Despite releasing a catalogue of songs, including the viral hit Thunder Fire You, Hassani revealed that many fans still discover him through that single, unaware of his earlier work.
Singer and songwriter Ric Hassani has reflected on his decade-long journey in the music industry during a recent appearance on the CreativiTea podcast.
Despite releasing a catalogue of songs, including the viral hit Thunder Fire You, Hassani revealed that many fans still discover him through that single, unaware of his earlier work.
He shared how his distinctive sound initially made it difficult to land a record deal in Nigeria.
His breakthrough came unexpectedly when one of his songs was featured in a Bellanaija proposal video, drawing significant attention and ultimately leading to a high-paying performance gig.
That opportunity, he said, gave him the confidence to quit his job at Access Bank and pursue music full-time.
Looking back, Hassani stressed the value of staying true to oneself and embracing personal growth. He also called for greater visibility and success stories within Nigeria's R&B scene to help inspire up-and-coming artists.
He said: "So I've been in the game for 10 plus years, but still, there are people that will tell you that they don't know who this guy is, we've never heard. And there's a number that is from 'Thunder Fire You' that I just released a few years ago, that that's the first song that I ever had to them. Before 'Thunder Fire You', I had a song that's almost 100 million streams, only here, I've been in Colombia, I've been in the States, I've toured the States, I've toured Honduras, Guatemala, Malawi and others. I knew that I was a gentleman, I knew I was a calm guy. I knew that if there's an armed robbery, I'm the one that will try and have a conversation with the armed robber before I decide to run.
"I was trying different sounds. I sang one song that's like Kukere, that's that time. I was whining my waist. When someone is emoting and singing, and it's almost like they're preaching. I believe children are future. Like, that was what I heard as music. So when I hear something else, I'm just like, what are you saying? You know? That was what music was to us. It was almost religious, you know? They always said something that made sense. You know what I mean? But now, I don't really know again. Because when I first came to Lagos, nobody wanted to sign me because I came to Lagos with a different type of sound and deep down, I felt like, this thing don't go bang. Because Nigeria don't really like such thing.
"Hey beautiful, for what? You know what I mean? I felt like, Nigerians won't like it, but I like it. If this is the last song I do, I will do them how I like them. So that at least, I will be able to hear them while I go and apply for jobs in Access Bank. So I said, I have to take matters into my own hands. Sometimes in life, you're waiting for somebody else to come and save you. But actually, the person that you need is you. Somebody was getting married on Bellanaija. This was when Bellanaija weddings was a big thing. So they posted the proposal video, and then my song was in the background.
"And then normally, when they post a proposal video, the comments are always about the couple. But this time, everybody was like, Oh my God, what song is that? Tell the couple to shift. Let me hear the song. And then they said, Oh, new music by this artist called Ric Hassani. And I'm in my Access bank saying new music how?
"Something I released seven months ago. So they called me for a show. I was like, really, a show? And this was more than my salary.
"I was like, what? So I left Access Bank. I said, I'm not doing it again. The idea of stylists was new and fresh. That was the thing. You know, stylist, who is styling you, stuff like that. To me, they were very expensive at the time.
"Cause I remember having to pay 80K for clothes. And then after I wear the clothes, they would take the clothes back. I said, you better give me.
'So imagine me that I will give you most of my salary. So for you to give me shirts and jeans. And once I snap, you would take it back.
"They will style me with clothes that I've seen on other artists. Like, so let me, yesterday you styled Phyno with this same jeans. And you want me to wear these jeans? No, no, it's not good.
"I always used to say to myself that if I don't have the money to push myself, then I have to make sure that anybody that looks at me once will remember me. I always say, if you stare at something long enough, you would know exactly what to do. That's literally what I did.
"I used to stare at the industry. I would just keep looking at everything and just found a way to do something. Finding success in something that you're doing is not really chasing something. It's really finding yourself. Lagos lover boy. Lagos lover boy.
"Why? I'm very excited about the album. We have Portable on the album. I'm telling you, we need more examples of R&B success for people that are coming to do it. Because that's why I can intentionally and just appropriately say I'm a very good performer. But I really am. Anywhere with really good sound, let's go. Put me where any of them are. Let's go. Like, I will show you why I'm a thing."
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