"I’m going to be a millionaire by the time I’m 30": The story of the man behind Aitch's success

Michael Adex always knew he was going to be successful - he just didn’t know what for. If you ask him about whether he’s surprised about Aitch’s chart topping success, the BRIT Awards and their successful talent agency he’d tell you he expected it.

“A lot of people that went to my school who knew me or spoke to me would say I always came out with the craziest statements like ‘I’m going to be a millionaire by the time I’m 30.” He told the MEN.

“I’ve always had a lot of confidence and self belief, but back then it was arrogance.”

Whether it was self belief or arrogance, it carried him a long way. Known as simply Adex to most, he describes himself as a ‘creative entrepreneur’ but he is better known as Aitch’s manager and the man behind one of Manchester’s most successful talent agencies, NQ.

German born, Michael, 27, is from a nomadic Nigerian family that lived in the North West German town of Aldsorf for ten years before they moved to Manchester.

Once in Manchester, his family moved around the city, settling in places like Moston, West Gorton and eventually Longsight.

“We actually lived in front of the Shameless pub when they used to film.” He recalled. “I used to peak my head out the window and walk past hoping they’d ask if I wanted to feature.

“I would have been like 12,13. It was something you didn’t see everyday and my neighbour owned the pub and we were quite close to everything. That whole area got knocked down unfortunately."

Before music, his first passion was football, which saw him get trials for City and play for teams like Blackburn, Macclesfield and Hyde FC.

“I was a good player, I’m not going to say I was the best in the world but I was a good player, I played for a lot of different clubs, a lot of