DRB LasGidi

Last updated
DRB-La
DRB - LASGIDI LOGO.jpg
DRB LasGidi logo
Background information
Also known asDRB
OriginNigeria
United Kingdom
Genres Afrobeats, Alté
Years active2007 (2007)-present
LabelsIndependent/LSG
MembersFresh L (Ladi Ladenegan)
TeeZee (Teniola Zacchaeus)
BOJ (Bolaji Odojukan)
Past membersImran Claud-Ennin
Tobenna Ofilli
Shayo Okupe
Tobi Ajayi

DRB LasGidi (previously known as "Rap Royals") is a Nigerian musical group. It was formed in 2007 by Tobi Ajayi, Tobenna Ofili, and Ladi Lanre. Teniola Zaccheaus joined later. [1]

Contents

History

Rap Royals officially kicked off with rapping and singing. They recorded over 5 tracks a day, made various freestyles to other known instrumentals and started to get a 'buzz' within their circle. Tobenna wrote the hooks with Tobi, while Ladi, and Teniola handled the rapping. [2]

Ladi became known as Fresh L, Teniola as TZ (TeeZee) and Tobi as Tobias. Their first CD was "Coronation Vol.1". Dayo Ogundare, BOJ and others appeared on this mixtape.

"Marry You" was released over email. This was their first afrobeats track as a group. BOJ and Tobenna made the beat and laid down verses, while Fresh L rapped. It found favor on party playlists and then on a Lagos radio station.

Bolaji Odojukan aka BOJ then joined the group. Initially, he rapped on a few tracks, then left his unique vocals for a moment after 'Marry You' was recorded.

DRB

The group started working with producer Ife Otedola. "Wait A Minute" got positive reviews, with rapper J.Rah jumping in. Originally a solo artist, he affiliated with Rap Royals. They performed at Concrete Rose. The group changed its name to DRB (Double R "Rap Royals" Boys). New members included 3feat, Yung Didz and IC. Gidilounge made a viral interview video. [3]

"She Likes To" freestyle, involved non-DRB rappers.

In 2008, the "Beats N Bars" mixtape was made by FreshL and Tobenna with an appearance from 3feat. In 2009, "Hooks N Bars" mixtape was made and in 2010 "HarDrive" mixtape was made, featuring JRah, Costels, Phlowz, Stan and Davido, with production from Adey.

"Bad Man Jump" was DRB's single of that year and in the summer, the track took off with over 10,000 downloads.

DRB LasGidi/Creative Elevation

In 2011, as the team expanded, a decision was made to include Phlowz, Stan, Woodsy and Uzee as part of TeamDRB. Later that year, the team divided into Afro-beats vs UK. TZ, FreshL and BOJ were now DRB LasGidi (Afro-beats) while the rest were now Creative Elevation (CE) founded by Phlowz and Tobenna. Collectively, the movement is known as CEDRB, with their close friends Joey, Jerry, Ik, Ausboss and KC moving in with the group.

DRB LasGidi focused on the African market. Tenny Karim (known as TK) became their manager, working with BOJ, FreshL and TZ. He had connections in the industry. Their first release was one of BOJ's 2008 vocals that they repolished, becoming "Gra Gra". Fresh L was up next with "Bring Out The Rose" dropping in October, featuring TeeZee and produced by Adey. This was a "banger" according to DJ's and was played in clubs and on radio. TeeZee released his own track, "Swagga Mi Gbono" featuring BOJ, produced by K-Logic. This was also a club hit and got radio play. Old fans were excited about this new force, and DRB LasGidi generated a lot more supporters between July and December 2011. In Christmas of that year, BOJ and TeeZee made a trip to Lagos, and Fresh L stayed in London to work on some music, hoping to gain inspiration.

2012, LXIX was made and released 3 days before DRBs first single "Toyin", which was produced by DJ Caise. This track was a hit with about 25,000 downloads in the first month and over 20,000 plays on blogs. FJ Ayodeji joined DRB LasGidi as their assistant manager and handled the finance from tours and bookings, Papi YT became creative director and Ola (Bado) gave fashion inspiration and was a major advisor. He and his team, MV (Jimmy & Anthony), are closely affiliated to DRB. Wunmi Bakare handles public relations. She also works for one of Nigeria's biggest female artists, Tiwa Savage. The music video for "Toyin" was released during the summer of 2012 with DRB's 2nd single due to be released. [4]

Discography

Albums

TitleAlbum details
DRB 10
  • Released: 23 November 2018
  • Label: Jungle Entertainment Ventures
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
Pioneers
  • Released: 1 May 2020
  • Label: Zero Label Records
  • Format: Digital download, streaming

Solo discography

ArtistTitleAlbum details
TeeZeeMixtape
  • Released: 17 May 2013
  • Label: LSG Entertainment
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
BOJ #BOTM
  • Released: 21 February 2014
  • Label: Jungle Entertainment Ventures
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
BOJMagic
  • Released: 13 October 2017
  • Label: Jungle Entertainment Ventures
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
BOJ
(with Ajebutter22)
Make E No Cause Fight
  • Released: 17 May 2018
  • Label: Jungle Entertainment Ventures
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
BOJ
(with Ajebutter22 & Falz)
Make E No Cause Fight 2
  • Released: 29 November 2019
  • Label: Jungle Entertainment Ventures
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
TeeZeeArrested by Love
  • Released: 18 February 2022
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
BOJGbagada Express
  • Released: 22 April 2022
  • Label: Moves Recordings
  • Format: Digital download, streaming

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tommy Tee</span> Norwegian musical artist

Tommy Flåten, best known by his stage name Tommy Tee, is a Norwegian record producer, rapper, broadcaster, record executive, concert promoter and magazine publisher. He is known as the godfather of Norwegian hip hop. Tee owns the label Tee Productions, which is located in Oslo, Norway and is Norway's leading hip hop label. As well, he publishes Norway's only graffiti magazine and hosts a weekly national rap radio program.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fler</span> German rapper

Patrick Losenský, known professionally as Fler, is a German rapper and the CEO of Maskulin Music Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wale (rapper)</span> American rapper (born 1984)

Olubowale Victor Akintimehin, better known by his stage name Wale, is an American rapper, singer and songwriter. He first gained recognition in 2006, when his song "Dig Dug " became popular in his hometown, leading Wale to became locally recognized as he continued recording music for the regional audience. Wale met English DJ-producer Mark Ronson in 2006 and joined his label, Allido Records in 2007. While signed to that label, Wale released several mixtapes and appeared in national media including MTV and various Black American-focused magazines. A song called "Ridin' in That Black Joint" was featured in the popular video game Saints Row 2's soundtrack in 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rockie Fresh</span> American rapper from Illinois

Donald Howard Pullen, known professionally as Rockie Fresh, is an American rapper. He was signed to Rick Ross' Maybach Music Group and Atlantic Records. Pullen is known for his alternatively influenced style of hip-hop, and his associations with recording artists Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy, and Joel & Benji Madden of Good Charlotte.

808 Mafia is an American record production and songwriting team, founded by record producers Southside, TM88, and Lex Luger. Southside is currently at the helm of the group. The group also includes producers Young Miami, Fuse 100, Tarentino, Purps, Swede, Nonstop Da Hitman, MP808, among others. Its name comes from the drum machine commonly used in hip-hop music, the Roland TR-808.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TeeFlii</span> American singer

Christian Joel Jones, better known by his stage name TeeFlii, is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, record producer and dancer from South Los Angeles, California. He is currently signed to E1 Music. He is best known for his debut commercial single "24 Hours", which was premiered in March 2014, and features 2 Chainz. His debut studio album Starr was released in 2015 by Epic Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Basketmouth</span> Nigerian Comedian

Bright Okpocha, better known by his stage name Basketmouth, is a Nigerian comedian and actor. He has organized popular stand-up comedy concerts like Basketmouth Uncensored across the globe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ycee</span> Nigerian rapper

Oludemilade Martin Alejo, known professionally as Ycee, is a Nigerian rapper, singer and songwriter. He gained popularity after his single "Condo", which features vocals by Patoranking, earned him two nominations at the 2015 Nigeria Entertainment Awards. He was also nominated for Best Artist in African Pop at the 2015 All Africa Music Awards and for Next Rated at The Headies 2016. Ycee signed a record deal with Sony Music in October 2016, but terminated his contract with the label in February 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stefflon Don</span> British rapper and singer

Stephanie Victoria Allen, better known by her stage name Stefflon Don, is a British rapper and singer. She rose to fame after her 2017 single "Hurtin' Me" featuring French Montana peaked at number 7 on UK Singles Chart. In 2016, Allen released her debut mixtape Real Ting followed by another mixtape, Secure, in 2018.

Afrobeats, or Afro-pop or Afro-fusion, 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 Ghana and Nigeria. Genres such as hiplife, jùjú music, highlife and naija beats, among others, were amalgamated under the 'Afrobeats' umbrella.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amaarae</span> Ghanaian singer

Ama Serwah Genfi, known professionally as Amaarae, is a Ghanaian singer known for her work around representation of gender and race in music. After collaborating with local artists and putting out a few non-album singles, she released her debut EP, Passionfruit Summers, in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Our Homecoming</span>

Our Homecoming, is an annual three-days music, fashion, sport, and arts festival in Lagos, Nigeria. It has been founded by Grace Ladoja, as a community under Metallic Inc. The platform was established for cultural exchange, sharing African creativity with the world as a way of connecting international creatives from Africa in the diaspora back to the motherland. The festival provides a venue for workshops, football pitch, art museum, live bands, DJs, and musicians.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Show Dem Camp</span> Nigerian rap duo

Show Dem Camp (SDC) is a Nigerian rap duo composed of Wale Davies (Tec) and Olumide Ayeni (Ghost)

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asa Asika</span> Nigerian talent manager

Asa Asika is a Nigerian talent manager, best known as Davido's manager, also the co-founder of The Plug and Mainland Block Party.

Bolaji Odojukan, better known by his stage name BOJ is an English-Nigerian singer, songwriter and record producer. He is one-third of the musical group DRB LasGidi with TeeZee and Fresh L, and is known as a pioneer of alté.

Alté is a fusion genre of music that combines elements of afrobeats, dancehall, reggae, hip hop, and alternative R&B. The term was coined in the 2010s by Nigerian music group DRB LasGidi, meaning alternative and "individualistic and non-traditional modes of self-expression" through music and fashion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nativeland</span> Nigerian music festival

NATIVELAND is an annual music festival in Lagos, Nigeria, and organized by The Native. The platform was established to bring together the best of pop culture, music, art, food, style, sports, and education in the Nigerian entertainment industry.

Ayo Ayoku better known by his stage name Wani, is an American-Nigerian Alté musician. In 2018, he came into the music scene with a widely acclaimed EP Lagos City Vice, with lead song "China Designer", a remake of Tekno's "Be", which became controversial in September 2019, after Sarz called him out, for his royalty, following the success of the song, reaching 1 million streams in July 2019.

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 mixtape 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.

Half Tee Half Beast is the fourth commercial mixtape by American rapper Tee Grizzley. It was released on April 15, 2022, by Grizzley Gang and 300 Entertainment. The mixtape features guest appearances from Lakeyah and Baby Grizzley. The mixtape was mainly produced by J. R. Rotem, alongside other producers including Chopsquad DJ, D.A. Got That Dope, and Helluva, among others. The mixtape was supported by three singles: "Afterlife", "Beat The Streets" and "Buss It All Down". The mixtape received mixed critical reviews and charted at number 116 on the US Billboard 200 chart, dated April 30, 2022.

References

  1. "DRB LasGidi's Pioneers film outlines the Nigerian group's influence". The Fader.
  2. "DRB LasGidi: "Altê's not a genre, it's not a type of music, it's just being different."". The Face.
  3. "Seyi Shay, Naeto C, Ice Prince, Dammy Krane & More Rock the Stage at DRB Lasgidi Concert". BellaNaija. 5 January 2015.
  4. "DRB LasGidi brings the Alté community together on debut album". PAM. 4 May 2020.