Bella Shmurda Reveals He Once Stole Neighbour’s Bicycle to Fund Studio Session

Nigerian singer Bella Shmurda has recalled a difficult period in his early music career when he stole and sold his neighbour’s son’s bicycle to raise money for a studio session.

The street-pop artiste made the revelation during an interview on Echo Room, recounting how financial difficulties while living in Okoko, Lagos, once pushed him into taking the bicycle at night.

“If my mom hears this, she’ll be angry. When we lived in Okoko, I once stole my neighbor’s son’s bicycle and hid it at night,” Bella Shmurda said.

According to the singer, he later sold the bicycle at Alaba Market for ₦7,000, using the money to finance a studio recording session as he struggled to establish himself in the music industry.

Bella said the incident remained memorable to him, particularly because the bicycle belonged to a child who lived in the same building.

“I’ve seen him since and bought him a new bicycle,” he said, indicating that he eventually attempted to make amends for what he had done.

The revelation has attracted renewed attention after an excerpt from the interview resurfaced online, with fans discussing the challenges the singer faced before achieving success in the Nigerian music industry. The interview itself dates back several years, although the clip began circulating widely again in September 2026.

Bella Shmurda, whose real name is Abiola Ahmed Akinbiyi, rose to prominence after his 2019 song “Vision 2020” and its remix featuring Olamide. He subsequently strengthened his profile with songs including “Cash App” and his High Tension project.

The singer's account offers another glimpse into the struggles he says accompanied his pursuit of music before his breakthrough. However, his decision to steal the bicycle does not justify theft, even though he says he later replaced the item.

His story has also generated conversations about the lengths some aspiring artistes may go to when they lack resources to finance recording, while highlighting the importance of finding legitimate ways to pursue creative ambitions.

Bella's disclosure comes as his earlier journey continues to attract interest from fans who have followed his transition from an aspiring street-pop artiste to one of Nigeria's recognised music acts.