Media personality and entrepreneur, Justice Kpekpo Maxwell, popularly known as KMJ, has opened up about the difficult journey he endured while chasing his dreams in the media industry.
Speaking on The Career Trail program on Joy Learning TV and Joy News, KMJ shared the tough realities he faced at the start of his career, one of which included sleeping at taxi ranks due to financial constraints.
He recounted that when he first arrived in Accra to pursue his dreams of becoming a radio personality, he made a decision to learn from those already in the field.
“When I came to Accra, I decided that I was going to do my own thing. So I started following radio presenters,” he revealed.
KMJ explained that one of the ways he got involved was by helping radio presenters carry their CDs to events. Most of them, he said, doubled as DJs, and he followed them from radio stations to pubs just to learn the ropes of the trade.
“I used to carry their CDs on my head and follow them everywhere they went. At the time, DJ Willie was hosting Drive Time on Top Radio.
“I was like a CD boy and also acted as a producer. I would carry his bag, go to the studio with him, help set up, and then we’d move from one pub to another because he had gigs almost every night,” he shared.
He mentioned that his routine was exhausting. He often left home around noon and didn’t return until the early hours of the next day.
“I would leave home at 12 midday and go to his house. From there, we’d head to Top Radio, work from 3 pm to 7 pm, and after that, I would follow him to the various events he had lined up. I usually went to bed at 4 am,” he recounted.
One of the most difficult parts of that period, he disclosed, was not having enough money to get home after the gigs.
According to KMJ, because he lived at Banana Inn and couldn’t afford transportation late at night — and walking home was unsafe — he resorted to sleeping at taxi ranks.
“I’ve slept at taxi ranks before. After we were done with events, I often didn’t have money to go home. DJ Willie would leave his bag with me, and I’d help load the speakers into a car. The car would drop off the equipment, but I always held onto the CD bag because it meant everything to me. If it got lost, I’d be in serious trouble,” he recalled.
“At the time, I was living at Banana Inn, and finishing around 3 a.m. or 4 a.m. made it dangerous to walk home. Since I couldn’t afford a taxi either, I chose to sleep at taxi ranks and wait until 6 a.m., then walk home. This became a daily routine,” he continued.
KMJ said he could have asked DJ Willie for help but chose not to, fearing he’d be seen as a burden and possibly lose the opportunity to learn.
“I couldn’t tell DJ Willie I didn’t have money. Even when he asked if I was okay, I lied and said I was fine. I didn’t want to say I was struggling because I feared he might feel I was disturbing him and eventually cut me off,” he said.
Despite the hardships, KMJ remained determined. He said his vision was to become like DJ Willie or even better, and that burning passion kept him going through the rough times.
“I was determined to learn and grow. So I kept pushing,” he highlighted.
That persistence eventually paid off. KMJ’s hard work, humility, and relentless drive landed him his first job as a radio host, marking the beginning of a successful career in media.
Listen to KMJ’s full story in the video below:
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