Limoblaze

Last updated

Limoblaze
Birth nameSamuel Onwubiko
Also known asLimoblaze
Born (1995-10-25) 25 October 1995 (age 28)
Makurdi
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer-songwriter
  • rapper
Instrument(s)Vocals
Years active2014–present
Labels
  • Reach Records
  • Oneskirpt Ltd
Website limoblaze.com

Samuel Onwubiko (born 25 October 1995), known by his stage name Limoblaze is a Nigerian gospel singer-songwriter and rapper. [1] He is well known for the hit song "Jireh (My Provider)" with Lecrae and Happi, a reworking of "Jireh" by Elevation Worship and Maverick City Music; the song made it to the Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs of 2022, Official Charts No. 15, and won several other nominations including The Headies and The Stellar Awards. [2] [3] [4]

Contents

Biography

Early life and education

He is one of eight children born to Samuel and Nkechi Onwubiko [5] in Abia State, Nigeria, and was brought up in Makurdi-Benue state. Aged 8 years, he discovered the songs of popular rappers such as Tupac, Eminem and 50 Cent and later came across Christian rappers such as Lecrae, the Ambassador, Andy Mineo, Da' T.R.U.T.H. and Tedashii. [6] This influenced him to become an Afro gospel, Afrobeat and Hip-hop gospel singer, songwriter, recording and performing artist. [7] [8] He studied Biochemistry at the Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi, Nigeria during which he joined the Day Star Church [9] where his professional gospel musical career began. [10] [11]

He currently lives in the United Kingdom. He married Favour Emma his long-term girlfriend on 1 April 2022.

Musical career

He started his career officially as an independent and unsigned music recording artist and started with his first song titled "Memories" which he dedicated to his classmates after graduating from high school. After his first song, [10] [11] he went on to record other songs titled Grace, Unconditional, Wrong Ways, For the King which features an American rapper Los of (HGA), and So on. [12] He likewise made some collaborations with gospel artists such as Ada Ehi, [13] Travis Greene, Da' T.R.U.T.H. as well as many others with various freestyle sessions. [14] His Debut Album Blind was released in 2016 while his second album Before Now, was released in 2018, followed by Afrobeats Raps & Jesus released 2019, [15] The Wait E.P in 2020 and he released his fourth studio joint album featuring Da' T.R.U.T.H. titled Bridges, [16] on 20 November 2020, which charted on trending spots on both local and international digital stores.[ citation needed ]

In July 2022, he released the hit single "Jireh (My Provider)" featuring Lecrae and Happi. [17] [18] The song made it to Billboard Year-End U.S. Afrobeats Songs of 2022 [19]

Discography

Studio albums

EP(s)

Selected singles

SingleYear Released
My Story ft Da' T.R.U.T.H. 2018
Blow My Mind2020
Okay ft Ada Ehi
Sound of Victory ft Da' T.R.U.T.H. & Travis Greene
Mind2021
This Loving ft Johnny Drille
Ife Wami2022
Gold ft Ada Ehi
Desire
Jireh ft Happi and Lecrae
Put It On God ft Annatoria [24] 2023
Desire Pt. 2 ft Caleb Gordon [25]
Pretty Day ft Madison Ryann Ward

Awards and recognition

He received Crystal award nominations in three categories in 2015. [26] In 2019, Limoblaze was nominated (alongside Tim Godfrey, Todd Dulaney, Osby Berry, Jonathan McReynolds, Chevelle Franklyn, Phil Thompson, Tasha Cobbs, Joe Mettle, and Koyrn Hawthorne) in the Premier Gospel Awards for Best International Act and on 11 May 2019 in London he was announced as winner. [27] [28] [29] Limoblaze was also Afro Rap Artiste of Excellence in the 2019 African Gospel Music and Media Awards. [30] [31] He has been "Artist of the Week" on Nigeria's Channels TV. [10] [11]

YearAwardCategoryResultRef.
2015The Crystal AwardsBest New ArtisteNominated [26]
The Crystal AwardsBest CollaborationNominated [26]
The Crystal AwardsBest Rap/Hip-HopNominated [26]
2019Premier Gospel AwardsBest International ActWon [28]
African Gospel Music and Media Awards (AGMMA)Afro Rap Artiste of ExcellenceWon [31]
2022Step FWD AwardsInternational Artist of the YearWon [32]
Premier Gospel AwardsBest International ActWon [33]
2023 The Headies Best Inspirational SongPending [34] [35]
The Stellar Awards Rap/Hip-Hop Song of the YearPending [36] [37]
Vine AwardsAfrican Song of the YearWon [38]
Vine AwardsAfrican Act of the YearWon
Premier Gospel AwardsBest Male VocalistWon [39]
Premier Gospel AwardsBest Song of the YearWon [40]
2024 MOBO Awards Best Gospel ActWon [41] [42]

Personal life

Limoblaze proposed to Favour in September 2021. They were married in April 2022. [43]

See also

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