🔥 THE RISE OF A RHYME GOD: An Exclusive Interview with King of Rhymes

By The Culture  Spotlight Blog | July 2025

In a world where poetry fades behind pop culture noise, King of Rhymes — real name Raji Ayomide Olaitan, is bringing fire back to the stage. Spoken word isn’t just what he does. It’s who he is.

From the bustling streets of Lagos to growing audiences across Nigeria, King of Rhymes is on a mission to turn pain into power, and words into weapons. We sat down with the lyrical mastermind to explore his journey, his fire, and the legacy he’s building with every line he writes.

Let’s start with the name. Why “King of Rhymes”?

Funny enough, I never named myself that. It was the people. After a few performances, someone shouted, “That guy na the king of rhymes!” I smiled, thinking it was a joke. But it kept coming. Eventually, I embraced it, not for pride, but because I understood the weight behind it. The name became a mantle. A mission.

How did spoken word become your weapon of choice?

Poetry found me before I found it. I’ve always been sensitive to silence, to things people feel but can’t say. When I discovered spoken word, it felt like a divine match. The very first piece I ever performed wasn’t polished, but it was pure. It came from a real place. And people felt that. That moment changed my life.

What fuels your pen?

Three things: death, truth, and survival.

I write like I’m racing against time. Like every line could be the last one I get to say. My poems are letters, to the hurting, the healing, the hopeless. I don’t just want people to hear me. I want them to heal with me.

You’ve released some powerful books. Tell us about them.

Absolutely. I’ve authored Before the Earth Eats Me, and Letters to the Afterlife. Each one is a different cry. Some are gentle. Some roar. But they’re all real. I want these books to outlive me, to speak for me when I’m gone. That’s my legacy.

Walk us through your writing process.

It’s not glamorous. I don’t wait for inspiration, I hunt it. I write in the middle of chaos. In danfo buses. At 3 a.m. On sad days and on days when the world makes sense. For me, the blank page is sacred. I treat it like an altar. If I show up, the words will eventually follow.

How do you handle creative pressure and self-doubt?

I remind myself daily: I’m not here to compete. I’m here to complete my own voice. I write for the silence inside me, not for claps, not for validation. As long as my truth is loud enough, I’m doing what I was born to do.

You’re based in Lagos. What’s the poetry scene like there?

The Lagos poetry scene is raw, rising, and resilient. Poetry is spilling into everyday places, from open mics to parks to classrooms. And behind that growth is a powerful community that’s pushing poetry to the people. I’m proud to be one of the voices in that movement.

Let’s talk about your roots. Any community or group that shaped your growth?

Yes. And this part is personal. I am an active and grateful member of the renowned AJ HOUSE OF POETRY, founded by the legendary AJ Dagga Tolar.

Without AJ House of Poetry, I don’t think this version of King of Rhymes would exist. That space gave me confidence, structure, critique, and family. It sharpened my gift. It taught me that poetry isn’t just performance, it’s responsibility.

I owe a huge part of my rise to that home.

What’s next for King of Rhymes?

My upcoming project is titled My Lagos Is Not Your Lagos. It’s not just poetry, it’s a poetic documentary. It explores the chaos, the beauty, and the mystery of the city that shaped me. I’m also focused on mentoring younger poets, especially during creative camps and live workshops. I want to build more than a career. I want to build a culture.

Any final words to the dreamers, the poets, and the broken voices out there?

Speak now, not later. Don’t wait for permission. Don’t wait for the perfect rhyme. Your pain is already a poem. Your truth is already enough. And when it feels like nobody’s listening, believe in yourself so boldly that the silence starts to clap for you.

📌 Follow King of Rhymes on Instagram: @kingofrhymes53

📚 Books dropping soon on Amazon and Selar

🎤 Bookings & Collabs: kingofrhymes53@gmail.com

📱 WhatsApp: +234 912 884 4587