Berceuse impregnating Ikuforiji Olaitan Abdulrahman’s flapping wings as well as colourful feathers are schmaltzy swanky; after he proudly popped out and hatched a chiming peachick consonance aria called ‘Arabambi’. Dewy behind the ears, it is a nestling lead single from his cellists “hemmed” brewing debut LP (long play).
Going by the alias Oxlade, the singer-songwriter’s on the verge of uncorking “power piece”: ‘Oxlade from Africa’; is a breeding ground for battery-acid lyrics — that are a piercing concoction of Pidgin, British, as well as American English — oft heroically diagnosing contemporary subject matters such as love.
A polyphony biddy to crank up the basso, at the crack of September, the silveriness idée fixe nocturne sample, is pondered to juxtapose and crush the last chunk of this 12-month; as it “gigantically” goes for a press run “more naked” — via Troniq Music, Epic Records in France, as well as Columbia Records in the UK.
Albeit, a smorgasbord dominated by nominations; prancing away with a — Listener’s Choice — gong at the Sound City MVP Awards Festival, marked a memorable year 2022, that likewise played up Oxlade’s aerodynamic — African Fan’s Favourite — trophy lift, at the All Africa Music Awards. Thereupon, organically verifying the ‘Ku Lo Sa’ anthem god Almighty’s virtually broad ecstatic street cred!
Realistically certifying his sound as a bridge between the Alte (Afro-fusion/experimental composition expressions) and the mainstream; Oxlade is one of Nigeria’s largest melodic exports. He catapulted into the stratosphere in July of 2022, with his now-viral ‘COLORS’ — a humming magnum opus that is just as half-hardy with its lax production as it would be acoustical — performance; bop “calling the shots” at over 89 million views.
Shirking manqué, from being interviewed on CNN Africa’s ‘My Drive’ to dishing scoops on Pandora’s ‘Africa Next’; Oxlade’s medulla oblongata would so knightly maneuver forward, how he knows his “onions” non-too-obnoxious — on BBC News Africa.
Leading to his “happy chance”, the celebrated librettist from Surulere — a residential area of Lagos — who dropped out of Lagos State University to pursue his strings as well as keys career; was approached by Bizzle Osikoya a Nigerian record label executive, talent manager, film producer and sound engineer — right after the lullaby ‘Mamiwota’ by Hip Hop knocker Blaqbonez, dropped. The rhythmic wealth of croon, off the Bad Boy Blaq EP (extended play); was shaded through 100 Crowns, an imprint of Chocolate City — a Nigerian record label founded in 2005.
Red-hot skylines imaging, Oxlade inked a management, publishing, licensing as well as distribution deal with The Plug Entertainment. Having stamped a record deal with Troniq Music; the fall of 2018 would witness Davido an American-Nigerian vocalist, lyricist and record producer — giving Oxlade the “green light” to perform at his ‘City of David’ concert in Lagos.
- Out & About: Oxlade ‘peacocking’ for a show
Keep Reading
The latter enlisted in the former’s ‘La La’ video featuring Emo-Afrobeats singer, ballad maker as well as producer CKay; above and beyond opened for vocalist as well as songsmith Wizkid, at ‘Star Boy Fest’ in London. In the same manner, Oxlade would proceed to earn Pandora and SoundCloud sponsored billboards. Clangorously rouging such axiomatic pictures — in Times Square, New York City — from the former: an Oakland, California-based subscription-based music streaming service, as well as the latter: a Swedish-founded German headquartered audio streaming service.
Oxlade’s “of pipes, kicks, hooks, and loops” tempi swinging strand ‘Away’ — from his EP ‘Oxygen’ — figuratively, a bold outline of the good things to come; the means of telling through motion-picture photography to the banger, was directed by TG Omori (Boy Director), a Nigerian music video director as well as cinematographer. The tail end of 2020, would bear witness to Canadian rapper and singer Drake’s “gone viral” Instagram story posted screenshot — listening to the donut. A spark that unfeignedly ignited Oxlade’s mainstream recognition!
With the former’s post causing the latter to gain 3 million streams within 24 hours; ‘Away’ which appeared on — monthly magazine that courtesies tonal pattern, politics, as well as popular culture — Rolling Stone’s 50 best songs of 2020, turned heads in the same time period, by smashing position 23 on the Nigerian TurnTable Top 50 year-end chart.
Grappling betting odds, Oxlade’s Quislingism with English vocalist, composer and producer Dolapo, as well as Ms Banks a Nigerian-British rapper, singer and songster on ‘Interest’ (2021); earned him his first career entry on the UK Afrobeats Singles Charts — the following 12-month period. The Capone (Headie One as well as Darkoo) directed graphic to the ditty, having blown minds; Oxlade attained his second entry on the UK Afrobeats Singles Chart with his tune ‘Ojuju’.
After the official auditory sensation video to this offering — directed and shot by Nigerian as well as Barcelona based filmmaker Ademola Falomo — unloosened; Oxlade would tag team with vocalist, ballad maker, Hip Hop knocker and actor Ice Prince — on the canon ‘Kolo’. As luck would have it, the daft illustrations to the orchestration were directed by UAX; a comprehensive creative with his midas touch in cantabile lilt direction, recording artistry, as well as photography.
Oxlade glinting the chemistry, the songster would score a feature on the thunder joint ‘Overdue’. The funk jewel took the lion’s share on — ‘Rhythms of Zamunda’ — the Amazon original motion picture soundtrack album for the eye-popping flick ‘Coming 2 America’: a 2021 American romantic comedy reel, that serves as a sequel to the 1988 film ‘Coming to America’, starring Eddie Murphy and directed by Craig Brewer.
The toil of chords (‘Rhythms of Zamunda’) was curated as well as executive produced by Sipho Dlamini (CEO of Universal Music South Africa); through Def Jam Recordings, in amalgamation with Def Jam Africa.
Pushing the envelope, a 4-track extended play known as ‘Eclipse’, produced solely by DJ Coublon — a Nigerian record producer and sound engineer — through Troniq Music as well as Epic Records France; was conceived into a sharp bright progress. In a New York minute, August of 2021 had “afloat in his splendor” Oxlade; whipping an ambidextrous performance of Jamaican singer Skip Marley’s oeuvre sonic ‘Slow Down’, for ‘Reimagined at Home’ — a Grammy web series.
Oxlade’s weaponry tactics filled up half-baked ambitions; in July of 2022, he was named the first Pandora Africa’s ‘Next Artist’. Thin on flops, he congruently staged a fat performance of ‘Want You’, for the platform’s radio. A vibe giver, a jam sandwich produced by TMXO — a Grammy-nominated Nigerian music producer, and mixed by Spax — a record producer, mixing engineer as well as arranger (also from the West African country); the birdcall confiscated the bit!
A superpower of a cult-like whole package, more than just a route to cosmopolitan glory; ‘Want You’ took a step to be his first pitch blast, after signing a spick-and-span deal with Columbia Records UK — in March of that time period.
Satisfactorily Olympian, an upswing in May of last 12-month, got Oxlade foaling a beast of a number named ‘Ovami’ — alongside fellow singer Flavour.
The “jazzy bambino” would savvy broad day light, accompanied by a tidy visual communication; directed by Praise Onyeagwalam — a euphony video director, cinematographer as well as film director — behind the moniker: Director Pink (founder of ‘Pinkline Films’, a Nigerian motion-picture show troupe).
Therewith, after the bunch took a nuzzle stunts on ‘Ovami’; ‘Intoxycated’, a menacing joint on which Oxlade joined forces with British rapper and actor Dave, yelled upon arrival! The former: the second lullaby from the Nigerian artist’s “nigh to giving birth” full-bodied virgin studio sculpt of blues; make up a part of the hit list of beats, to be officially rolled out in the highly-developed project (‘Oxlade from Africa’), to unlock — hugged in paean — September of this 2024 time period.
- Grant Moyo is a prolific writer, innovative media personality, entrepreneur and a creative artist who is passionate about using his creative mind for the betterment of society. Follow him on X: @TotemGrant
