Timaya later returned to Port Harcourt to study Banking and Finance at tertiary-level , however , he performed poorly in examinations and dropped out after first semester . He then moved back to Lagos to join Eedris Abdulkareem 's hiphop group as a backup vocalist . After three years working for Eedris , Timaya departed from the group to focus on his solo career . He began to record collaborations with fellow up-and-coming artists and made his first cameo appearance in an unreleased music video by UDX , a Lagos-based rap group . He subsequently met producer Obaksolo in Mafoluku , Oshodi , who produced his first major hit record " Dem Mama " after hearing him perform the a cappella version . Describing the song in an interview posted on August 2013 , Timaya said : “ Dem Mama ” was an account of the 1999 destruction of Odi , a river side community in Niger Delta . Soldiers were hunting down militants they alleged killed eight policemen . The village was burnt down and numerous people killed . I bravely tackled the issue years later and won instant street credibility for my boldness . " After the success of " Dem Mama " , Timaya decided to continue with producer K-Solo . He recorded seven more songs for his first album '' True Story '' , which was eventually released in 2007 . Later that year , Timaya began work on his second album with producers Phyno , Jeggs , Spankie , Akeem D Beat , Obaksolo and Terry G . In 2008 , the album titled '' Gift and Grace '' was released into stores nationwide . Timaya won two awards in 2008 : " Album of the Year " at Nigeria Music Awards and " Best Reggae/Dancehall album " at the Headies Awards . He also received two awards " Best Reggae/Dancehall album " for '' Gift and Grace '' and " Best Collaboration " for his feature on J Martins ' " Good or Bad ( O Wey ) " at the 2009 edition of The Headies . Two years later , Timaya released his third album , '' De Rebirth '' and its success-themed lead single " Plantain Boy " . The album 's production was handled by Akeem D Beat , Phyno , Flux , M-Yire , Jay Sleek , N.D , Jesse Jagz , and Obaksolo . Timaya collaborated with guest artists , including 2face Idibia , TJ 2Solo , Allenian , Konga , Lanre , M.I , TJ , and Wrecoba . In 2010 , he appeared on the song " Kokoroko " by female gospel artist Kefee , which went on to win in the " Best Collaboration " category at the 2010 Headies Awards. , he recently featured by Kcee in a song titled '' Erima '' In November 2011 , Timaya released '' LLNP ( Long Life And Prosperity ) '' , a collaborative album with his crew , '' Dem Mama Soldiers '' . The album 's second track " Dem No Like Me " featured a guest appearance by legendary reggae singer , Ras Kimono . On 25 June 2012 , Timaya released a 14-track album titled '' Upgrade '' , which produced notable hits " Bum-Bum " , " Sexy Ladies " , " Bum Bum " and " Malonogede " . The album features collaborations with Attitude , Terry G and Vector . Duncan Mighty and Timaya dueted on " I Know I Know Dat " , which was leaked onto the internet a few hours after the former 's album '' Footprints '' was released into stores . Both artists were among the honorees at the 4th annual Odudu Music Awards alongside M-Trill , Sodi Cookey , Becky Enyioma and Timi Dakolo
Headies Awards
The Headies 2008
Timaya