Def Jam Recordings is an American multinational record label owned by Universal Music Group. It is based in Manhattan, New York City, specializing predominantly in hip hop, contemporary R&B, soul and pop.
Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter. Born in the Ojuelegba suburb of Surulere, Lagos, Wizkid is a voice in the emerging Afrobeats movement. His music is a blend of Afrobeats, afropop, R&B, afrobeat, reggae, dancehall, and pop. He began recording music at the age of 11 and released a collaborative album with the Glorious Five, a group he and a couple of his church friends formed. In 2009, Wizkid signed a record deal with Banky W's Empire Mates Entertainment (E.M.E). He rose to the limelight after releasing "Holla at Your Boy", the lead single from his debut studio album, Superstar (2011), which also spawned the singles "Tease Me/Bad Guys" and "Don't Dull".
The discography of Wizkid, a Nigerian Afrobeats singer, consists of six studio albums, two EPs, fifty-four singles, forty-four promotional singles, sixteen guest appearances, six cameo appearances and thirty-five music videos. Wizkid started his music career at age 11, releasing a seven-track collaborative album with Glorious Five entitled Lil Prinz. Wizkid garnered notoriety when he collaborated with Naeto C, Ikechukwu, M.I and Kel. He signed a record deal with Empire Mates Entertainment in 2009. From 2009 through 2011, Wizkid worked on materials for his debut album Superstar (2011). Superstar was supported by the singles "Love My Baby", "Pakurumo", "Tease Me/Bad Guys", "Don't Dull" and "Holla at Your Boy".
Osabuohien Osaretin, better known by his stage name Sarz, is a Nigerian record producer, mixing engineer and musician. Born in Benin City, Edo State, he is popularly known for the tag “Sarz on the beat” or "Really", at the beginning or end of all his music productions.
Adekunle Almoruf Kosoko, known professionally as Adekunle Gold and AG Baby, is a Nigerian Afrobeats singer and songwriter currently signed to Def Jam Recordings. He gained widespread attention after releasing the 2015 hit single "Sade", a highlife cover of One Direction's "Story of My Life". He signed a record deal with YBNL Nation and released his 2015 debut studio album Gold, which debuted at number 7 on the Billboard World Albums chart. Gold was preceded by the release of three singles: "Sade", "Orente" and "Pick Up". Adekunle Gold revealed to Nigerian Entertainment Today that prior to signing with YBNL, he designed the label's official logo and completed other designs for Lil Kesh, Viktoh and Olamide. In 2023, he released Tequila Ever After, his fifth studio album and first under Def Jam.
"One Dance" is a song by Canadian rapper Drake from his fourth studio album Views (2016). It features guest vocals from Nigerian afrobeats artist Wizkid and British singer Kyla. The artists co-wrote the dancehall and afrobeats song with its co-producers Nineteen85 and Noah "40" Shebib, with production assistance from Wizkid. Crazy Cousinz and Kyla received songwriting credits for the sampling of their 2008 UK funky song "Do You Mind".
Steven Umoh, better known by his stage name Obongjayar, is a Nigerian singer based in London, England. After releasing several EPs, his debut studio album, Some Nights I Dream of Doors, was released in 2022.
Afrobeats, not to be confused with Afrobeat or Afroswing, is an umbrella term to describe popular music from West Africa and the diaspora that initially developed in Nigeria, Ghana, and the UK in the 2000s and 2010s. Afrobeats is less of a style per se, and more of a descriptor for the fusion of sounds flowing out of Nigeria and Ghana. Genres such as hiplife, jùjú music, highlife, azonto music, and naija beats, among others, were amalgamated under the "Afrobeats" umbrella.
Temilade Openiyi, known professionally as Tems, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, and record producer. She rose to prominence after being featured on Wizkid's 2020 single "Essence", which peaked at number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart following the release of the remix version with Justin Bieber. The song earned her a Grammy Award nomination. That same year, she was featured on the song "Fountains" by Canadian rapper Drake.
Michael Babatunde Adeyinka, also known as DJ Tunez, is a Nigerian-American disc jockey. In 2015, DJ Tunez signed to Wizkid's record label Starboy Entertainment. DJ Tunez's first production was in 2016's "Iskaba", a "contagiously upbeat track" featuring Wande Coal. He has collaborated with other acts such as Wizkid, Sarz, Burna Boy, Busiswa, Reekado Banks, Damibliz, Omah Lay, and many more.
"Essence" is a song by Nigerian singer Wizkid, featuring fellow Nigerian singer Tems. It was released on 30 October 2020, as the fourth single from Wizkid's fourth studio album, Made in Lagos. "Essence" was produced by P2J and Legendury Beatz. The "sensual" song sees the duo express their desire for each other. A music video was released on 9 April 2021, shot in Accra, Ghana. "Essence" is the first Nigerian song in history to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 and the Billboard Global 200. The song received a nomination at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards for Best Global Music Performance.
Ikuforiji Olaitan Abdulrahman, known professionally as Oxlade, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter signed to Troniq Music, Epic Records in France, and Columbia Records in the UK. He rose to prominence with the release of the song "Away", which appeared on Rolling Stone's 50 best songs of 2020. After the success of his 2022 single "Ku Lo Sa", Oxlade was named Pandora Africa's Next Artist in July 2022.
"Call Me Every Day" is a duet by American singer Chris Brown and Nigerian singer Wizkid, released by RCA Records as the third official single from Brown's tenth studio album, Breezy, on June 17, 2022.
Lekan Osifeso Jnr., popularly known as Lojay, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter and producer. He peaked at number 8 on the Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart with his song "Monalisa", which features Chris Brown and Sarz. He received a nomination for the Headies Award for Next Rated artiste at the 2022 Headies Award.
Nicholas Ihua-Maduenyi, widely known as PsychoYP, is a Nigerian alternative hip hop rapper, singer, and songwriter. He is a member of the music collective Apex Village. He came into the music scene with a critically acclaimed mixtape, YPSZN, which earned him a nomination at the SAMAs, and the Headies for his second fit album YPSZN2. Dubbed "The Fresh Prince of Nigerian Rap", he is regarded as one of Nigeria's rap music pioneers in the alté music scene.
Tochukwu Gbubemi Ojogwu, popularly known as Odumodublvck, is a Nigerian rapper, singer and songwriter. He is known for his stage performances, genre-blend and often wearing the Okpu Agu. Odumodublvck is a member of the hip-hop collective Anti World Gangstars. He currently resides in Abuja, Nigeria.
Michael Ovie Hunter, known professionally as Thisizlondon, is a Nigerian-British record producer and DJ. He is best known for co-producing the 2022 global hit single, "Calm Down" for Rema before Selena Gomez hopped on the remix. It reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100, peaked atop the IMI International and remains the most internationally successful Afrobeats song.
Eziokwu stylized in all cap EZIOKWU is the fifth mixtape album by Nigerian rapper Odumodublvck. It was released on 6 October 2023 by NATIVE Records, and Def Jam, through UMG in partnership with The Native Networks. It was exclusively produced by Odumodublvck, and Teezee, with additional production from Spykida, Sholz, Trill Xoe, JohnWav, Ucee, Cross YDC, Jimohsoundz, Deepaholiq, Twitchpapiii, IceBeatzz, and Mo. Sounds. It features guest appearances from Amaarae, Blaqbonez, Wale, Bloody Civilian, Fireboy DML, Reeplay, Teezee, PsychoYP, Bella Shmurda, Cruel Santino, ECko Miles, and Zlatan. The mixtape’s cover art was created by Olaolu Slawn.
Afrobeats: The Backstory is a documentary series that delves into the rise and global influence of Afrobeats, a genre of music that originated in Nigeria. Directed by Nigerian filmmaker Ayo Shonaiya, the series premiered on Netflix on 29 June 2022, offering an in-depth look at the cultural, political, and social landscape that shaped the Afrobeats sound, as well as its growth.
