Run Away Into The Sweet & Sonic Escape Of 808vic

Photography by Latoya Okuneye, creative direction Ria Said.

Releasing music since 2017 under the pseudonym 808vic, Victory Obot is quickly approaching a decade of hazy and mesmerizing tunes that pull any listener into a new textural world of sound.

“I have been making music for as long as I can remember. I come from a very musical family and engaging in music has always been a part of my life,” explained Obot. Though he started making beats in 2016 with his full name attached, his older brother suggested 808vic and the name stuck.

With origins in a very gentle and more lofi adjacent sound, showcasing his smooth vocals and harmonizing abilities, Obot’s sound evolves with each new project. Complex lyricism, reminiscent of Steve Lacy and catchy choruses weave narratives of love and existential themes, over dreamy instrumentals and tightly wound rhythms.

Despite his many years of making music, Obot still finds inspiration in his daily life to morph into sound.

“My partner is my muse. I get inspired by pretty much everything I witness and experience for sure, but I love writing about my love for Ria the most,” emphasized Obot. With inspiration all around him, Obot sets to work building each track from the base up.

“I usually start with the beat first. And while I’m making the beat I try to see if it inspires any lyrics or vocal melodies or any themes I can write about. If it does, I start writing and my writing informs the choices I make as I construct the rest of the beat and vice versa. It’s a very loose process. And it could take a short amount of time like a couple days or it could end up taking months.” explained Obot. Much like his creative process, each project Obot releases had a unique and case by case sound. As Obot grows up and discovers more about himself, his sound shifts and evolves alongside, however a few key things tie together his lengthy discography and the iconic 808vic sound.

When asked to define his work within a genre, Obot was hesitant to commit to one category. “Afrofusion, Afrofuturism, etc.,” Obot highlighted, “I am the product of so many distinct musical ideas and frameworks but the one thing that acts as a loose bind is my Nigerian heritage. I try not to box myself in though, people who listen will ultimately put me where they think I fit in their playlists.”

It’s true that many fans bring the 808vic vibes into their unique playlists, but few have heard Obot live. With only a couple open mics throughout his long career, more live performances are hopefully in store for Obot, as there is no shortage of fans anxious to see him perform.

Despite the few live shows, Obot’s consistent releasing of music keeps fans happy. Obot’s newest album, SUNDAY 2 SUNDAY, released in October of 2024, is one of his most narrative works yet. “The album follows Sunday (Sunny), his ambitions, his love (Star) and ultimately, his inability to balance both,” described Obot. Now with this full project out, Obot plans to release a series of singles this year.

“My music styles shift so much post project release and I feel it happening again. I am excited to share it. I want to make more albums too maybe even collab ones, but I currently have no idea what they will be about,” said Obot, “I need to live some more for those I think.”

Follow 808vic on Instagram or Spotify to catch all the new releases to come.