Tonye Ibiama | |
---|---|
Born | |
Nationality | Nigerian |
Other names | Big T |
Occupations | |
Known for | Grafton Entertainment |
Title | Label executive |
Tamunotonye Soipiriala Adonye Ibiama (born 29 September 1974), [1] [2] commonly known as Tonye Ibiama or Big T [3] is a UK-based Nigerian music executive, talent manager, and businessman. He is the founder and CEO of Grafton Entertainment, he has helped launch the careers of many artists including De Indispensables, M Trill, Idahams, [4] Tha IBZ, and Mr. 2Kay. [5]
Ibiama grew up primarily in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. [6]
In 2004, he founded Grafton Entertainment, and announced the signing of its first recording acts: De Indispensables, M Trill, and record producer Slim Burna within the space of 4 years from 2004 to 2008. Within 2008-2009, a stand-up comedian Prince Hezekiah joined its roaster. In 2009, Tha IBZ joined its artist roaster. In 2010, Mr 2Kay, and Big Mouf joined its artist roaster. In 2011, J-Boy joined its artist roaster. In 2016, Idahams joined the label, as an in-house producer and is primarily known for Mr 2Kay's "God Can Bless Anybody".
In 2019, Tonye's music recording company Grafton Entertainment partnered with Nigeria LNG to host a football tournament in the Bonny Island, to discover, develop, and empower the next Nigerian football star from Bonny Island. [7] In the same year, Grafton Entertainment partnered with Universal Music Group flagship in West Africa, Universal Music Group Nigeria to distribute, and market Idahams's extended play albums Amayanabo, released globally on 5 July 2019 and Man On Fire, released globally on 12 June 2020. [8]
Chocolate City is a Nigerian record label founded in 2005 by lawyers Audu Maikori, Paul Okeugo, and Yahaya Maikori. Generally regarded as one of Africa's most successful indigenous urban record labels, Chocolate City operates as a subsidiary of Chocolate City Group. Other arms of the group include Chocolate City Distribution, Chocolate City Events, CCX, and Chocolate City Media. On 28 March 2019, Warner Music Group partnered with the label. Under the partnership, Chocolate City artists will join WMG's repertoire and receive the support of the company's distribution and artist services via its independent label services division, ADA.
Munachi Abii is a Nigerian rapper, singer, songwriter, model, actress and beauty pageant titleholder. She performs under the name Muna. She is the winner of Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN) 2007. She is Igbo and hails from Imo state.
The Kalabari Kingdom, also called Elem Kalabari, is the independent traditional state of the Kalabari people, a sub-group of the Ijaw tribe, eastern ijo, in the Niger River Delta. It is recognized as a traditional state in what is now Rivers State, in southern region of Nigeria.
Port Harcourt, a city of Rivers State located to the south of Nigeria, has a thriving music scene encompassing both native African and foreign-influenced genres. It plays host to numerous radio stations, prominent recording studios, such as the Street Rhymes Studios and other music institutions. As a state capital, Port Harcourt has one of the liveliest club scenes in the country as well as music venues, bars and restaurants. As of 2015, hip hop, pop, highlife and reggae are most popular music styles among young people in the city.
Street Rhymes Studios is a Port Harcourt-based independent, sound recording studio founded by singer and record producer Slim Burna, after he quit working for record label Grafton Records in late 2008. The studio operates out of Burna's residential building, 10 Railway Close, in D-line. Notable musical acts who have used the facility include Nigerian rapper M-Trill and pop singer-songwriter Muma Gee. Others are, Bukwild Da Ikwerrian, Knowledge, DJ Joenel, Zubillionaire, Spaceman, and KING STUNNA.
Number One is the debut studio album by Nigerian rapper M Trill. It was released on 17 October 2008 by Grafton Records with distribution by Afrobest Productions. Supported by the hit single "Bounce" which gained airplay on several major radio stations, the album contains guest appearances from 2Shotz, Ruggedman, Timaya, Uchie, Korkormikor, Frank D Nero, ShoBoi and vocals from Ghanaian singer Fire. All songs on Number One were written solely by Teria Yarhere. Although the record involved a lot more rap music, it also encompassed a distinct highlife/hip hop sound.
Grafton Entertainment, sometimes referred to as Grafton Records, is an artist management company and record label, with dual-headquarters in both Nigeria and United Kingdom.
Todd Moscowitz is an American music industry executive. He is currently the founder and CEO of Alamo Records and Santa Anna Label Group, while serving as the manager of Gucci Mane. Previously, Moscowitz co-founded 300 Entertainment, served as a co-president and CEO of Warner Bros. Records and worked for Def Jam.
Abinye David Jumbo born, known by his stage name Mr 2Kay, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter. He was formally signed by Grafton Entertainment, but left the label in 2018 to start his own imprint, Better Life Entertainment.
Tonye Patrick Cole is a Nigerian billionaire businessman, he is the co-founder and former Group Executive Director of Sahara Group an energy conglomerate with operations spanning the entire energy chain in Nigeria and neighbouring West African countries to East Africa and beyond. The Group operates in 38 countries around the world with over 4,000 employees and annual turnover of $11 billion. He was directly responsible for building the Group's global expansion and upholding her corporate governance principles, maintaining her status with global institutions like the World Economic Forum, where he was a key member of Partnering Against Corruption Initiative (PACI), The United Nations), where he was a pioneer member of the advisory board of the Private Sector Advisory Group for the UNDP Sustainable Development Group Fund (SDG-F), The African Philanthropy Forum amongst others.
Nigerian singer Mr 2Kay has released several singles and music videos.
Universal Music West Africa is the West African division of the global record label Universal Music Group. Founded in 2017, it has its corporate headquarters located in Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria. The label has signed at least seventeen artists from various African countries. UMGNG is engaged in recorded music, music publishing, merchandising, and audiovisual content.
Hart Idawarifagha Ishmael, known professionally as Idahams, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter and record producer. He secured a record deal with Grafton Entertainment in 2016 and joined the Universal Music Nigeria roaster in 2019. Idahams made his first break in 2018 through the song "God Can Bless Anybody" by Mr 2Kay which he wrote and also featured on, the song topped the ITunes Chart barely a week after release.
The Aristokrat Group, headquartered in Port Harcourt, is an African Media and Entertainment company, known for housing a record label and music publishing company, digital media company, tour and concert production company and a creative consulting and solutions agency. The company is headed by its Founder, Piriye Isokrari.
SJW Entertainment, is a Nigerian record label owned by Sir Justine. SJW services includes, music recording, merchandising, audiovisual content, and music publishing. The label is home to recording acts, such as Victor AD, AcebergTM, and Blaq Jerzee.
Universal Music South Africa is the South African division of the record label Universal Music Group, founded in 1997.
Universal Music Africa (UMA) is a multilingual music corporation of the global record label Universal Music Group, covering 25 French, Spanish, and Portuguese-speaking countries, in Africa, with its corporate headquarters located in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. Universal Music Africa is known for housing Motown Gospel Africa, Blue Note Records Africa, and Def Jam Recordings Africa.