Who Is Runtown? Biography and Net Worth of the ‘Body Riddim’ Singer

Born Douglas Jack Agu, Runtown is a 34-year-old Nigerian R&B, Afro-Fusion, hip-hop, and reggae singer, songwriter, producer, entrepreneur, and brand ambassador who has been able to garner an estimated net worth of $2.5 million. He rose to fame for hits like Gallardo and MadOverYou, among other songs that won him nominations and awards. Before his emergence into the spotlight, Runtown worked jointly with respected Nigerian artists such as Port Harcourt, born-star Enitimi Alfred Odom, popularly known as Timaya, and Oyoyo crooner J-Martins, among others.

Runtown was Born in Enugu State 34 Years Ago

Runtown was born on the 19th day of August 1989 in Enugu, a State in southeastern Nigeria, where he also hails from. However, he moved to Lagos due to his father’s ailment while he was a little boy. He later moved to Abuja with his mother after his father’s demise, who was formerly a federal civil servant that also became a politician. In 2005, his family moved back to Enugu.

To gain formal education, he attended several schools in different locations in Nigeria, including Lagos, Abuja, Enugu, and New York. Although details of his educational background remain sparse, some of the schools he attended include:

• St. Augustine’s Seminary Ezzamgbo at Enugu-Abakaliki Expressway.
• He studied Fashion Management at a fashion school in New York, the United States of America.

With different educational backgrounds, Runtown, while growing up, had the dream of becoming a professional basketball player. But in 2007, he decided to pursue a career in music. In his budding years, he was mentored by popular singer Martins Okechukwu Joshua Kalu Okwun, best known as J-Martins, who also featured him and Phyno in his album, Tonight.

Runtown’s popularity increased in mid-2010 following the release of Forever. Soon after, he released several other songs and has collaborated with many artists within and outside Nigeria. Some of the artists include Nasty C, Bella Shmurda, Sarkodie, and one of the richest musicians in Nigeria, Davido.

How He Became One of The Biggest Artists in Nigeria

He Was One Of The First artists to Be Part of Phyno’s Penthauze

Runtown fast reached a great height in his career after it was professionally launched. In 2011, he became one of the first artists of Penthauze before he allegedly became the label’s partner. Still, others claimed the label was co-owned by Runtown and Phyno – a claim that has not been proven. Through the label, Runtown released his first hit singles titled: Activity Pikin (2008) and Pary Like It’s 1980 (2008).

Runtown was further thrust into immense popularity in 2014 when he featured Davido in Gallardo, generating over 12 million views on YouTube alone. Shortly after the epoch-making collabo, precisely on June 21, 2016, he was signed by Prince Okwudili Umenyiora’s record label, Eric-Manny Entertainment. He, however, severed his multi-million Naira contract with the label in July 2018 over the allegation that the label decided to end its affiliation with the artist for signing up and attending musical concerts without its knowledge. Runtown, on his own part, claimed that he left the label as a result of extortion, a violation in their deal, and a threat to life.

He Allegedly Wrote Davido’s ‘Aye’

Apart from singing and production, he is renowned for writing his songs. In 2014, it was rumored that Runtown wrote Davido’s hit single Aye, but the singer is yet to either confirm or deny the claim. He keeps telling people to meet Davido to know more about the writer of the song.

Over the course of his fast-growing music career, Runtown has further made music and has traveled the world. His style remains at its most unique peak, and his versatility remains one of his major strongholds. He says his musical influences are Sean Kingston, Bob Marley, and Kanye West.

List of Runtown’s Singles

• If E Happen for Lagos (2021)
• Kini Issue (2021)
• Body Riddim ft Darkovibes, Bella Shmurda (2020)
• International Badman Killa (2019)
• Redemption (2019)
• Emotions (2019)
• Oh Oh Oh (Lucie) (2019)
• Unleash (2018)
• Energy (2018)
• For Life (2017)
• Said with Nasty C (2017)
• Mad Over You (2016)
• Lagos to Kampala (2015)
• Bend Down Pause ft. Wizkid (2015)
• The Latest (2015)
• Walahi (2015)
• The Banger ft. Uhuru (2014)
• My Matter (2014)
• Domot (2014)
• Successful (2014)
• Gallardo ft. Davido (2014)
• High on You ft. Laza Morgan (2013)
• The Control (2013)
• Aunty Tolu ft, Timaya (Timaya)
• Forever (2010)
• Activity Pikin (2008)
• Party Like It’s 1980 (2008)
• Are You Not Entertained? (2007)
• Runtown (2007)

Runtown’s EP and Album

• SoundGod Fest Reloaded (2021)

The album has 12 tracks with hits songs such as Kini Issue, Body Riddim, and Ghetto Gospel Riddim. It features Darkovibes, Minz, Bella Shmurda, Made Kuti, Rowlen, and Gemini Major.

• Soundgod Fest, Vol.1 (2018)

It is a studio album that has 20 tracks with different genres. Some of the songs include Energy, Why, Mad Over You, No Permission, and Pain Killer, to mention a few. Artists such as Sarkodie, Nasty C, Illbliss, Fekky, Connel Thompson, Wizkid, and Phyno, among others, were featured.

• Ghetto University (2019)

This is the debut album of Runtown. It helped in his career breakthrough. The album features 13 songs and artists such as Wizkid in Lagos to Kampala, Phyno in Ima Ndi Anyi Bu, Uhuru in the Banger, Davido in Gallardo, etc.

He Won the 2017 African Artist of The Year Among Other Accolades

Runtown’s career has been noticed across the globe and, as such, has received more than 7 nominations with 3 wins as of this writing.

Music is Runtown’s Major Source Of Wealth

According to many sources, Runtown has an estimated net worth of $2.5 million. However, this figure conflicts with other sources that claim the singer has a net worth of about 700 million Naira. Others also claim that the net worth maybe about $1 million to $2 million. Since the singer has not accepted or refuted any of these claims, all the media has its claims with a larger group believing his worth amounts to $2.5 million.

The multi-hyphenated star makes this wealth majorly from his music career, which has lasted more than a decade. This is not only in his released songs but also as a featured artist and in shows that he has attended in different parts of Nigeria and outside. Although it is not known how much exactly he charges per show, many artists of his caliber charge within the range of 1 million to 10 million Naira.

He Also Owns A Record Label Company And Other Businesses

Runtown also invests in music as the founder of an African Indie music label in Los Angeles called the Sound God Music Group. The company was launched in 2018 in the United States. So far, it remains unknown how much the label has paid him.

The singer also has a charity project called WANA, an acronym for We Are New Africa. The project is majorly for empowerment and giving back to society through various means. However, he does not run the project alone but alongside his business partners, Ugo Mozie and Ifeanyi Nwune.

Runtown further earns from his YouTube Channel. Although there is no certainty how much exactly he earns, YouTube is a huge vlog channel that can generate millions and billions of dollars. On average, a YouTuber can make up to $3 – $9 or more per 1000 views. Since Runtown has more than 298 million views, he probably must have earned about $100 million on an average so far on the channel.

The Singer Also Makes Money Through Endorsement Deals

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• In 2020, he signed an endorsement deal of million dollars with Versace.
• He also signed a multi-million Naira deal with Infinix.
• In 2015, he became the first indigenous African to be signed to Adidas, a sports manufacturing company.
• Runtown became an ambassador to Telcos Nigeria and had the ring back tunes with the company.

How Runtown Spends His Wealth

Runtown’s career has paid off enough to afford many luxuries. Among the many include trip to different countries and cars. Some of his cars include a customized Mercedes Benz G-Wagon car that cost about 35 million Naira. Also, he allegedly became the first Nigerian celebrity to buy a brand new 2017 Lamborghini Gallardo that is valued at about 150 million Naira.

In 2020, at the hit of the deadly widely spread Coronavirus, Runtown pledged to support people with 10 million Naira. In addition, he purportedly received over 360 thousand Naira stimulus payments from the United States Government in 2020. The payment was an initiative to help citizens with social security numbers during the hardship that was brought by Covid. He pledged to share the money with his friends to Twitter.