Throwing Fits — The Obongjayar Interview
Release Date: October 27, 2025
Host(s): Throwing Fits (James Harris & Lawrence Schlossman)
Guest: Obongjayar (Obi)
Overview
This week, Throwing Fits welcomes the Nigerian-British artist Obongjayar (Obi), fresh from London and off the economy flight, for a lively, unscripted conversation. The episode is a wild journey through Obi’s career, evolving sounds, personal growth, hilarious misadventures, and reflections on cultural identity, creativity, and fame. From tour chaos and fashion, to celibacy and the frustrations of music criticism, Obi is as candid as he is charismatic—unafraid to roast himself, his hosts, and the world at large.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Arrival & Sleeplessness
- Obi's Introduction: Fresh off a flight, admits to being utterly "knackered," referencing his dangerous hotel nap and poking fun at the rockstar myth.
- Quote: “I'm knackered. I'm a knackered rock star. 90 years old.” (02:32)
- Flight Story: Obi recounts finding a used condom in his Uber, riffing about label budgets.
- Quote: “This Uber had an open condom, side pocket. Used side pocket. Mad. That was crazy.” (03:01)
2. Fit Check & Fashion Vibes
- Obi's Fit:
- Camp Lab x H Town top and bottoms
- Rita Ora vest
- Vintage sunglasses from Hackney (£12)
- Vivienne Westwood ring, gifted blue Burnham from friend Celeste, Alighieri ring
- Prefers silver over gold: “It just looks better on my skin.” (05:32)
- Style Approach: Obi enjoys vintage but isn’t trying too hard: “I like what I like... I love clothes, but I’m not going shopping all the time.” (79:26)
3. Travel Chaos and Tour Life
- Flying Economy: Emphasizes his practicality and economy preference—“We don’t waste money, bro. I don’t have money to waste.” (07:49)
- Love of Plane Food: Contradicts snobbery: “I love plain food... I don’t even need to be hungry to eat on the plane.” (09:13)
- Travel Pet Peeves: Hates people taking shoes off or using the bathroom too much on planes.
- Quote: “Handle your bladder, bro. Be an adult.” (10:36)
4. Culture Clashes: UK vs. US
- American Obsession with British Culture: Finds it “cute,” especially the football (soccer) craze, but doesn’t care about sports himself.
- “It’s like watching kids dance.” (12:52)
- Glizzy Talk: Love of the word (hot dog); pokes fun at American and British slang overlaps.
- Accents & Misunderstandings: Entertaining exchange about rapping in an American accent and gun culture in the US.
5. Digital Habits & Millennial Vices
- Instagram and YouTube Addiction: Obi laughs about the conspiracy to keep him “horny 24/7” with Instagram’s algorithm and admits to doomscrolling—primarily on YouTube for movie reviews, essays, and news.
- “My name is Obi and I'm addicted to YouTube.” (18:16)
- Screen Time Guilt: Puts off checking his screen time notifications, and says his phone always dies—maybe subconsciously trying to escape digital dependency.
- “When my battery dies, it’s like, okay, cool. That's done.” (21:27)
- Bad Texter: Admits ignoring texts/calls, openly a “horrible texter.” (21:51)
6. Nigerian Roots & Culture Shock
- Moving to the UK at 17:
- Biggest shock wasn’t the people, but seeing blue eyes for the first time: “I was infatuated by this girl. The first time I'd seen blue eyes.” (23:14)
- On Not Missing Nigeria: He doesn’t romanticize the past (“no looking back”); moved for opportunity, not nostalgia, though he misses his family. (26:05)
- London Neighborhoods: Thinks East London is pretentious, preferring the low-key vibe of South.
7. Work Ethic & Artistic Identity
- Nigerian Work Ethic: Self-defined as a “worker, hustler, survivor.” (30:44)
- Originality over Trend:
- On Nigeria’s musical influence in the world: “I don't think it's maxed out. It's going to continue to do its thing.” (32:15)
- Personal Sound: “I say my music is post-Afro... a completely new take on what that can be.” (34:08)
- Insulation from Trends: Doesn't insulate himself from outside trends intentionally—just surrounds himself with creators, not copycats: “If you're copying and pasting, you're just an idiot.” (39:34)
8. Process & Substance
- Song Creation: No formula; process is improvisational: “There's no formula. There shouldn't be.” (37:31)
- On Critics & Genres: Annoyed by lazy genre-boxing, especially critics mislabeling his music; tells a story about a Pitchfork reviewer calling “Prayer” Afro-pop—“You don't know what Afro-pop is.” (59:39)
- Critical Comparisons: Doesn’t mind being compared to greats like Frank Ocean or Moses Sumney—shrugs it off as helping new listeners find a frame of reference. (61:18)
9. Personal Evolution & Celibacy
- Growth Mindset: Reflects on a recent shift—less interested in partying and fleeting relationships, aiming for more considerate connections.
- “I'm just trying to be a decent human being... not having it necessarily be constantly about, like, oh, hey, you wanna f***?” (46:15)
- Celibacy: Recently celibate by choice, finding meaning in deeper relationships. (45:40–48:33)
- Addiction, Routines: Talks about briefly quitting cigarettes and drinking when working on music, but more about balance now. (43:49–45:24)
10. Religion, Spirituality, and Introspection
- Leaving Religion: Had a “copy-paste” faith until he began questioning what he actually believed as an adult.
- “I don't know, man. I've not... I don't know if there's a God...” (51:57)
- Spirituality Skepticism: Dismisses “spiritual but not religious” as a cop-out for people who want both halal and haram. (55:17)
- Favorite Sin: Wrath; admits he holds grudges and is fueled by naysayers. (56:17)
11. Music Business Realities
- Life-Changing Moments:
- Fred Again’s “Adore U”: “That’s the biggest song I’ve been a part of... completely threw me into the ocean.” (63:57)
- Describes Fred as a subtle, attentive leader: “He’s a leader...you don’t know when it’s happening, but it’s happening.” (68:38)
- Financial Extremes: Survived on Domino’s pizza and Sainsbury’s donuts between his first deal and getting paid. (74:47)
- “Donuts and pizza, pounds of donuts and pizzas.” (75:43)
- Indulgence: Now financially secure, but sensible: “That's why I'm financially secure, because I'm not a idiot.” (76:35)
12. Fame & Fan Interactions
- Still Can Move Freely: Fame hasn’t stopped him from living normally in London; fans “aren’t crazy, it’s about the music.” (90:17)
- Community vs. Celebrity: Cherishes authenticity over spectacle—“it feels like a community, like you're seeing a friend, rather [than a superstar].” (90:55)
- East vs. South: Finds Hackney (East London) full of industry “headaches”—South London is “genuine, homely.” (92:08)
13. Random Diversions & Deep-Cut Moments
- Bidet Curiosity: Unfiltered, hilarious debate about bidets, wet wipes, and hygiene rituals. (81:01–82:54)
- On Age: Google/Wikipedia has his birthday and age wrong—finds it funny, refuses to correct it. (72:44)
- Favorite Vintage Stores: Name-drops spots in West London, recommends charity shops for the best finds. (78:59)
- Uber Exec Love: Enjoys Uber Exec for the lifestyle feeling, Bluetooth—but admits it's a dumb expense he’s trying to cut. (77:03)
- Uber Musicians: Shares how LA Uber drivers always try to network if you admit you're in music. (84:38)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On self-definition:
“My thing is just goated in itself, you know?... I say my music is post-Afro because it’s a completely new take on what that can be.” (34:08) - On music critics:
“You don't even know what Afro-pop is, so why would you say this thing is Afro-pop?” (59:39) - On digital habits:
“My name is Obi and I'm addicted to YouTube.” (18:16) - On jetlag:
“I'm knackered. I'm a knackered rock star. 90 years old.” (02:32) - On British and American differences:
“It’s like watching kids dance” (re: American football/soccer obsession) (12:52) - On spiritual labels:
“When people say they're spiritual, to me, it means they don't want to do the work to be religious, but they want the belief.” (55:17) - On formative fame:
“I came here on economy, bro. Why are you leeching off me?” (41:24) - On donuts as survival:
“Donuts and pizza, pounds of donuts and pizzas.” (75:43) - On successful features:
“That’s the biggest song I’ve been a part of... completely threw me into the ocean.” (63:57)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- Intro / Obi’s Arrival & Jetlag — 02:03
- Fit Check — 03:58
- Plane Tales & Travel Habits — 06:18
- Culture Clash (US & UK, slang) — 11:49
- On Music Watching/YouTube Addiction — 17:48
- Screen Time & Digital Detox — 21:19
- Culture Shock & Blue Eyes in the UK — 22:33
- Nigerian Roots, Not Romanticizing Home — 26:05
- Work Ethic & The Nigerian Hustle — 30:44
- Nigeria’s Musical Influence & Obi’s Genrelessness — 32:15, 34:08
- Creative Process (improv, anti-formula) — 37:30
- Critics, Genre, and the Pitchfork Review — 59:39
- Celibacy & Self-Discovery — 45:40
- Views on Religion & Spirituality — 50:45–55:17
- Wrath as Favorite Sin (seven deadly sins breakdown) — 56:17
- Fred Again Feature / Life-Changing Collaborations — 63:57, 68:38
- Financial Struggles & Domino’s Survival — 74:47
- Fashion / Vintage Stores / Shopping Philosophy — 78:59
- Uber Exec, Bidet Debates — 81:01
- Views on Fame, Fan Interaction & Genuine Community — 90:06
- Constructive Criticism for Hosts — 92:58
- Plugs / Favorite Song on Album — 94:44
Conclusion / Plug
- Listen to “Paradise Now” — Obi’s album is out, and his current favorite is the song “Prayer.” (94:51)
“I just want to be a decent human being and be a lot more considerate about the relationships I'm building... It's not about the celebrity, it's about growing up.” — Obongjayar (46:14)
Summary Tone
Loose, irreverent, and deeply personal—much like the Throwing Fits hosts, Obongjayar matches their spontaneity with authentic self-reflection, biting humor, and openness about both his art and his life. The episode is packed with laughter, introspection, and uniquely modern insights into the realities of the contemporary music world.