Brymo (Real Name: Ọlawale Ọlọfọrọ, born May 9, 1986) is a Nigerian folk/pop/afrobeat singer-songwriter, stage performer and published author who has an estimated net worth of $3.5 million. He is known for his collaborations with high-profile singers like M.I, Jesse Jagz, Ice Prince, David Pryse, among others.
Brymo, the son of a carpenter and a petty trader who now has a net worth of $3.5 million, owes his meteoric rise to prominence to his mother, who was actually the first person that inspired him to create music. According to the singer, his mother loves fuji songs as much as she loves him and was very good at singing them with excitement.
It was never his childhood dream to become a singer or a songwriter. His first love was football which he developed a strong interest in from his early years to when he started his secondary school education. It was during his years in secondary school that Brymo, after deep thought, settled to abandon football and pursue a career in music.
With the inspiration he got from his mother and consistent commitment to the course, the singer finally launched his music career in 1999. Today, the folk/pop/afrobeat singer has risen to become a force to reckon with in the Nigerian music industry and beyond.
Brymo Biography and Profile at a Glance
- Full Name: Olawale Ashimi
- Known as: Brymo
- Date of birth: May 9, 1986
- Age: 37 years old
- Place of Birth: Okokomaiko, Lagos
- Education: Lagos State University (dropped out)
- Occupation: Singer, Songwriter, Author
- Marital Status: Single
- Active Years: 1999 to date
- Net Worth: $3.5 million
Brymo was Born 37 Years Ago in Okokomaiko, Ojo, Lagos State
The singing sensation’s real name is Olawale Ashimi. He was born on May 9, 1986, in Okokomaiko, Ojo, Lagos State, to a carpenter father and petty trader mother who are of Awori and Egun ancestry, respectively. The only child of his parents, Brymo was raised in Okokomaiko, Ojo, Lagos State, where he spent some time at an Islamic school. He was later enrolled at Aganju Aka Primary School, after which he switched to Japual Primary School and eventually completed his elementary school education.
While growing Brymo was very stubborn and notorious for getting into numerous fights with other children within his locality. But despite his unruly behavior, he had a soft spot for football and was equally good at it. He later dropped the sports for music after graduating from secondary school. Brymo was offered admission to study zoology at Lagos State University (LASU), but he abandoned his studies to give his musical ambition a chase after his second year.
A Look At His Career Achievements
It is very safe to say that Brymo stands out as one of Africa’s most successful artists with so many accomplishments ahead of many. Despite his young age, he has achieved so much within the little time he has spent in the music industry as a singer. From his singles to his studio albums, Brymo has won many hearts and praises from his contemporaries for his outstanding career.
As we mentioned earlier, the folk maestro rolled out his music career in 1999 while in secondary school. It was also in the same year that he recorded his debut single titled Future. Three years later, Brymo and his friends formed a musical group called The Aliens. The group, however, disbanded in 2005 following a misunderstanding that hit their camp in 2004.
Singer Brymo has successfully recorded eight wonderful studio albums, which were released between 2007 to 2018. The superstar’s debut album titled: “Brymstone” was released in 2007 while the rest – “TheSonOfaKapenta,” “Merchants,” “Dealers & Slaves,” “Tabula Rasa,” “Klĭtôrĭs,” and “Oṣó” – were launched in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2018, respectively.
Over the years, Brymo’s songs are universally acclaimed for dealing with many issues that Nigerians can easily relate to. They often touch on subjects like chaos in the political system, social injustice, and other societal challenges prevalent in the country.
The singer has also shared the stage with several Nigerian musicians. He is known to have featured on Ice Prince‘s hit single, “Oleku,” which was released in 2011 from the latter’s first studio album, Everybody Loves Ice Prince. Oleku played a great role in bringing Brymo to the limelight. Brymo’s musical talent also allowed him to band together with afrobeat singer Jesse Jagz. The latter got him featured on his song titled: “Love You.”
A look at Ashimi’s musical history shows he was previously signed to the record label Chocolate City. His stint with the label began in 2010 and ended in 2013 when he breached their contract. Chocolate City claimed that the N20 million they invested in him yielded less than N3 million. According to information online, Brymo’s gallant entry into Chocolate City was facilitated by M.I, who was supposedly influential at the time.
Some of Brymo’s Popular Songs
- Ara (2012)
- Good Morning (2012)
- See Me (2012)
- Eko (2013)
- Down (2013)
- Fe MI (2014)
- Naked (2014)
- Prick No Get Shoulder (2014)
- Billion Naira Dream (2016)
- Them Dey Go (2016)
- Time is So Kind (2018)
- Heya (2018)
- Ba’nuso (2018)
- No Be Me (2018)
- Osó (2018)
At 37, Brymo Has Accrued a Net Worth of $3.5 Million
The popular artist has an estimated net worth of $3.5 million, and the bulk of his wealth comes from his musical career. He also earns as a writer, but not so much. Compared to his contemporaries, Brymo is not doing badly for himself. He may not be the richest celebrity singer, but he is definitely not the least on the list.
He earns more than some musicians of his time, such as Alexander Adegbola, popularly known as 9ice, who has an estimated net worth of $1.7 million. However, others like Timaya are seen to have a higher net worth than him. Timaya has an estimated net worth of $10.5 million.
What is Brymo up to Now?
Ashimi is still in the business of expressing his thoughts and feelings through lyrics and sound. He currently performs at top shows on big stages across Africa. His latest album, “Oṣó,” which was released in 2018, is a clear indication that the pop/rock singer is still pushing his way to the pinnacle of the music industry.
Also, he released a live album titled “Live! At Terra Kulture Arena” in 2019. In the same year, he released his first EP, A.A.A (with Sakata Vibration as A.A.A). Besides being a singer, Brymo is an author, and he published his second book, “Verses” in 2020. His first book, “Oriri’s Plight” was published in 2018.
Since he has not released any new songs since 2018, we assume the musician might be doing some “behind the scenes” work to develop something good for his fans, as he has not mentioned any decision to quit music yet.