Elmalawx Opens Up on Music Career, Blogging Journey, Launch of Ratedsongs Platform

Nigerian Afrobeats artiste and digital entrepreneur, Emmanuel Uchechukwu Paul, popularly known as Elmalawx, has shared insights into his journey in music, blogging, and the development of his entertainment platform, Ratedsongs.

Speaking in a recent interview, Elmalawx detailed his creative evolution, influences, and the realities of operating an independent digital media platform within Nigeria’s highly competitive entertainment space.

Reflecting on his background, the artiste noted that his passion for music was shaped by early exposure to diverse genres within his family. According to him, his father listened to legendary Nigerian musicians such as King Sunny Adé, Ebenezer Obey and Fela Kuti, while his mother leaned toward indigenous and gospel music. He added that his musical taste was further influenced by global stars including Bob Marley, 2Pac and Jay-Z. “These influences played a major role in shaping my creativity and artistic direction,” he said.

Elmalawx disclosed that his foray into blogging began during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020. He explained that he initially promoted his music through social media and YouTube before launching his first blog, MyDJElmalawx, which later transitioned into Trendyxclusively and was eventually rebranded as Ratedsongs due to financial and operational constraints.

Describing Ratedsongs, the media entrepreneur said the platform focuses on music promotion, celebrity news, lifestyle content, and digital publishing. He noted that content is aggregated from publicly available sources, including television, radio, YouTube, and streaming platforms such as Boomplay, Apple Music, Spotify and Audiomack, adding that editorial decisions are largely driven by audience interest and trending entertainment topics.

Highlighting the challenges of running an independent platform, Elmalawx cited funding limitations, manpower shortages, and consistency as major obstacles affecting growth. He added that building a sustainable revenue structure remains a significant hurdle. “Running an independent entertainment platform in Nigeria is not easy, especially when it comes to funding and maintaining consistency,” he said.

On survival strategies, he emphasised originality and consistency as key factors for staying relevant in the blogging industry, warning against content duplication. “Consistency has helped me stay relevant despite limited resources,” he stated.

Offering advice to aspiring entrepreneurs, Elmalawx urged young creatives to prioritise value creation over popularity. “Success comes from creating value and staying focused on your purpose,” he said.

Elmalawx continues to expand his footprint in both music and digital media, positioning Ratedsongs as an emerging player in Nigeria’s online entertainment ecosystem.