Jovi (musician)
Jovi | |
---|---|
![]() Jovi performing at FK Fest, Yaoundé, February 12, 2016 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Ndukong Godlove Nfor |
Also known as | Le Monstre |
Born | Douala, Cameroon | October 24, 1983
Genres | Cameroon hip hop, African hip hop, Mboko |
Occupation(s) | Rapper, Songwriter, Performer, Sound Engineer, Entrepreneur, Record Producer |
Years active | 2011–present |
Labels | New Bell Music |
Ndukong Godlove Nfor (born 24 October 1983), known by his stage name Jovi, is a Cameroonian rapper, songwriter, sound engineer, entrepreneur, and record producer (under his producer pseudonym Le Monstre).[1] Jovi graduated from the University of Yaoundé II (Soa), with a BA Hons in Economics and Business Management.
Jovi's debut album H.I.V (Humanity is Vanishing) was described by Kangsen Feka Wakai in Bakwa magazine as “the long awaited arrival of a self-assured emcee very conscious of his abilities, the vacuum in the genre, his audience’s expectations, and the right dose of hustle to assert his place.”[2]
Music career
Cameroon's music industry has remained conventional for a very long time with genres like, Makossa and Bikutsi dominating the musical scene. Jovi's first single "Don 4 Kwat", followed by "Pitié", featuring Congolese musician Tabu Ley Rochereau, released under Mumak record label, which he co-founded, is part of a new wave of musical content in Cameroon. “Don 4 Kwat” received heavy airplays on Trace Urban and Channel O, his second single, “Pitié” featuring Tabu Ley Rochereau, stayed on the charts for months on pan-African BBC’s Destination Africa hosted by DJ Edu, staying in the top 5 at its peak.[3][4] In January 2013, Jovi left Mumak record label to launch New Bell Music, with Rachel Burks. Both Jovi and Rachel are signed to their label New Bell Music.
In September 2014, Jovi released his video "Cash" (Mets l'argent à terre) to wide acclaim across Cameroon.[5] In December 2014, Jovi released his video "Et P8 Koi," which became a hit across French-speaking West Africa, getting heavy rotation on Trace Urban, and debuting at No. 1 on Trace Urban's premiere episode of "Hip Hop 10 Made in Africa."[6] In 2015, Jovi was nominated for an MTV Africa Music Award (MAMA) for Best Francophone artist.[7] On May 20, 2015, Jovi released his sophomore album, Mboko God, which was nominated for a 2016 Kora Award for Best Album.[8] Jovi's music videos are played regularly on Trace Urban, and in 2015, Jovi was featured on Trace TV in "The 15 artists to follow in 2015,"[9] and "One of the 10 African Rappers You Should Definitely Know."[10]
Under his pseudonym Le Monstre, Jovi produces his records and is renowned for his compelling fusion of traditional hip hop and classic Cameroon/African sounds and instruments with new contemporary sounds. Jovi's lyrics are in English, French, Cameroonian Pidgin English and francanglais (a fusion of French, English and Cameroonian Pidgin English). Jovi also produces music for artists in New Bell Music as well as for international artists. Jovi co-wrote and co-produced Akon's song "Shine the Light,"[11] which Akon released as a video on January 26, 2016.[12] Jovi has been regularly featured in the online music magazine OkayAfrica.[13] On February 29, 2016, Jovi was featured in an interview with The Fader, which featured the world-premiere of his single "Bad Influence."[14] In a Vibe magazine article published on June 28, 2016, author Natelege Whaley states Jovi is one of the African artists "flipping trap and taking it to new heights sonically."[15]
Jovi has one of the biggest fan base in Cameroon music known as MBOKOGANG
Jovi's third album, 16 Wives, was released on February 16, 2017. On June 30, 2017, Noisey (the music branch of Vice) named Jovi's 16 Wives as one of "The 30 Best Overlooked Albums of 2017 (So Far).[16] Jovi released his sixth EP Yaje Vol. 1: Black on August 27, 2017.[17] Jovi is regularly featured in Apple Music Playlist and was interviewed on Beats 1 Radio’s first African music show “A-List-African Music” on Dec. 16, 2018. On February 16th, 2019, Jovi released his 4th studio album God Don Kam.
Discography
Albums
- H.I.V (Humanity is Vanishing) [2012][18]
- Mboko God [2015][19][20][21][22]
- 16 Wives [2017][23]
- God Don Kam [2019][24][25]
EPs
- Kankwe Vol. 1 [2014][26][27]
- Kankwe Vol. 2 [2015][28][29]
- Raps 2 Riches [2015][30][31]
- Puta Madre [2015][32][33]
- Bad Music [2016][34][35]
- Yaje Vol. 1: Black[36][37]
- God Di Kam[38][39]
- Raps 2 Richs Vol.2[40]
- YAJE Vol. 2: Sun Yellow[41]
- Pressure [2021][42]
Mixtape
- Young Vizu Annointed Mboko Supreme [2021][43]
References
- ^ "WanDiscovery : Jovi, Rappeur – Cameroun". Je Wanda Magazine. 2014-01-24. Archived from the original on 2014-05-27. Retrieved 2014-06-08.
- ^ bakwamagazine. "[Music Review] A New Chapter in the Kamer (Cameroon) Hip-Hop Files…And there was Jovi Le Monstre: A Review of H.I.V (Humanity is Vanishing). | BAKWA". Bakwamagazine.com. Retrieved 2014-06-08.
- ^ "BBC Radio 1Xtra - DJ Edu - Destination Africa, Black History Month Xtra Talent Vinyl Special". Bbc.co.uk. 2012-10-07. Retrieved 2014-06-08.
- ^ "New Bell Music - Artist - Jovi". NewBellMusic.com. Retrieved 2014-06-08.
- ^ "Watch Cameroonian Rapper Jovi's 'CA$H' Video | Okayafrica". Okayafrica. 2014-09-15. Retrieved 2016-06-21.
- ^ "Jovi's Video Et P8 Koi Debuts No. 1 on Trace Urban's New Show Hip Hop 10 Made In Africa". New Bell Music. 2015-03-11. Archived from the original on 2016-08-12. Retrieved 2016-06-21.
- ^ "#MTVMAMA2015 Nominees Announced!". Mtv Africa Music Awards 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-06-14. Retrieved 2016-06-17.
- ^ "NOMINEES : BEST ALBUM - KORA". KORA. 2015-12-21. Retrieved 2016-06-17.
- ^ "The 15 artists to follow for 2015 !". Trace TV. Retrieved 2016-06-17.
- ^ "10 rappeurs africains que vous devez absolument connaître". Trace TV. Retrieved 2016-06-17.
- ^ "Cameroonian MC & Producer Jovi On Composing Akon's Comeback Hit". Okayafrica. 2016-02-08. Retrieved 2016-06-17.
- ^ Akon (2016-01-26), AKON SHINE THE LIGHT, retrieved 2016-06-21
- ^ "Jovi: 10 Things I Love About Cameroon". Okayafrica. 2016-04-28. Retrieved 2016-06-17.
- ^ "Meet Jovi, The Do-It-All Rapper Putting Cameroon Back On The Map". The FADER. Retrieved 2016-06-17.
- ^ "ATL To The Motherland: The Rise of Afro-Trap". 2016-06-28. Retrieved 2016-07-15.
- ^ "The 30 Best Overlooked Albums of 2017 So Far". Noisey. 2017-06-30. Retrieved 2017-10-16.
- ^ "Yajé Vol. 1: Black – New Bell Music". newbellmusic.com. Retrieved 2017-10-16.
- ^ "H.I.V". Bandcamp. 12 September 2013. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-05-26. Retrieved 2015-05-26.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "iTunes - Music - Mboko God by Jovi". iTunes. 20 May 2015. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
- ^ "Mboko God". Bandcamp. 19 May 2015. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
- ^ "Mboko God [Explicit]". Amazon.com. 20 May 2015. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
- ^ "16 Wives". ITunes. 16 February 2017. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
- ^ "God Don Kam, by Jovi". Jovi. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
- ^ God Don Kam by Jovi, retrieved 2019-05-31
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-11-01. Retrieved 2015-07-29.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Kankwe Vol. 1". Bandcamp. 28 March 2014. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
- ^ "Kankwe Vol. 2 EP (FR/EN)". New Bell Music. Archived from the original on 2016-07-01. Retrieved 2016-06-21.
- ^ "Kankwe Vol. 2". Bandcamp. 20 March 2015. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
- ^ "Raps 2 Riches - EP by Jovi on iTunes". iTunes. Retrieved 2016-06-21.
- ^ "Raps 2 Riches". New Bell Music. 24 October 2015. Archived from the original on 30 October 2015. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
- ^ "Puta Madre EP". New Bell Music. Archived from the original on 2016-07-05. Retrieved 2016-06-21.
- ^ "Puta Madre, by Jovi". Jovi. Retrieved 2016-06-21.
- ^ "Bad Music EP". New Bell Music. Archived from the original on 2016-07-04. Retrieved 2016-06-21.
- ^ "Bad Music, by Jovi". Jovi. Retrieved 2016-06-21.
- ^ "Yajé Vol. 1: Black – New Bell Music". newbellmusic.com. Retrieved 2017-10-16.
- ^ "Yajé, Vol. 1: Black - EP by Jovi on Apple Music". itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 2017-10-16.
- ^ "God Di Kam EP, by Jovi". Jovi. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
- ^ God Di Kam by Jovi, retrieved 2019-05-31
- ^ Raps 2 Richs 2, By Jovi, retrieved 2020-10-18
- ^ YAJE Vol. 2: Sun Yellow, By Jovi, retrieved 2020-10-18
- ^ "Jovi embrase la toile en mettant en libre téléchargement son EP "Pressure"". Auletch (in French). Retrieved 2021-06-16.
- ^ "JENGU ONLINE – Your shop online JENGU". jenguonline.com. Retrieved 2021-06-16.