D'banj was expected to follow his father's military career and was
enrolled to the Nigerian Military School at age eleven. However, D'banj
resisted the system and disenrolled from the school after three years. While at
the Military school he was a member of the elite drum corp of the Nigerian
Army. From the Nigerian Military School he proceeded to another military owned
institution Nigerian Navy Secondary School, Ibara, Abeokuta where he completed
his secondary school education.
D'banj was introduced to the harmonica by his late older
brother, Femi Oyebanjo, who died in a plane crash at age seventeen. With
D'banj's love for music being greater than his parents' military aspirations,
he struggled for his parents' approval; this can be best heard through an album
track, All Da Way from his debut album.
Following the death of his 17-year-old brother, D'banj
arranged all his possessions on his bed after they were brought home and just
picked up his harmonica. I'd play it to remember him.
Later, at
university, he realised what his new skills with the instrument could bring
him. "I'd go to the female hostel after lectures, and even if there was no
electricity I could play there." He remembers learning Celine Dion's
"My Heart Will Go On" after Titanic came out – "and that got me
a lot of girls!"
D'banj then proceeded to the Lagos State University to study
Mechanical Engineering but due to the constant strikes and several
irregularities in the school he decided to withdraw.
Plans to continue his
studies as a Mechanical Engineer in London were derailed when he arrived in the
UK in 2001, and met Don Jazzy who was trying to make it as a songwriter and
producer. D'Banj started hanging around the studio, making ends meet while
working as a security guard. "It was OK, because I did nights," he
says, so I could listen to music on my headphones."
Don Jazzy told D'Banj he thought he was a star in the
making, and sensing that the music scene in Nigeria was "blossoming",
the pair returned to Lagos in 2004. That same year came the single
"Tongolo"; the video was paid for by D'Banj's mother. His first endorsement
was with an energy drink called Power Fist.
In April 2011, D'banj was interviewed by BET's April
Woodard. The interview, titled "Welcome to America", was a platform
for D'banj to introduce himself to the American Music Industry and audience
which he stated he was going to get into.
In the interview, D'banj spoke on a wide range of topics including his music, artists he'd like to work with, his parents, Mo'Hits Records, his love life, and his role models: Kanye West, Usher, Jay-Z, R. Kelly, and others. The interview lasted 125 minutes, and was the avenue used to formally declare his determination to lead African music into many quarters that its yet to reach.
In the interview, D'banj spoke on a wide range of topics including his music, artists he'd like to work with, his parents, Mo'Hits Records, his love life, and his role models: Kanye West, Usher, Jay-Z, R. Kelly, and others. The interview lasted 125 minutes, and was the avenue used to formally declare his determination to lead African music into many quarters that its yet to reach.
As a tribute to his mentor Fela, D'banj uses a fusion of
Afrobeat and Afropop to bring his music to life and into the 21st century with
breathless enthusiasm as well as a good dose of humour. His songs are based on
his life, often hilarious but with a deeper meaning which documents the
struggle of a young Nigerian trying to achieve his dreams. He performs in
Yoruba, English and Pidgin English.
D'banj's debut album, No Long Thing, was released in 2005.
It yielded several singles with Tongolo as the lead single.
This proved to be his breakthrough single and a hit. It also provided his Koko Master persona, with the term, koko, taking on a variety of meanings. D'banj's debut success led to collaborations with other artists, including Dare Art Alade and Ikechukwu. D'Banj's single koko was used by the PDP (ruling political party in Nigeria) as its campaign theme for the 2007 general elections.
D'banj's second album Rundown Funk U Up, which was released
in 2006, yielded several singles including the club single, Tongolo (Remix),
and the lead single Why Me?. This proved to be another hit.
D'banj, as an artist of Mo' Hits Records, is also a member
of its collective group, Mo' Hits Allstars (includes artists Dr SID, Wande Coal,
KaySwitch, and D'Prince). He has once been spotted with one of Nigeria's most
talented singers, "Smile Lasisi".
The collective's debut album, Curriculum Vitae, was released in December 2007. It included hit singles, "Be Close To You", "Booty Call" and "Move Your Body", which was the lead single. D'banj was featured in Ikechukwu's 2008 hit, "Wind Am Well".
The collective's debut album, Curriculum Vitae, was released in December 2007. It included hit singles, "Be Close To You", "Booty Call" and "Move Your Body", which was the lead single. D'banj was featured in Ikechukwu's 2008 hit, "Wind Am Well".
July 2008 saw the release of D'banj's third album, The
Entertainer, with the singles "Gbono Feli Feli", "Kimon",
"Olorun Maje" and "Entertainer.
In June 2011, D'banj was signed to Kanye West's G.O.O.D
Music record label as artiste. On 9 June 2011, D'banj wrote on his Twitter
account, @iamdbanj, "Just like yesterday, myself and my brother did
Tongolo. 7years later, Mo'Hits signs with GOOD Music. Best Birthday gift ever.
God thank you.
After several months of speculation and wild rumors, ace
producer, Don Jazzy confirmed via his Twitter account the break-up of Mo'Hits.
After the break-up, Don Jazzy, D'Prince, Dr SID, Wande Coal started Mavin
Records while D'banj founded DB Records and as expected, he signed his
younger brother Kayswitch to the label alongside two producers, Jaysleek and
Deevee.
In December 2012 D'banj signed a mega deal with
Sony, speaking on the importance of the deal to Sony, Managing Director of Sony
Music Entertainment Sean Watson said: "Partnering with D’Banj is a seminal
event for us at Sony Music Entertainment Africa. We’ve always admired his
talent and to be able to assist with bringing D’Banj’s music to millions of
fans, established and new, across the continent is an honour for us. We are
very excited about being a part of it.
The deal is being described as a "Pan African, multi-album
deal with Sony Music’s RCA Records. It also involves an exclusive management
deal with Sony Music and strategic partner ROCKSTAR4000 for the continent. Add
to that a multi-album, worldwide exclusive contract with emerging Nigerian
singer-songwriter star Kayswitch and a strategic partnership with D’Banj’s
Nigerian record label DB Records".
The forthcoming single "Bother You", inspired by
the film Half of a Yellow Sun, was released on 7 April 2013, by Mi7 Records and
D'banj's label DKM.
In June 2014 D’banj introduces artists under his record label, which includes himself, younger brother K-Switch, brothers MossKriss and Ralph Kriss and Tonto Dikeh.
In June 2014 D’banj introduces artists under his record label, which includes himself, younger brother K-Switch, brothers MossKriss and Ralph Kriss and Tonto Dikeh.
D'banj is a regular performer for the annual ThisDay Africa
Rising Music Festival. He has performed at Femi Kuti's new Afrikan Shrine in
Ikeja, Lagos as well as the Shrine Synchro System's regular London Night at
Cargo.
He performed at the Black President Concert in memory of Fela's art and legacy at the Barbican in London, and also alongside many international artists in Nigeria like Kelly Rowland at the 1st Edition of the MTV Africa Music Awards 2008 in Abuja, Nigeria.
He performed at the Black President Concert in memory of Fela's art and legacy at the Barbican in London, and also alongside many international artists in Nigeria like Kelly Rowland at the 1st Edition of the MTV Africa Music Awards 2008 in Abuja, Nigeria.
He was involved in one of the most anticipated events of the
season 'Koko Concert'. This concert consisted of D'Banj, Don Jazzy, Dr SID,
Wande Coal, D'Prince, new Mo Hits recruit Ikechukwu plus a few guest
appearances including May7ven and comedian Tunde Ednut. The stage was set for a
thrilling night – the Koko effect is definitely LIVE in London as fans of
D'Banj and Mo' Hits filled the O2 arena to capacity.
As expected, the hits just
kept coming and the momentum was sustained with on-stage antics from all the
artists.
In December 2010, the Mo' Hits All Stars brought Koko Concert to Lagos and D'banj kept belting out energetic performances that kept the audience screaming.
Colleagues like M.I, eLDee, Jesse Jagz, and Wizkid also joined up on stage. There was also a global premiere of the highly anticipated "Mr Endowed (Remix)" featuring Snoop Dogg and also a recent track "Blame It on the Money" featuring the Californian native and Big Sean.
In December 2010, the Mo' Hits All Stars brought Koko Concert to Lagos and D'banj kept belting out energetic performances that kept the audience screaming.
Colleagues like M.I, eLDee, Jesse Jagz, and Wizkid also joined up on stage. There was also a global premiere of the highly anticipated "Mr Endowed (Remix)" featuring Snoop Dogg and also a recent track "Blame It on the Money" featuring the Californian native and Big Sean.
On 23 June 2012, D'banj performed at the Hackney Weekend to
celebrate the 2012 Summer Olympics, which was headlined by Jay-Z and Rihanna.
He performed alongside his friend, and fellow Universal Music Group label mate, Rita Ora on 30 August 2012 at the SCALA London Live Music, Clubs and Arts Venue to celebrate the release of her debut album Ora. He also performed at the AFCON 2013 closing ceremony held in South Africa.On 18 April 2015.
D'banj performed at the Global citizen earth day a Free Concert on Capitol Hill (Washington Monument Grounds) for the 45th Anniversary of Earth Day put on by Global Poverty Project and the Earth Day Network.
He performed alongside his friend, and fellow Universal Music Group label mate, Rita Ora on 30 August 2012 at the SCALA London Live Music, Clubs and Arts Venue to celebrate the release of her debut album Ora. He also performed at the AFCON 2013 closing ceremony held in South Africa.On 18 April 2015.
D'banj performed at the Global citizen earth day a Free Concert on Capitol Hill (Washington Monument Grounds) for the 45th Anniversary of Earth Day put on by Global Poverty Project and the Earth Day Network.
With D'banj's first album came his first endorsement from an
energy drink called Power Fist.In May 2013, D'banj was named the Bank of
Industry (BOI) ambassador.
In November 2013, D'banj re-signed a
multi-million Naira deal with Globacom, the company he parted ways with in
2010.
In June 2014 D’Banj Secures Deal With Heritage Bank. In October 2014, D'banj was named the official African ambassador for Beats by Dre
In February 2015, D'banj was named the official African ambassador for Ciroc Nigeria. In an exclusive story on Tush Magazine Issue 11, Banky W and Dbanj shed more lights on how they became Ciroc Ambassadors. In September 2015,D'banj was made the brand ambassador of SLOT, a popular mobile phone, and electronic gadget retail outfit.
In June 2014 D’Banj Secures Deal With Heritage Bank. In October 2014, D'banj was named the official African ambassador for Beats by Dre
In February 2015, D'banj was named the official African ambassador for Ciroc Nigeria. In an exclusive story on Tush Magazine Issue 11, Banky W and Dbanj shed more lights on how they became Ciroc Ambassadors. In September 2015,D'banj was made the brand ambassador of SLOT, a popular mobile phone, and electronic gadget retail outfit.
D'banj is the founder of Koko Foundation for Youth and Peace
Development. He is also Nigeria's first United Nations Youth Ambassador for
Peace. Dbanj is a ONE campaign ambassador; he released the song "Cocoa
Na Chocolate" in support of agriculture investments. 'Cocoa Na
Chocolate' featured 18 other African artists and won Best African Collaboration
at the All Africa Music Awards in 2014.
In 2015, he was applauded by World Bank Chief, Jim Yong Kim for
using his music power and high celebrity status to bringing attention to
serious and critical issues in Africa with special focus on agriculture and
poverty alleviation.
Jim Yong Kim was quoted saying that "I had the pleasure of meeting D’banj last month and seeing him perform. I’m thrilled he is the first artists to take part in our new Music4Dev series encouraging global artist to raise awareness about poverty and related issues.
Jim Yong Kim was quoted saying that "I had the pleasure of meeting D’banj last month and seeing him perform. I’m thrilled he is the first artists to take part in our new Music4Dev series encouraging global artist to raise awareness about poverty and related issues.
Enjoy the rest of his action packed and fun pictures...
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