The TomTom Breathe Through It (BTI) Verse Challenge – Barz on Wheelz was concluded at the weekend with an outdoor finale at the open field of Ikorodu Town Hall.
The final stop of the four-week Lagos-wide tour concluded a campaign that celebrated raw talent, resilience, and the power of young voices across the city.
The Ikorodu edition saw over 95 contestants step up to the mic in a heated lyrical contest, culminating in a tightly contested final battle between Rasheed Kune, a.k.a. Raskapella, and Abednego Jacob, a.k.a. Abednego Noris, a visually impaired performer whose performance was both moving and masterfully delivered.
Raskapella emerged as the winner, impressing the judges with his commanding presence, authentic flow, and lyrical depth. He received a N1 million cash prize, a six-month supply of TomTom, and a coveted spot in the TomTom Breathe Academy, a virtual learning experience tailored to equip winners with tools to build sustainable creative careers.
In recognition of his extraordinary performance and tenacity, Tomtom awarded Abednego Noris a N300,000 consolation prize.
The final event was judged by a panel of respected voices: Afro-street music icon Small Doctor, rap star Candy Bleakz, and Hon. Okematti Azeez Adebola, Welfare Director of the Ikorodu-Oga Development Association. Their combined insights balanced street authenticity, industry expertise, and community perspective in selecting the top talents.
Reflecting on the tour, category manager, Gum and Candy, Cadbury West Africa, Abidemi Ajayi, stated, “The BTI Verse Challenge has done more than discover talent; it has opened doors. These stories of expression, empowerment, and evolution are from Raskapella’s brilliance to Abednego Noris’ inspiring courage and Kamsi Vanilla’s barrier-breaking moment. Through the Breathe Academy, we continue that journey with education, guidance, and real industry tools.”
