How Talent Manager Jimoh Habeeb Earned His First Executive Producer Credit with ‘Echoes of the Grind’

By Tunde Bakare

The Nigerian music industry often thrives at the point where preparation meets opportunity, and Echoes of the Grind is one of those defining moments.

Jimoh Habeeb, also known as Luis Beeb, is a Nigerian talent manager, experienced A&R, and creative executive who recently earned his first Executive Producer credit with the release of Echoes of the Grind. The collaborative EP was developed alongside his colleague Oyinda and made possible through the Music Marketing Conference Africa (MMCA), where the featured artists were selected after the conference.

For Habeeb, the project went far beyond putting out music. It was about building structure around creativity and creating a system where emerging talent could grow with intention.

From Music Conference to Creative Residency

After MMCA, a group of selected artists were brought together for an intensive creative residency. For an entire week, they worked from a shared apartment studio, spending long hours recording, experimenting, debating ideas, and having honest conversations about sound, identity, and artistic direction.

Like many collaborative projects in the music industry, there were moments when things felt uncertain. But persistence made the difference.

“Projects like this don’t always make it to the finish line,” Habeeb shares. “But we stayed committed, released the project, created strong visual content, and handled promotion in the most effective way possible with the resources we had.”

The Role of Talent Management and A&R Direction

One major lesson from the process was how flexible music becomes when artists are encouraged to step outside familiar creative spaces. Drawing from his experience in talent management and A&R, Habeeb guided artists toward instrumentals they wouldn’t usually choose  based not on guesswork, but on their past releases, instincts, and creative tendencies.

“It’s not a superpower,” he explains. “It’s simply understanding people and helping them see beyond their current limits.”

Throughout the sessions, artists were challenged to move away from surface-level themes and focus on deeper narratives connected to the EP’s core ideas. While many songs were recorded, guidance from experienced industry A&Rs helped narrow the project down to seven carefully selected tracks that best reflected the project’s message.

Themes Behind ‘Echoes of the Grind’

At its core, Echoes of the Grind explores themes of life, aspiration, and patience  realities familiar to many emerging creatives navigating an industry where access often determines visibility.

Habeeb remains passionate about artist development, believing that young talents need safe, structured platforms to showcase their work, refine their skills, and grow confidently. While the ideal music ecosystem rewards pure talent, the reality often involves gatekeeping and limited access. Projects like Echoes of the Grind aim to help bridge that gap through opportunity, structure, and collaboration.

An Intimate Listening Experience in Lagos

An intimate listening party held in Lagos gave the artists a chance to connect closely with friends, fans, and supporters ahead of the public release. The session focused on culture, creativity, and storytelling  reflecting the heart of the project itself.

For anyone who has ever worked tirelessly toward something they believe in, Echoes of the Grind is more than just an EP. It is a reflection of patience, persistence, and purpose.

The project was made possible with support from Music Marketing Conference Africa, Party Monks Entertainment, veteran producer Cobhams Asuquo, AK Street, and Ibrahim, a brand engineer whose belief in the vision helped bring the project to life.

[02/02, 20:48] +234 913 969 5620: *Inside ‘Echoes of the Grind’: How Structure, Talent Management, and Timing Shaped a Defining Music Project*

In today’s Nigerian music industry, great ideas are commonly  finished, well-structured projects are not. Echoes of the Grind exists because a few people chose to stay the course when walking away would have been easier.

At the center of the project is Jimoh Habeeb, popularly known as Luis Beeb  a talent manager, experienced A&R, and creative executive who recently earned his first Executive Producer credit in the music space. Developed alongside his colleague Oyinda, the EP was born out of a post-conference initiative by Music Marketing Conference Africa (MMCA), where the participating artists were selected after the event.

Rather than rushing to release music, the team focused on the process.

From Idea to Immersion

Following MMCA, a group of emerging artists were invited into an immersive creative environment. For one intense week, they lived and worked from the same apartment — recording, experimenting, disagreeing, refining ideas, and rediscovering their artistic identities.

This wasn’t a typical studio session. It was a test of discipline, patience, and collaboration.

“There were moments when the project could have fallen apart,” Habeeb admits. “That’s normal with collaborative work. But persistence changed everything.”

The result was not only a completed EP, but also visual content and a carefully planned release strategy  all executed within realistic limitations.

Why Talent Management Matters

One of the most important elements of Echoes of the Grind was intentional talent management. Instead of forcing trends, Habeeb relied on his experience as an A&R to guide artists toward creative decisions that aligned with their strengths  sometimes in unexpected ways.

Artists were encouraged to explore beats they wouldn’t usually choose, challenge their songwriting habits, and rethink their comfort zones. The goal wasn’t perfection, but growth.

“It’s not magic,” he explains. “It’s paying attention to people, patterns, and potential.”

Multiple songs were recorded during the residency, but only seven tracks made the final cut. With input from experienced industry A&Rs, the project was refined to reflect a clear emotional and thematic direction.

What ‘Echoes of the Grind’ Represents

The EP speaks to life, ambition, patience, and endurance  themes that resonate deeply with creatives trying to find their footing in a competitive industry. It reflects the emotional weight of the grind: the waiting, the doubt, the persistence, and the small wins that keep people going.

For Habeeb, the project reinforces a long-held belief: artists don’t just need exposure  they need structure. They need spaces to experiment safely, fail privately, and grow intentionally.

A Quiet but Meaningful Moment in Lagos

Before its public release, Echoes of the Grind was shared at an intimate listening session in Lagos, attended by friends, fans, and close supporters. The setting allowed for honest conversations and direct feedback  a reminder that music is ultimately about connection.

More than an EP, Echoes of the Grind stands as a reflection of what happens when talent management, creative leadership, and timing align.

The project was made possible with support from Music Marketing Conference Africa, Party Monks Entertainment, veteran producer Cobhams Asuquo, AK Street, and Ibrahim, whose belief in the vision helped bring it to life.