Crayon Opens Up About Choosing Music Over University Education After 5 UTME Attempts

Fast-rising singer Charles Chukwu, popularly known as Crayon, recently shared the story of his journey into the music industry and the sacrifices he made along the way. In an interview with Hip TV, the talented artist revealed how he made the decision to pursue music instead of continuing his pursuit of a university education.

Crayon disclosed that he had attempted the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) five times before turning to music. It was during his fifth attempt that he met a music friend named Baby Fresh, who played a pivotal role in inspiring him to make a significant sacrifice for his musical career.

He explained, “At the fifth time, I met Baby Fresh already; he used to work at Mavin. I won’t be able to juggle school and music at the same time because in Nigeria, it’s quite stressful. Music alone is crazy.”

Realizing the challenges of balancing academics and his passion for music, Crayon made the bold decision to approach his parents and express his desire to pursue a career in music. He recounted the conversation, saying, “So I sat my parents down. I was like, ‘Mum and Dad, I want to make music.’ I said I feel like that’s what my heart is going for. My dad said just try this fifth one, if it doesn’t work out, you can go ahead and do music.”

Embracing his passion wholeheartedly, Crayon decided to walk out of the Post-UTME hall at the University of Lagos midway through the exams. He chose to follow his dreams in music rather than simply going through the motions of education.

It was during this critical time that fate brought Crayon face to face with the renowned music producer and executive, Don Jazzy. Impressed by Crayon’s talent, Don Jazzy signed him to his record label, Mavin, providing the young artist with the opportunity to showcase his skills and pursue his passion on a larger platform.