Who Is Mr Eazi? Biography of ‘Nobody’ and ‘Kpalanga’ Singer

Mr Eazi (Real Name: Oluwatosin Oluwole Ajibade, born 19th July 1991) is a 32-year-old Nigerian singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur based in Ghana. He is popular for putting African music, especially West African hits, on the world map. 

His songs usually represent two distinctive countries and cultures and are well-loved for their R&B and Afro-beat sounds. A popular artist among Ghanaian and Nigerian audiences, Ajibade’s musical talent first brought him to the limelight in Ghana and later in Nigeria. He is currently signed to the record label Universal Music Group and Los Angeles-based record label Mad Decent.

Over the course of his career, Mr. Eazi has won himself four nominations and three big awards, which he received at the WatsUp TV Africa Music Video Awards and The Headies. At the 2016 Headies, the talented singer won the Next Rated award, while his song, Skin 8Tight, earned him the Special Recognition Award Music Video Africa at the WatsUp TV Africa Music Video Awards. But beyond his music and career awards, there is still a whole lot more to know about the talented singer.

Mr Eazi was born into a Music Loving Nigerian Family

On July 19, 1991, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria, the artist was born to a pilot father and a mother who was into small-scale business. His full name is Oluwatosin Oluwole Ajibade, as we mentioned earlier. There is no public information concerning the superstar’s siblings; this could be because he has decided not to let the media into his personal life.

His father, Captain Olukayode Ajibade, a retired Airforce officer who was said not to be close to his son, is a pilot and also owns a consulting aviation firm. On the other hand, his mother is the owner of a small business. Coming from a family where music is appreciated may have influenced and inspired the young Eazi, as records have it that he began singing quite early in school choirs. His father had a habit of playing music whenever the family gathered for their breakfast. Also, having entrepreneurial parents may have motivated him to venture into business as well.

Sources have it that young Eazi had his primary and secondary education in Lagos, Nigeria. He later moved to Ghana to live with his extended family. Along the line, he gained admission in one of Ghana’s topmost higher institutions, Kwame Nkurumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), where he studied Mechanical Engineering.

Mr. Eazi Started His Music Career while Studying in Ghana

While at KNUST, Mr. Eazi ventured first into the world of entertainment. He had a voice in music when he dropped a verse in a track titled My Life while he was still at KNUST. This made him remarkably popular among his fellow students. At the time, the singer used to promote campus events and also book artists for shows like campus parties and other entertainment events. After recording success, Mr. Eazi went on to establish a promotion company known as Swagger Entertainment.

Later, Mr. Eazi dropped his debut mixtape titled About to Blow. The mixtape featured his two most popular singles that boosted his name on the mainstream media. The mixtape containing Bankulize and Pipi Dance was produced by one of Ghana’s best, Klu. His kind of music is known as Banku music, which is described as having a unique rhythm featuring Ghanaian pidgin.

His music falls within the categories of Afrobeat, hip-pop, and nightlife. One can say that he draws his style of music from his exposure to Ghanaian music. Over the years, he has produced many well-performing albums and singles to hold a stake in both the Nigerian and Ghanian music industries.

Below is a list of Mr. Eazi’s top Albums and Singles

Mr. Eazi is best known as the originator of Banku music, a mixture of percolating rhythms and Ghanaian Pidgin English. His music is generally appreciated for fitting into West African pop, hip-hop, highlife, and Afrobeats.

• About to Blow (mixtape)
• Skintight
• Bankulize (mixtape)
• Life is Eazi vol.1-Accra to Lagos (a mixtape featuring Tekno, Olamide, Phyno, Mugeez, Big Lean, Falz, Medikal, Dj Cuppy, etc.)
• Life is Eazi vol.2 – Lagos to London
• Oasis
• Something Else (EP)
• One day You Will Understand (EP)
• Lento

His Popular Singles Include

• Bankulize
• Pour me water
• Skintight
• Leg over
• Oh my Gawd and others

He Has Worked with Both Local and International Artists

When he started his career, Mr. Eazi, like many raw talents, was sought after by big record labels, music houses, and top personalities in the industry. After Klu produced his first mixtape, he made more effort to make his next album even better. On returning to Nigeria at the age of 23 to push his career, Eazi connected with Dj Juls, a Ghanaian producer whose business is based in the UK.

The DJ requested for his song Bankulize, which he reproduced. The re-produced Bankulize had vocals of Pappy Kojo, which did not only help to make the art popular but also popularised the artist. He didn’t stop there; he also produced other songs that further blew Mr. Eazi’s trumpet. One such song is Skin Tight, which was nominated and won many awards.

Eazi and Ghana’s Eugy dropped the famous Dance for me, which according to Clash Magazine, was a tribute to their Ghana heritage. Also, Eazi is said to have had a deal with Nigerian’s Star Boy Wizkid. He was signed into the Star Boy Record Label, under which he produced his second mixtape, Life is Eazi vol.1- Accra to Lagos.

Besides working with Dj Juls and Klu, Mr. Eazi has also worked with other famous producers like Young John, Legendury Beatz, Masterktaft, Maleek Berry, etc.

Mr. Eazi’s Career Awards and Nominations

• Sound City MVP Awards, 2016, Best New Artist (won)
• Sound City MVP 2016 Viewer’s Choice Awards (nominated)
• Soundcitu MVP 2016 Awards, Song of the Year (Hollup) (nominated)
• Soundcity MVP 2016, Listener’s Choice of the year (Skin Tight) (nominated)
• WatsUP Tv African Music Video Awards 2016, Special Recognition Award Music video (won)
• The Headies next rated artist, 2016 (won)
• Mobo Awards 2016, Best African Art (nominated)
• Nigerian Entertainment Award 2016, Most Promising Act to Watch (won)
• Nigerian Entertainment Award 2017, Afropop Male Artist (nominated)
• The Headies 2018, Hip pop World Revelation of the year (nominated)
• Mobo Awards 2018, Best African Act (nominated)

Other Interesting Facts About Mr Eazi

1. Mr Eazi’s father has a personal aviation consulting practice.

2. While growing up, his father usually plays music records for the family during breakfast.

3. Mr Eazi boasts a wealth of business ventures. He once said in an interview that his business interests cover food distribution, gold mining, and soft drinks import.

4. The singer formerly worked as a club promoter. He, however, quit the job after an invited artist failed to make it to a party he attempted to throw in 2014.

5. The singer spent his early childhood in Nigeria and his young adult years in Ghana, where he reportedly has an extended family.

6. Ajibade was among the top African artists who attended the Vanity Fair Oscar party in March 2018. The singer was seen together with celebrities like Tyler Perry, rapper Drake, and American rapper Sean Combs, popularly known by his stage name Diddy.

7. Sometime in early 2017, the singer was heavily backlashed for insinuating that Nigerian music is heavily influenced by Ghanaian music. Mr Eazi’s postulation, which was shared on Twitter, immediately went viral in Nigeria and Ghana, attracting fierce attacks on the musician from the Nigerian front. The backlash saw him render an apology to Nigerians the following day.

8. The Port Harcourt-born singer’s professional music career began in 2012. He rose to prominence in the Nigerian music industry in 2016, two years after he relocated from Ghana to Nigeria.

9. The singer is in a relationship with Femi Otedola’s daughter, Temi Otedola