Stephen Nana, popularly known as Stevenator and former manager to Afrobeats star Asake, has opened up about the real reasons behind his decision to walk away from managing the fast-rising music sensation.
In a candid conversation with UpgradeTV that has since gone viral on social media, Stevenator admitted that Asake’s meteoric rise in the music industry left him overwhelmed, especially as a first-time artist manager. The pressure, coupled with the strain it placed on his personal and family life, ultimately led to his decision to step away.
Stevenator recalled how his foray into talent management began unexpectedly when YBNL Nation boss, Olamide, called and asked him to take on the role. Despite being close friends with Olamide for over two decades, Stevenator said he had never met Asake before and had no prior experience in management.
“Olamide called me one day and said he had an artist he wanted me to manage. That was the first time I was going into management. I didn’t know anything about the job,” he said.
He explained that Asake’s rapid success left no room for learning, as the workload quickly became intense and unrelenting. “I never met Asake or heard his song before. But he blew up so fast that there was no time to learn. It was just back-to-back work.”
The former manager emphasized that the demands of constantly being on the road severely affected his relationship with his children. He described himself as a “family guy” who found it increasingly difficult to stay present in his sons’ lives.
“At a point, I had two sons, and I couldn’t spend time with them. I was always on the road—sometimes four to five months straight. I’d be on the phone with them, but that’s not the same,” he lamented.
The turning point, he said, came when he flew his family to London and his younger son refused to let him carry him because he didn’t recognize him. That moment pushed him to prioritize his role as a husband and father over his career.
“Asake became too big; I had to follow him everywhere. But now I’ve chosen to be a family man. I love my wife and I want to be present for my kids,” he concluded.
