Empire Distribution,Records and Publishing Inc. is an independent American record label,distribution and publishing company founded in 2010 by Ghazi Shami. Based in San Francisco,EMPIRE has offices in New York,London,Lagos,and Johannesburg in addition to recording studios in San Francisco and New York.
Oluwatobiloba Daniel Anidugbe,who is better known as Kizz Daniel,is a Nigerian singer and songwriter. He rose to fame in 2014 with his debut single,"Woju". He signed a record deal with G-Worldwide Entertainment in 2013,but left the label following a publicized contract dispute and court case. He founded the Flyboy I.N.C record label in November 2017.
Oluseye Desmond Sodamola,professionally known as Spinall,is a Nigerian disc jockey,record producer,and songwriter. He has released six studio albums and collaborated with artists that have included Wizkid,Tiwa Savage,Asake,Joeboy among others. He has won numerous awards for his work,including All Africa Music Awards and The Beatz Awards. He is also the first Nigerian disc jockey to play at festivals such as Coachella,SXSW,and Glastonbury.
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 majorly out of Nigeria. Genres such as hiplife,jùjúmusic,highlife,azonto music,and naija beats,among others,were amalgamated under the "Afrobeats" umbrella.
Adedamola Oyinlola Adefolahan,known professionally as Fireboy DML,is a Nigerian singer and songwriter. He is signed to YBNL Nation,a record label founded by rapper Olamide. His debut studio album,Laughter,Tears and Goosebumps,was released in 2019. He won Listener's Choice and was nominated for Song of the Year for "Jealous" at the 2020 Soundcity MVP Awards Festival. His third studio album,Playboy,entered the Billboard 200 at number 123. His latest album,Adedamola,was released in 2024.
ThankGod Omori Jesam known professionally as TG Omori or Boy Director,is a Nigerian music video director and cinematographer.
"Peru" is a song by Nigerian singer Fireboy DML. It was released on 20 July 2021,through YBNL Nation,and distributed by Empire. "Peru" was written by Fireboy DML,Ivory Scott,&Kolten Perine and produced by Shizzi &Perine. On 23 December 2021,a reworked version of "Peru" was released,in collaboration with English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran. The music video for the version with Sheeran was released on 24 December 2021. An additional remix,featuring rappers 21 Savage and Blxst was also later released. The song was nominated at the 7th annual African Entertainment Awards USA for Song of the Year. The song is not about the country of Peru,but rather a reference to Nigerian singer Peruzzi;the government of Peru nonetheless reacted positively to the song on Twitter.
Ayobami Olaleye professionally known as Phantom is a multi-gold,award-winning Afrobeats record producer,singer,and songwriter. In 2020,he became the third Nigerian Afrobeats producer in history to be certified by Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique (SNEP) after Burna Boy’s "Ye" became a certified gold record in France. The song earned him an award at 2019 Soundcity MVP Awards Festival,in the African Producer of the Year category,with a nomination at The Headies,in the Producer of the Year category.
"Sugarcane" is a song by Ghanaian singer and songwriter Camidoh,featuring the Nigerian record producer Phantom,released in 2021 by Grind Don't Stop Records,through Crux Global,and MOVES Recordings. A remix,with Mayorkun,and Darkoo,featuring the Ghanaian singer King Promise,was released in 2022. The song gained popularity across TikTok,following the release of the remix.
Ahmed Ololade,known professionally as Asake,is a Nigerian singer,rapper and songwriter. He is signed to YBNL Nation and Empire Distribution. His stage name "Asake" is his mother's name.
Sad Romance is the debut studio album by Nigerian singer CKay. It was released by Warner Music Africa on 23 September 2022. The album features guest appearances from Ayra Starr,Davido,Focalistic,Abidoza,Mayra Andrade,and Ronisia,and was executive produced by CKay. Following the release of the album CKay embarked on the Sad Romance North America Tour (2022).
Marcel Larry Akunwata popularly known as Blaisebeatz or Blaise Beats,is a Nigerian record producer,and songwriter. He rose to stardom in 2020 with,the production hit "Pami" by DJ Tunez. His other production hits includes "Enjoy" by Tekno,"Sinner","It Is What It Is",and "Mercy" by Adekunle Gold,"Call Me Every Day" by Chris Brown,"Buga" by Kizz Daniel,and "No Wahala" by 1da Banton. In 2022,he won the Afro Highlife Producer Of The Year and Afro Dancehall Producer Of The Year category at The Beatz Awards.
The TurnTable End of the Year Top 100 of 2022 is a chart that ranks the best-performing singles in Nigeria. Its data,published by TurnTable magazine,is based collectively on each single's weekly physical and digital sales,as well as airplay and streaming. At the end of a year,TurnTable publishes an annual list of the 100 most successful songs throughout that year on its top 100 charts based on the information published on 22 December 2022 in TurnTable,and calculated with data from January 3,2022,to December 12,2022.
"No Wahala" is a song recorded by Nigerian singer-songwriter 1Da Banton,released in 2021 and re-released in 2022 as a remix featuring Kizz Daniel and Tiwa Savage by Squareball Entertainment. It was written by 1Da Banton and produced by Blaisebeatz. The song became a hit and went viral on TikTok,peaking at number 15 on the Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs charts.
Crown Uzama,known professionally as Shallipopi,is a Nigerian singer,rapper,and songwriter. He gained recognition in 2023 with the release of his single,"Elon Musk". He followed up with the extended play Planet Pluto (2023). His debut studio album,Presido La Pluto,released in 2023,was met with commercial success,debuting at number 1 on the TurnTable Top 50. It also debuted atop Apple Music top 100 albums. His second studio album,Shakespopi (2024),was met with continued success as it became Shallipopi's second chart-topping album. Its lead single "ASAP" reached number one on the TurnTable Top 100.
"Lonely at the Top" is a song by Nigerian artist Asake from his second studio album Work of Art (2023). The song was released on 16 June 2023,through YBNL Nation and Empire Distribution. It was the first song to hit 100 million streams on Audiomack. As of September 2023,the song was the longest-running number-one song on Nigerian Radio Chart. It was also number one on the TurnTable Official Top 100,an aggregate chart that combines TV,radio and streaming platforms. It spent 12 weeks at number one. It was also one of the most streamed songs on Spotify in Nigeria.
"Baddest Boy" is a song by Nigerian singer and songwriter Skiibii,released on 4 November 2021 by More Grace Music. It became a commercial success in Nigeria,and was produced by Runcheck. A remix of the song featuring Davido was released on 21 January 2022 and became a commercial success in the U.K.,and America. "Baddest Boy" spent five consecutive weeks at number 1 on TurnTable Top 50,number three on U.K. Official Afrobeats Chart,and at number eleven on Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs.
Maverick is the fourth studio album by Nigerian singer Kizz Daniel. It was released on 28 July 2023,through Flyboy Inc and Empire Distribution. The album features guest appearances from Johnny Drille,Yemi Alade,Blaqbonez,Becky G,Young Jonn,Jahmiel,Tekno,Pryme,Nomcebo Zikode,Chike,Not3s and DJ Big N,and Daniel's two children Jalil and Jelani. Kizz Daniel enlisted production from Philkeyz,DeeYasso,Yung Willis,Shugavibez,Reward Beatz,Xtofa,Roc Legion,M.O.G Beatz,Ayzed,DJ Coublon,Mr. Soul,Johnny Drille,Blaisebeatz,Fiokee,Sparrq and Juwonmix.
EMPIRE Presents:Where We Come From,Vol. 01,commonly referred to Where We Come From,Vol. 01,is a compilation album by American record label and distribution company Empire Distribution. The album was released on 30 November 2022,by the label,and features mainly African acts from Nigeria,Ghana,Tanzania,Cape Verde,Morocco and South Africa. Featured artists include Tiwa Savage,Kuami Eugene,Kizz Daniel,Black Sherif,L.A.X,Fireboy DML,Bnxn,Wande Coal,Bad Boy Timz,KiDi,Cheque,Tolani,June Freedom,Yaw Tog,Leil,Navy Kenzo,and Group Chat. Producers who worked on the album include Kuami Eugene,M.O.G Beatz,Blaisebeatz,Philkeyz,OG Parker,Tee Romano,Sam-E Lee Jones,Leandro "Dro" Hidalgo,Phil Mango,Mike Robbins,Hitmaka,AyeYP,Sak Pase,Kheilstone,Zay Bandz,Say-Zay,Semzi,Nahreel,Eskeez,Joker Nharnah,Tenroc,Happie,Frankie Bash,BAK,KDE,Kendi Beats and Magicsticks. The album housed the singles,"Cough (Odo)," "Umbrella," "Loaded," "I Feel Nice," and "Thing For You".
Buga is a song by Nigerian singer Kizz Daniel. Featuring vocals from fellow Nigerian singer Tekno,it was released on 4 May 2022 through Flyboy I.N.C and Empire Distribution as the second single from Daniel's fourth studio album Maverick (2023) and was produced by Reward Beatz,Blaisebeatz,and Yung Willis. The song reached No. 1 on Apple Music's Nigeria Top 100 chart three days after its release,and topped the TurnTable Top 100 for seven weeks and ultimately emerging as the year's leading song. With a record-breaking 57.9 million streams,it achieved the highest streaming numbers ever in a single calendar year in Nigeria. It later became the most Shazamed song in the world after claiming the No. 1 spot in 13 countries. In addition to topping the streaming charts,"Buga" secured top-five positions in both radio and TV impressions.
