Small Doctor Reveals Boxing Passion, Musical Journey, and Influences

Nigerian street-hop musician Temitope Adekunle, widely known as Small Doctor, has revealed his deep passion for combat sports, declaring that boxing plays a central role in his life alongside his music career. Speaking in an interview with Punch Nigeria reporter Peter Akinbo, the Lagos-based singer discussed his journey from Agege to stardom, his unscripted approach to music making, and his admiration for global sports icons like Lionel Messi and Mike Tyson.

Although many Nigerian Afrobeats stars align heavily with football, Small Doctor emphasized that boxing remains his primary athletic love. The artist highlighted former world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson as his favorite sportsman of all time, while also praising Nigerian table tennis star Quadri Aruna for representing Africa globally. In football, Small Doctor supports Spanish club FC Barcelona and declared Argentine superstar Lionel Messi as the undisputed greatest of all time. He noted that participating in sports helps him bridge the gap between himself and his fanbase.

Reframing his upbringing, the singer shared details about his roots in Kaduna and Lagos. Raised by a schoolteacher mother in the Dopemu and Agege areas of Lagos State, Small Doctor explained that his childhood dream was initially to become an aeronautical engineer. Despite facing financial challenges early on, he pursued music with the support of his family and local producers like Pennywise, working various petty jobs to fund his early studio recording sessions.

The moniker Small Doctor originated from his elder brother, who began calling him Doctor Small due to his childhood obsession with the television series Dr. Who and his small physical stature. He later flipped the name to Small Doctor to make it more appealing to fans. Addressing critics who claim his street-hop tracks lack substance, the hitmaker defended his creative process, revealing that he never writes down lyrics prior to entering the studio.

Small Doctor explained that his hit songs are created spontaneously, a method recognized by high-profile Nigerian music collaborators such as Don Jazzy and Olamide. He stressed that his music speaks directly to the streets, blending street slang and storytelling to deliver meaningful messages within commercial Nigerian music. Reflecting on his journey in the Nigerian entertainment industry, the singer stated that the greatest lesson he has learned is to remain authentic to himself at all times.

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