Sarz | |
|---|---|
| | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Osabuohien Osaretin 17 March 1989 Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria |
| Genres | |
| Occupations | Record producer, musician |
| Instruments | |
| Years active | 2007–present |
| Labels | 1789 Entertainment |
Osabuohien Osaretin (born 17 March 1989), [1] 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 his music productions. [2] [3]
His first full credit production work was for Lord of Ajasa's "See Drama" in 2007. He has produced tracks for Wizkid, Naeto C, Banky W, Skales, Shank, Reminisce, Goldie Harvey, eLDee, Wande Coal, YQ, Lojay and Niniola. [4] [5] He was formerly signed to Trybe Records, but left the outfit after his contract expired in November 2013. [6]
In 2010, Sarz produced the single "Joor Oh" and the remix for Jahbless which featured Durella, Ruggedman, Reminisce, Ice Prince and eLDee. The song won "Best Street Hop" and was nominated for "Best Collaboration" at The Headies 2011. [7] In 2011, he produced Shank's "Salute", eLDee's "Today Today" & "Wash Wash", Skales' "Mukulu", Goldie Harvey's "Don't Touch My Body" and Reminisce's "Kako Bi Chicken". [8] "Kako Bi Chicken" was nominated for "Best Street Hop" at The Headies 2012. [9] [10] Later that year, he solely produced eLDee's Undeniable album (except "We Made It"). [11]
At the 2012 Nigeria Entertainment Awards, Sarz was nominated for the "Producer of the Year" award alongside Don Jazzy. Although Don Jazzy won the award, he ended up giving the award to Sarz. [12] Sarz won "Best New Producer" at the 2012 Dynamix Awards. [13] He went on to release his debut solo single "Beat of Life (Samba)" featuring Nigerian artiste, Wizkid, from his reportedly upcoming album. [14]
In 2014, he produced two songs on Wizkid's Ayo album, "Jaiye Jaiye" featuring Femi Kuti and "Kilofe". [15] He was mentioned as one of the five new music producers giving Don Jazzy a run for his money by the Premium Times Nigeria. [16] Sarz was reported to have signed an endorsement deal with Nike later that year. [17] Sarz was the executive producer for the official Hennessy Artistry 2014 theme song "Dance Go (Eau de Vie)", which featured Wizkid and 2Face Idibia. [18]
In April 2020, Sarz and fellow producer Shizzi decided to go live on Instagram for a face-off titled "The Battle of Hits" on 30 March 2020, which attracted a peak of 19.2k live viewers across the world. [19]
In 2021, Sarz released "Monalisa" with Lojay. "Monalisa" was certified Silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) in 2023. [20]
| Year | Event | Prize | Recipient | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Dynamix Awards | Music Producer of the Year | Himself | Won | [21] |
| 2013 | City People Awards | Music Producer of the Year | Won | [22] | |
| Nigerian Entertainment Awards | Music Producer of the Year | Nominated | [23] | ||
| Song of the Year | "Beat of Life (Samba)" (featuring Wizkid) | Nominated | [23] | ||
| South South Music Awards | Producer of the Year | Himself | Nominated | [24] | |
| 2018 | The Headies | Producer of the Year | Nominated | [25] | |
| 2019 | SoundCity MVP Awards Festival | African Producer of the Year | Nominated | [26] | |
| All Africa Music Awards | Music Producer of the Year | Nominated | [27] | ||
| Songwriter of the Year | Sarz & Wurld for "Trobul" | Nominated | [28] | ||
| Best RnB Duo | Sarz & Wurld | Nominated | [29] | ||
| 2021 | Afro X Digital Awards | Music Producer of the Year | Himself | Won | [30] |
| All Africa Music Awards | Best Artist, Duo or Group in African Contemporary | Sarz & Lojay for "Monalisa" | Nominated | [31] | |
| 2022 | The Headies | Producer of the Year | Himself | Won | [32] |
| All Africa Music Awards | African Fans Favourite | "Monalisa" (Remix) (Sarz & Lojay featuring Chris Brown) | Nominated | [33] |
| Year | Title | Tracks | Contributors / Features | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | SINYM (Sarz Is Not Your Mate) EP | Good Morning Riddim | Femi Leye, Leabdro "Dro" Hidalgo, Mizzle, TMX0. | [34] |
| Spiritual Riddim | Femi Leye, Leabdro "Dro" Hidalgo. | |||
| Celetronic Riddim | Leabdro "Dro" Hidalgo, Lil Kesh, Mizzle. | |||
| Inbox Riddim | Leabdro "Dro" Hidalgo, Lil Kesh, Wizkid. | |||
| Hello Africa Riddim | Dr. Alban, Flash, Leabdro "Dro" Hidalgo, TMX0. | |||
| Legwork Riddim | Leabdro "Dro" Hidalgo, Mizzle. | |||
| 2025 | Protect Sarz at All Costs | Grateful | WurlD, Ndlovu Youth Choir | |
| Happiness | Asake, Gunna | |||
| Getting Paid | Asake, Wizkid, Skillibeng | |||
| Mademoiselle | ODUMODUBLVCK, Shallipopi, Theodora, Zeina | |||
| BMF | Byron Messia, FireboyDML | |||
| Body | Joeboy | |||
| In A Mustang | Qing Madi | |||
| Nice n'Slow | Wurld | |||
| Loved Me Then | Lojay | |||
| African Barbie | Teni, Libianca | |||
| Up | Victony | |||
| Billions | Lojay | |||
| Year | Artiste | Body of Work | Tracks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Sarz X WurlD | I LOVE GIRLS WITH TROBUL | Prisona |
| Trobul | |||
| Sweat | |||
| Focus | |||
| Mad | |||
| Nobody Wins Interlude | |||
| Ego | |||
| Sade | |||
| 2021 | Lojay X Sarz | LV N ATTN | Tonongo |
| LV N ATTN feat. Wizkid | |||
| Park O X3 | |||
| Panty! | |||
| Monalisa | |||
| 2021 | Sarz X Obongjayar | Sweetness | Sweetness |
| Gone Girl | |||
| If You Say | |||
| Nobody |
| Year | Title | Talents | Tracks | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | MTLF EP (Memories That Last Forever EP) | The Sarz Academy | Gbewa - Dunnie, Niniola | |
| Hold Me - Wizkid | ||||
| Global - Sarz, Tempoe, Jahblend | ||||
| Forever - Tiwa Savage | ||||
| Wa Je - P.Priime, Dapo Tuburna, Horsh | ||||
| Ma Lo Wa - Zlatan | ||||
| 2023 | MTLF 2 (Memories That Last Forever 2) Album | The Sarz Academy | Breathe - Perfext | |
| Resemble- Fxrtune | ||||
| 233- Charmaine'L A | ||||
| Good To Me- Perfext, Gimba | ||||
| Sad Love- Millymay_pod, Syntiat | ||||
| Inside Life- Fxrtune | ||||
| Only Man- Gimba | ||||
| Steady- Charmaine'L A, Gimba | ||||
| Rude- Syntiat | ||||
| Ready- Fxrtune, Pjstar | ||||
| DPWMH- Millymay_pod, Pjstar | ||||
| Body Wicked- Millymay_pod | ||||
| More- Perfext | ||||
| Buga- Fxrtune | ||||
| Jam One Kele- Millymay_pod, Gimba, Fxrtune | [35] |