Flavour (musician)
Flavour N'abania | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | Chinedu Izuchukwu Okoli |
Born | Enugu, Enugu State, Nigeria | 23 November 1983
Genres | |
Occupations |
|
Instruments |
|
Years active | 2005–present |
Labels | 2nite Music Group |
Website | Official website |
Chinedu Okoli (born 23 November 1983), better known by his stage name Flavour N'abania or simply Flavour, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He began his musical career as a drummer for a local church. Flavour is popularly known across Africa and the world for his hit song "Nwa Baby (Ashawo Remix)". He is currently signed to 2nite Entertainment.
In 2005, he released his self-titled debut album N'abania. In 2010, Flavour released his second studio album Uplifted. It was supported by the singles "Nwa Baby (Ashawo Remix)", "Adamma", and "Oyi Remix". The album's success made Flavour one of Africa's most sought out artists. Flavour was booked to perform at numerous concerts and social events following Uplifted's release.
Early life
Flavour, who is well known for his ability to sing fluently in the Igbo language, was born in Enugu State, Nigeria. His family is originally from Umunze in Orumba South LGA, Anambra State, Nigeria.[3] Flavour began his music career at the age of 13 when he started playing the drums for his church choir in Enugu. The resident pastor at his church introduced him to a friend, Chris I. Ordor, the CEO of SoundCity Communications.[4] In 1996, Flavour was invited to join the company on an educational scholarship to study music.[4] After three years of playing the drums, Flavour started playing the drums professionally. In 1999, Flavour moved on from playing the drums and started playing the keyboard.[4] He also used to provide backing vocals for other musicians at SoundCity.
Career
Career beginnings
At the age of 19, Flavour emerged unto Nigeria's musical scene as a drummer and pianist for a local Enugu band. After learning to play drums professionally, Flavour received an offer to perform at City Centre, Enugu. The massive crowd at City Centre inspired him to gain new grounds and reach great heights. Flavour's educational background in music enabled him to learn music production from Dekumzy, Isi Charles and Nnachie.[5]
2005: N'abania
In 2005, Flavour released his debut album N'abania through Obaino Music. The album's success was relative and limited to Eastern Nigeria, particularly Enugu State. Flavour collaborated with Mr Raw on the album's lead single titled "N'abania". The song was recorded at Kingsley Ogoro's music studio in Lagos, Nigeria.
2010: Uplifted
Following the relative success of his debut album, Flavour released Uplifted in 2010. While working on the album, Flavour believed the album would surpass his previous works. Flavour's projection came true when the album broke national barriers. Lolhiphop Records, an established record label in South Africa, released the album after popular demand. The album's top singles include "Nwa Baby (Ashawo Remix)", "Adamma", and was a good singer when he was little Oyi Remix" featuring Tiwa Savage.
2012: Blessed
Blessed was released on 18 October 2012 through 2nite Entertainment and iROCKING LTD. The album is the successor to Uplifted. It is arguably Flavour's biggest album to date due to the number of producers that worked on it. It was launched on the same day of Flavour's 2nite Club grand opening.[6] In an interview with iROKTV, Flavour said: "I think I'm growing. This is my third album... Now it's time to give them the music, like define myself. I have to be more mature with my music, lyrics and instrumentation wise. I worked with tons of producers and the whole production process made sense."[7]
2014: Thankful
Thankful was released in December 2014. The album consists of 22 tracks and runs for one hour seventeen minutes. Receiving generally positive reviews from critics, Thankful sold thousands of copies and features hit tracks such as the love ballad "Ololufe" featuring Chidinma and the fast-tempo Afro-Pop song "Wake Up" feat. Wande Coal.[8]
2017: Ijele – The Traveler
Ijele The Traveller is the latest album released in 2017. It contains 17 tracks – including a track featuring a blind Liberian fan.[9]
In 2018
In 2018 he issued two singles, "Crazy love"[10] joining force with Mama Africa Yemi Alade"[10] Later that year, he came up with another traditional song "Awele"[10] Featuring the igbo traditional duo Umu Obiligbo[10]
Controversy
On 29 August 2012, Nigerian Entertainment Today reported that Flavour N'abania was involved in a legal battle with Ghanaian duo Wutah, over the alleged theft of "Kwarikwa". According to the article, "Kwarikwa" is an exact replica of Kotosa, a song made by the aforementioned duo. The singing duo accused Flavour N'abania of stealing their song's rhythm, chorus, and tempo.[11]
Discography
- N'abania (2005)
- Uplifted (2010)
- Blessed (2012)
- Thankful (2014)
- Ijele the Traveler (2017)
- Awele (2018)
Singles
Year | Title | Album | Ref |
---|---|---|---|
2020 | Kanayo | — | [12] |
2019 | Mercy | — | [13] |
2016 | Zoro As featured artiste | — | [14] |
2016 | Champion | — | [15] |
2010 | My Woman is Gone | Uplifted | [16] |
2005 | N'abania | N'abania |
Videography
Year | Title | Album | Director | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
2011 | Adamma | Uplifted | Godfather Productions | [17] |
2012 | Oyi Remix featuring Tiwa Savage | Uplifted | Godfather Productions | [18] |
2012 | Kwarikwa featuring Fally Ipupa | Blessed | Masterkraft | [19] |
2012 | Baby oku | Blessed | Selebobo | [20] |
2012 | Shake | Blessed | Godfather Productions | [21] |
2013 | Chinny Baby | Blessed | Masterkraft | [22] |
2013 | Ada Ada | Blessed | Clarence Peters | [23] |
2014 | Ikwokrikwo | Blessed | Masterkraft | [24] |
2014 | Black is Beautiful | Blessed | Clarence Peters | [25] |
2014 | Wake up featuring Wande Coal | Thankful | Clarence Peters | [26] |
2014 | Gollibe | Thankful | Clarence Peters | [27] |
2015 | Ololufe featuring Chidinma | Thankful | Godfather Productions | [28] |
2015 | Sexy Rosey featuring P-Square | Thankful | Godfather Productions | [29] |
2016 | Champion | — | Godfather Productions | [29] |
2016 | Dance | Thankful | Clarence Peters | [30] |
2018 | Crazy Love featuring Yemi Alade | Patrick Elis | [31] | |
2018 | Awele featuring umu obiligbo | — | Selebobo | [32] |
Awards and nominations
Year | Event | Prize | Recipient | Result | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2019 | AFRIMA | Best Live Act | Himself | Pending | [33] |
Best Collaboration | "Awele"
(featuring Umu Obiligbo) |
Pending | |||
AFRIMMA Video of The Year | Pending | ||||
2014 | Channel O Music Video Awards | Most Gifted Afro Pop | "Ada Ada" | Nominated | [34] |
2014 Nigeria Entertainment Awards | Indigenous Artist of the Year | Himself | Nominated | [35] | |
Best Album of the Year | Blessed | Nominated | |||
Best Music Video of the year (Artist & Director) | "Oh! Baby (You & I)" (Chidinma featuring Flavour N'abania) |
Nominated | |||
Best Collaboration | Nominated | ||||
African Muzik Magazine Awards | Best Male West Africa | Himself | Nominated | [36] | |
Best Traditional Artist | Won | [37] | |||
Best Video of the Year | "Ada Ada" | Won | |||
City People Entertainment Awards | Musician of the Year (Male) | Himself | Nominated | [38] | |
Best Collabo of the Year | "Oh! Baby (You & I)" (Chidinma featuring Flavour N'abania) |
Nominated | |||
Video of the Year | "Ada Ada" | Won | |||
MTV Africa Music Awards 2014 | Best Live Act | Himself | Won | [39] | |
Ghana Music Awards | African Artiste of the Year | Nominated | [40] | ||
2013 | The Headies | Artiste of the Year | Nominated | [41][42] | |
Album of the Year | Blessed | Nominated | |||
Best R&B/Pop Album | Nominated | ||||
Nigeria Music Video Awards (NMVA) | Video of the Year | "Ada Ada" | Won | [43] | |
Best High Life Video | Won | ||||
Best Indigenous Concept | Won | ||||
Best use of costumes | Won | ||||
Nigeria Entertainment Awards | Best Indigenous Artist/Group | Himself | Nominated | [44] | |
Ghana Music Awards | African Artiste of the Year | Nominated | [45] | ||
City People Entertainment Awards | Musician of the Year (Male) | Nominated | [46] | ||
Best Collabo of the Year | "Give it to Me" (Kcee featuring Flavour N'abania) |
Won | [47] | ||
2012 | Nigeria Music Video Awards (NMVA) | Best Highlife | "Kwarikwa" (featuring M-Jay, Wage G.Jay Dey, Elense) |
Nominated | [48] |
Channel O Music Video Awards | Best R&B Video | "Oyi Remix" (featuring Tiwa Savage) |
Won | [49] | |
The Headies | Best Collabo | "Orobo" (Sound Sultan featuring Excel and Flavour) |
Won | [50] | |
Nigeria Entertainment Awards | Best Indigenous Artist/Group | Himself | Won | [citation needed] | |
2011 | Channel O Music Video Awards | Most Gifted Afro-Pop Video | "Nwa Baby (Ashawo Remix)" | Nominated | [51] |
Most Gifted African West Video | Nominated | ||||
Hip Hop World Awards (The Headies) | Best R&B Single | "Oyi Remix" (featuring Tiwa Savage) |
Nominated | [52] | |
Best Collabo | "Number One" (MI featuring Flavour N'abania) |
Won | [53] | ||
Nigeria Entertainment Awards | Best High Life Video | "Nwa Baby (Ashawo Remix)" | Nominated | [54] | |
2010 | Ghana Music Awards | African Artiste of the Year | Himself | Nominated | [55] |
See also
References
- ^ Butaumocho, Ruth (3 May 2012). "West African 'Flavour' comes to Harare". The Herald. Zimbabwe Newspapers Limited. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
- ^ "Harp Music Nite lights up Aba, Port Harcourt, others". The Nation. 7 June 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
- ^ "Flavour N'abania's Official Website".
- ^ a b c PETRUS OBI, Enugu (22 January 2010). "What they call 'vulgar' in my music –Flavour". THE SUN PUBLISHING LTD. Retrieved 17 January 2012.[permanent dead link ]
- ^ "Flavour". GreatLakesMix. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
- ^ "Flavour N'abania opens nite club, new album on same day". omg.com.ng. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
- ^ Flavour N'abania (2012). Flavour Launches Night Club And 3rd Album in Heroic Fashion (Youtube). Nigeria: iROKTV. Event occurs at 14:52. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
- ^ "Pulse Album Review: Flavour – Thankful". pulse.ng. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
- ^ Ugobude, Franklin (19 July 2017). "The Story Of How Flavour Made This Boy's Dream Come True Is The Most Touching Thing Ever". OMG Voice. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
- ^ a b c d "Flavour ft Umu obiligbo Awele (Download Mp3)". Best News And Entertainment Website. 10 December 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
- ^ Jasanya, Olamide. "Ghanaian singers drag Flavour to court". The Net NG. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
- ^ "Flavour – 'Kanayo' Ft PC Lapez". hotnewhitz.com. Onowu. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
- ^ "Flavour – 'Mercy' ft. Semah (Acoustic)". voxlyrics.com. Alexander James. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
- ^ "New Music Zoro – 'Ogene' ft Flavour". Pulse.ng. Joey Akan. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
- ^ "New Music Flavour – 'Champion'". Pulse.ng. Joey Akan. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
- ^ "VIDEO PREMIERE: Flavour N'Abania – My Woman Is Gone". notjustok.com. Ovie O. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
- ^ Jaguda. "New Video: Flavour – Adamma | Jaguda.com". Retrieved 29 May 2016.
- ^ "Tiwa Savage – Oyi [Remix]". tooxclusive.com. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
- ^ Jaguda. "New Video: Flavour – Kwarikwa [Remix] ft. Fally Ipupa + Audio Download". Retrieved 29 May 2016.
- ^ "MUSIC: Flavour – Baby Oku (Prod. Selebobo)". 360Nobs.com. 4 December 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
- ^ "Flavour – Shake". tooxclusive.com. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
- ^ "VIDEO: Flavour – Chinny Baby". tooxclusive.com. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
- ^ "New Video: Flavour – Ada Ada". 360Nobs.com. 1 July 2013. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
- ^ "DOWNLOAD:VIDEO: Flavour – Ikwokrikwo –notjustOk". notjustOk. 13 January 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
- ^ "VIDEO: Flavour – Black Is Beautiful". tooxclusive.com. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
- ^ "MUSIC: Flavour – Wake Up Ft. Wande Coal". 360Nobs.com. 28 September 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
- ^ "VIDEO: Flavour – Gollibe". 360Nobs.com. 1 December 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
- ^ "Flavour, Chidinma Duo share deep kiss in new video". Pulse Nigeria. Joey Akan. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
- ^ a b "DOWNLOAD MP3: Flavour Ft. PSquare – Sexy Rosey (Remix)". 360Baze.Com. 6 September 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
- ^ "New Video: Flavour – Dance". BellaNaija. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
- ^ "New Video: Flavour – Crazy Love ft. Yemi Alade". pouk. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
- ^ Awele
- ^ "Here are the 2019 AFRIMMA Nominees". OkayAfrica. 7 August 2019. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
- ^ Marshall, Rhodé (5 September 2014). "Channel O Africa announces Music Video Awards nominees". Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
- ^ Abimboye, Micheal (31 May 2014). "Pop duo, Skuki, reject Nigerian Entertainment Awards nomination". Premium Times. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
- ^ "See Nominees for the African Muzik Magazine Awards (AFRIMMA) 2014". Bellanaija. 9 June 2014. Retrieved 28 July 2014.
- ^ "Sarkodie, Fuse ODG, DJ Black, others win at AFRIMMA Awards". Ghana Web. 27 July 2014. Retrieved 28 July 2014.
- ^ Jasanya, Olamide (24 June 2014). "Who won what at City People Entertainment Awards 2014". Nigerian Entertainment Today. Archived from the original on 28 June 2014. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
- ^ "Mafikizolo, Uhuru, Davido lead nominations for MTV Africa Music Awards". Sowetan LIVE. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
- ^ "2014 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards Nomination". Ghana Fame. Archived from the original on 10 March 2014. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
- ^ "Headies Award 2013 and Full List of winners". Osun Defender. Archived from the original on 27 December 2013. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
- ^ "#BaddestGuyEverLiveth: Olamide bags 8 nominations for the "Headies" – See full nomination list". YNaija.com. 5 December 2013. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
- ^ "NIGERIA MUSIC VIDEO AWARDS (NMVA 2013) WINNERS LIST". Tooxclusive. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
- ^ "Nigeria Entertainment Awards 2013 | View Full Nominees List". Notjustok. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
- ^ Twum, Chris. "Vodafone Ghana Music Awards 2013 Nominations List Finally Out". The Chronicle. Archived from the original on 4 May 2013. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
- ^ Aiki, Damilare (19 June 2013). "Ice Prince, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Sarkodie, Nse Ikpe-Etim, Yvonne Okoro, Tonto Dikeh & BellaNaija Nominated for the 2013 City People Entertainment Awards – See the Full List". Bellanaija. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
- ^ Aiki, Damilare (16 July 2013). "2013 City People Entertainment Awards: First Photos & Full List of Winners". Bellanaija. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
- ^ "NIgerian Music Video Awards (NMVA 2012 ) Full Winners List". tooxclusive. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
- ^ "Full list of winners at the 2012 Channel O Music Video Awards". 2012 Channel O Music Video Awards. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
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- ^ "The 2011 Headies – 2Face Idibia, Wizkid, Dr SID, M.I, Darey, Ice Prince & Sir Shina Peters rule the Winners List!". Hip Hop World Awards Nigeria. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
- ^ "The Headies (Hip hop World Awards 2011) Winners List". Hiphopworldmagazine. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
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- ^ "Hurray!! Sarkodie Tops Ghana Music Awards Nominations". Ghanacelebrities. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
External links
- Igbo singers
- Igbo-language singers
- Living people
- 1983 births
- Musicians from Enugu State
- Nigerian male singer-songwriters
- 21st-century Nigerian musicians
- The Headies winners
- Nigerian drummers
- Nigerian guitarists
- Nigerian hip hop singers
- Igbo highlife musicians
- 21st-century guitarists
- 21st-century drummers
- 21st-century Nigerian singers
- 21st-century male singers