How I manage my music career with my culinary business – Chef P

Nigerian-American restaurateur and recording artiste, JohnPaul “Chef P” Arabome, has revealed how he combines his music career with his growing culinary business, saying he does not see the two as separate pursuits.

Arabome, who records under the name PeppDigital, is the owner of The Peppered Goat and Jagabans LA in Downtown Los Angeles, while also expanding his culinary portfolio with two new concepts, Jerk Ati Jollof and Aboki & Co.

While juggling restaurant operations and music production could appear demanding, Chef P said he does not consider time a major challenge because creativity is central to his life.

“Time is a construct. When you’re doing what brings you life, you don’t think about time. Time becomes available,” he said.

According to him, food, music, business and art are simply different channels through which he expresses his creativity.

“I create. Food, music, experiences, art—just whatever gets me to think and replicate my thoughts in real life,” he said.

Chef P’s creative journey has also extended beyond music and food. He said he had previously earned money from working as a painter, visual artist, photographer, sculptor, writer, director, producer, actor and editor.

He explained that the same creative instinct guides his approach to both music and food.

“It’s all about taking the smaller pieces and creating a palette that seems appealing to the taste buds, appealing to the ears, appealing to the spirit,” he said.

His culinary expansion reflects that philosophy, with each restaurant concept focusing on a different expression of food.

While Jagabans LA offers a Nigerian food experience, Jerk Ati Jollof combines Nigerian jollof with Jamaican jerk, patties, Nigerian pies and drinks. Aboki & Co., meanwhile, focuses on smoke and suya.

Chef P also said his music does not necessarily come from a fixed creative routine. Instead, he draws inspiration from his everyday experiences.

“I believe as creatives we tend to get hit by ideas from just living life and dealing with the day-to-day. It comes to you,” he said.

He cited his recent experience in Lagos as an example, saying ordinary encounters with ingredients, cooking techniques, spices, suppliers and conversations could eventually inspire a song or business idea.

The recording artiste believes music also gives him an opportunity to influence culture in a way food cannot.

“I want to impact culture positively with music. That’s one thing music does for me that food cannot,” he said.

One of his songs, *Kpef Daddy*, uses humour and music to promote personal hygiene, demonstrating how he uses entertainment to pass across social messages.

For Chef P, the relationship between his business and music careers is mutually beneficial.

“The businessman gives the artist grace. The artist gives the businessman purpose,” he said.

He also described success as the ability to turn his creative ideas into reality and then watch people enjoy the results.

“Success is first me being content with my creative ideas manifested in reality, and then having to witness others partake in that contentment or enjoyment,” he said.

Despite his diverse interests, Chef P said he has no intention of limiting himself to one career path.

Asked about the popular advice to “pick a lane”, he replied, “You pick a lane. Leave me alone in my ziggy-zaggy lane.”

For the entrepreneur, the different aspects of his career are connected rather than competing with one another, with food, music, art and business providing different avenues for his creativity.

And when does he switch off from his busy schedule?

“I switch off when I sleep at night,” he said, before joking, “I’m a Capricorn. We’re workaholics.”

Ultimately, Chef P said his goal is not defined by a particular title or achievement.

“Living my best life,” he said.