His unique voice sets him apart and establishes his signature. His engaging slang is rendered mostly in the Yoruba language, with a slice of fuji music mixed with the traditional ewi flow. Not forgetting the banging repetitive baseline.
Portable is a delight to watch. His amazing dance steps and leg works keep viewers’ mouths agape. He calls himself ‘were olorin’, the mad singer. We agree with him.
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Portable Songs
Before his breakthrough record, Zazu Zeh, Portable’s first album, was released four months prior. It was titled Wanted and had six tracks, including a bonus track. Here are some of his selected songs.
More Cash Out
Obo Hook Up
Manager Werey Olorin
Zazu Zeh (feat. Olamide & Poco Lee)
Ogo Forever
Pay Me My Money
Neighbour (feat. Small Doctor)
All Eyes on Me (Feat. Barry Jhay)
Oro Aje (feat. Oritse Femi)
Money Before You Love
Odogwu Bitters
Bye To Sapa Nation
Flight to fame
In April 2022, Portable traveled for his first international concert. Publicity-loving socialite, E-Money, bankrolled the tour to the United Kingdom tour.
Portable performed in three major cities in the UK – Manchester (April 22), Birmingham (April 29), and London (May 1).
The musician took to his Instagram page to share several photos and video clips of himself alongside friends and fans in London.
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Portable Net worth
Portable has an estimated net worth of $210,000 to $300,000. His sources of wealth include, but are not limited to, music, endorsement deals (with Sujimoto, the Nigerian construction company, and a ₦50 million contract with Obi Cubana, the entrepreneur, to mention but two), and social media influencing.
Portable House
In July 2022, Portable revealed the house he bought. As expected, he took to his Instagram page to show off the house in a series of photos.
He was quick to warn trespassers, especially operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), to keep off his property.
“Can we not smoke weed in our own houses anymore? Are you the one that built the bought the houses for us? Did you buy the land? Did you pay for the foundation? Did you buy cement from Dangote?” Portable asked.
“Everyone should be careful. If you near my side, you go collect. My father was a hunter. I have jazz. We would beat ourselves to death.
“If anyone challenges me for smoking in my house, we would beat each other to death.”
The ever-controversial Portable!
Now let’s serve you a potpourri of some of his controversies.
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Portable’s Controversies
Since Portable rose to fame in December 2021, he barely goes a week without making the news headlines. For all the wrong reasons.
Here are some of them.
December 2021 – accused Poco Lee and his show promoter of ripping him off. Despite apologizing later, Portable never fails at throwing subliminal shades at them on social media and on stage.
May 25th, 2022 – threatened to kill or cause harm to the other nominees in the same categories of awards he was nominated for if he does not emerge the winner.
July 15th, 2022 – ‘clashed’ with Davido during the Osun state governorship election.
July 18th, 2022 – He made a video on Instagram claiming to be the founder of the notorious cult group One Million Boys. This declaration caught the attention of Nigerians and especially the Nigeria Police Force. He later said he meant one million followers.
July 26th, 2022 – He was disqualified from The Headies 2022 after threatening to kill other award nominees.
July 2022 – involved in a fight while performing at a show in Ogun state
November 2022 – involved in a fight with fans at a show in Benin city, Edo state
November 2022 – fought on the street after his Range Rover was vandalized at a concert in Lagos
Chief Portable
Controversy or not, Portable was honoured at home.
On August 21st, 2022, the musician bagged a chieftaincy title in Awori, Ogun state. Trust Portable, sorry, Chief Portable, to blow his trumpet.
“Thank God for making today a blessed one for me. May we all witness our happy day in good health and joy,” he said.
“World Tigbo day, join me to celebrate my coronation today. Chief Amuludun of Awori Tigbo land.”
In a video on his Instagram page, Portable can be seen kneeling in front of chiefs while they prayed for him during the coronation.
Later, Olabode Thomas-Fagbayi, the Onitigbo of Tigbo-Ilu, revealed why he conferred a chieftaincy title on Portable, despite not knowing him before.
“I visited a school in my domain where I have gotten a report of misbehaviour among the pupils and students of the school. So, I went to the school to talk briefly with them,” he said.
“It was there that I was told that somebody called Portable was passing through my domain and was throwing money at people, and many got injured. Because of that, I summoned him to my palace, and he came twice, but I wasn’t at the palace when he came.
“So, one day, I was walking on the road, and I saw him driving; I called for him, and he immediately came with his boys, and they all prostrated on the road. His mum is from Tigbo, and he, too, lives here. He presented himself as a responsible person, and we take him as that. Some might have reservations about him, but even at that, he’s still our son.”
Long live Chief Portable!
Conclusion
Like him or hate him, Portable remains one of the fastest-growing Nigerian musicians in recent times. The athletic, heavily tattooed blond-haired musician seemed prepared for this stage in his career.
His fans enjoy his stage performances, antics, and controversies more than his music (truth be told, Zazu Zeh remains his only unrivaled track to date).
However, what makes Portable tick is his absolute appeal to the streets. He fits into the fantastic grass to grace stories that humanity gravitates towards.
Portable pummeled obscurity to hit fame literally overnight. Now, he’s hanging with the big boys and girls. A sweet Nigerian rag-to-riches story cannot be better.
Hope you enjoyed reading Portable’s biography. Kindly leave a word or two in the comment section below.
