Tochukwu Gbubemi Ojogwu (born 19 October 1993),[2] popularly known as Odumodublvck, is a Nigerian rapper, singer and songwriter.[3] He is known for his stage performances, genre-blend and his often portrayal of Okpu Agu.[4] Odumodublvck is a member of the hip-hop collective Anti World Gangstars. He currently resides in Abuja, Nigeria.
Odumodublvck | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | Tochukwu Gbubemi Ojogwu |
Also known as |
|
Born | Lagos, Nigeria | 19 October 1993
Origin | Delta State, Nigeria[1] |
Genres | |
Occupation(s) | Rapper, singer, songwriter |
Years active | 2017–present |
Labels | NATIVE Records, Def Jam |
Member of | Blvck Sheep Music, Anti World Gangstars |
In 2022, he signed a record deal with NATIVE Records, in partnership with Def Jam.[5] On 23 November 2022, he released his first single under the NATIVE, titled "Picanto" featuring Ecko Miles, and Zlatan, which earned him his first chart entry on the Nigeria Top 100 at number 79,[6] and reached number 65.[7] On 23 January 2023, he ranked number 4 on TurnTable's NXT Emerging Top Artistes.[8] In 2023, Def Jam Recordings signed an exclusive deal with Odumodublvck upon the release of EZIOKWU mixtape.[9]
Early life
editBorn in Lagos, he relocated with his family to Abuja at the age of 7. He had his junior high education at Christ the King College at Gwagwalada Abuja,[10] where he got the stage name "Odumodu" in his second year of his junior high.[11][10] He attended Bowen University for his first year tertiary education, then left and finished up at the University of Lagos, Akoka[12][10]
Career
editIn 2022, Odumodublvck released a joint studio album with B.O.C Madaki, titled The Drop,[13] and a few months later he released a follow-up single, "Picanto", featuring Ecko Miles, and Zlatan. On 21 November 2022, the single debuted on TurnTable Bubbling Under Top 100 at number 8, and number 15 on Nigeria Hip-Hop/Rap Songs chart.[14] On 28 November 2022, "Picanto" debuted at number 79 on the Top 100, and number 44 on Nigeria Radio,[15] the song also reached Number 6 at Nigeria Hip-Hop/Rap Songs chart.[14]
On 26 March 2022, Odumodublvck performed at the Jameson Connects concert alongside DRB LasGidi, and Victony at Abuja.[16] On 8 December 2022, he won the Next Rated Artist category at Galaxy Music Awards.[17] The rapper gets a new Lexus IS 350, as part of the prize that comes with the Next Rated award.[18] On 9 December 2022, he was announced on the line up of Vertical Rave concert opening acts alongside Teezee, Cruel Santino, PsychoYP, Odunsi the Engine, among others, to be held on 17 December 2022.
In March 2023, he released his first single on Friday 24, titled "Declan Rice",[19] shortly after surviving a surgery that almost took his life. On 27 March 2023, Odumodublvck earned his first top 10 entry on TurnTable official Nigeria Top 100 Songs chart at number 8.[20] On 1 April 2023, "Declan Rice" leads TheCable Lifestyle airplay chart at number 1.[21]
West Ham united captain, Declan Rice expressed his excitement as Nigerians sang his name, courtesy of Odumodublavk. On 15 July 2023, Arsenal announced the signing of Declan Rice using his song in the background[22][23]
Taking to his Instagram page on Thursday, January 25, 2024, Odumodublvck shared a snapshot showcasing his stylish pose alongside the three well-deserved plaques. Additional posts captured the artist celebrating this remarkable accomplishment with a group of friends, symbolising the significance of the moment.
In the TurnTable Charts standings, Blood On The Dance Floor and Cast claimed the top spot in the TurnTable Top 100 songs, showcasing Odumodublvck's undeniable impact on the music scene. Simultaneously, Eziokwu (Uncut) secured the number one position for the album category on the TurnTable Official Top 50 Albums Chart in Nigeria.[24] His 100 Million song, featuring Tiwa Savage, was another hit and we'll received song by his fans and lovers.[25]
Political awareness
editOn 25 May 2023, Odumodu tweeted about the presidential inauguration of the 16th President of Nigeria Bola Tinubu Renewed Hope concert. In the quote, he wrote "They Tried To Get Me To Perform At The Inauguration. They Did Not Do Their Research."[26] However, on 2 March 2023, following the release of NATIVE Sound System single "Vex", Odumodu declared his support to Peter Obi in the second verse "I dey hope on Peter Obi to save me",[27] and earlier described himself as Peter Obi's running mate on social media.[26]
Artistry
editOdumodublvck is known for fusing Afrobeat, with Drill and Grime music. According to Dazed, "His unrelenting style of drill employs high-life inspired melodies which he calls OKPOROKO RHYTHMS , In slangs "Afro terrorism" and Nigerian Pidgin English to tell vivid stories about his community and everyday experiences – his narrative style is so specific to Nigerians, it’s hard to pick up on the nuances as an outsider."[28]
Discography
editMixtapes
editTitle | Details | Peak chart positions |
---|---|---|
NG | ||
T.A.B.S (TO ALL Blvcksheep) |
|
— |
Anti-World Gangstars |
|
— |
Odiegwu |
|
— |
The Drop |
|
— |
EZIOKWU[29] |
|
1[30] |
Extended plays
editTitle | EP details | Peak chart positions |
---|---|---|
NG | ||
Time & Chance |
|
— |
TADE (The Afro Drill Experiment) |
|
— |
Time & Chance |
|
— |
T.A.D.E II (The Afro Drill Experiment II) |
|
— |
Selected singles
editTitle | Year | Chart positions | Certifications | Album | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NG [7] |
NG Rap |
NG Alt. |
UK [31] |
UK Afrobeats |
US |
US Afrobeats | ||||
"Dog Eat Dog" | 2022 | 96 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
|
Non-album single |
"Picanto"
(featuring ECko Miles, and Zlatan) |
25 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | EZIOKWU | ||
"Declan Rice" | 2023 | 8 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 27 |
| |
"DOG EAT DOG II"
(featuring Cruel Santino, and Bella Shmurda) |
17 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | |||
"FIREGUN"
(featuring Fireboy DML) |
10 | — | — | — | 15 | — | — | |||
"WOTOWOTO SEASONiNG" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | ||
"Declan Rice (Arsenal Version)" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | ||
"MC OLUOMO" | 33 | — | — | — | — | — | — | EZIOKWU | ||
"BLOOD ON THE DANCE FLOOR"
(featuring Bloody Civilian & Wale) |
1 | — | — | — | 10 | — | 18 |
Accolades
editYear | Awards ceremony | Award description(s) | Nominated work | Results | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022 | Galaxy Music Awards | Next Rated Artist[32] | Himself | Won | |
2023 | African Muzik Magazine Awards[33] | Best Newcomer | Won | ||
Best Male Rap Act | Nominated | ||||
The Headies | Rookie of the Year | Won | |||
Best Rap Single | "Declan Rice" | Won | |||
Trace Awards & Festival | Best Newcomer | Himself | Nominated | ||
2024 | Telecel Ghana Music Awards | International Collaboration of the year | Wotowoto Season | Nominated | |
BET Hip-Hop Awards | Best International Flow | Himself | Nominated |
References
edit- ^ Ihekire, Chinonso. "Odumodublvck pays homage with Declan Rice". Retrieved 25 March 2023.
- ^ Sare, Watimagbo (2019). "Happy Birthday Odumodublvck". Facebook.com. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
- ^ Yawson, Jude. "Meet Odumodublvck, The West Ham-Loving Naija Rapper Co-Signed By Skepta". Complex. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
- ^ Dazed (18 October 2023). "Odumodublvck: the rising Nigerian artist fusing Afrobeats and drill". Dazed. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
- ^ Ihekire, Chinonso (10 December 2022). "Native records sign Smada, Odumodublvck". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
- ^ Igwe, Nwanneamaka (7 December 2022). "Turntable Top 100: BNXN's "Traboski" Debuts On The Top 10". The NATIVE. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
- ^ a b "TurnTable Nigeria Top 100". www.turntablecharts.com. TurnTable. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
- ^ "TurnTable NXT Emerging Top Artistes". www.turntablecharts.com. TurnTable. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
- ^ Udugba, Anthony (14 September 2023). "Odumodublvck signs exclusive deal with Def Jam Recordings". Businessday NG. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
- ^ a b c Idowu, Anu-oluwapo (17 November 2022). "Nigerian Drill; Odumodublvck is the Heartbeat of Afro Drill Rap". Radr Africa. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
- ^ Alake, Motolani (13 April 2021). "Pulse Torch Vol. 3: Meet ODUMODUBLVCK, the enigmatic Abuja-based rapper". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
- ^ Bassey, Ekaete. "Why I dropped out of Bowen varsity, Odumodublvck reveals". The Nation. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
- ^ "B.O.C. Madaki & Odumodublvck Release Joint Album titled "The Drop"". BellaNaija. 8 March 2022. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
- ^ a b "TurnTable Top Hip-Hop/Rap Songs". www.turntablecharts.com. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
- ^ "TurnTable Top Radio Songs". www.turntablecharts.com. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
- ^ Mix, Pulse (6 April 2022). "#JamesonConnectsAbuja: Premium Vibes like Never Before!". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
- ^ Ogunye, Joseph Adeoye (9 December 2022). "Galaxy Music Awards 2022: Burna Boy, Omah Lay, TG Aomori shine (Full list of winners)". The Informant247. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
- ^ ""Picanto" Rapper, Odumodublvck Upgrades From A Picanto To Lexus At..." NotjustOk. 8 December 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
- ^ Esomnofu, Emmanuel (24 March 2023). "ODUMODUBLVCK Shares Highly Anticipated Single, "Declan Rice"". The NATIVE. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
- ^ "Odumodublvck Records His First Top Ten Entry in Nigeria With "Declan Rice"". www.turntablecharts.com. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
- ^ "TCL radio picks: Odumodublvck's 'Declan Rice' tops as Davido dominates chart". TheCable Lifestyle. 1 April 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
- ^ Itodo, Sunny Green (15 July 2023). "Odumodublvck reacts as Arsenal use his song to announce Declan Rice signing". Daily Post Nigeria. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
- ^ Sports, Pulse (15 July 2023). "Odumodublvck to the world as Arsenal features his song on Declan Rice's announcement". Pulse Sports Nigeria. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
- ^ "Odumodublvck receives 3 plaques from TurnTable Charts". NotjustOk. 26 January 2024. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
- ^ "Odumodublvck ft Tiwa Savage - 100 Million (Review)". PunditSuite. 16 March 2024. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
- ^ a b Adebiyi, Adeayo (26 May 2023). "Odumodu Blvck refuses to perform at Tinubu's Renewed Hope concert". Pulse Nigeria. Pulse Africa. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
- ^ Ihekire, Chinonso (4 March 2023). "Sholz taps native sound Ssystem {sic} on Cruel Love, Vex". The Guardian Nigeria News. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
- ^ "Meet the artists pushing Nigeria's burgeoning drill scene". Dazed. 3 November 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
- ^ Bartee, Richardine (8 October 2023). "Stream Abuja star ODUMODUBLVCK's new mixtape 'EZIOKWU (THE TRUTH)'". GRUNGECAKE™. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
- ^ "Official Top 50 Albums". TurnTable Charts. TurnTable. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
- ^ "ODUMODUBLVCK". Official Charts. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
- ^ "ODUMODUBLVCK WINS THE NEXT RATED ACT AT THE GMA22". The GMAs. 11 December 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
- ^ Ayodele, Racheal (17 August 2023). "Davido leads 2023 AFRIMMA with six nominations [FULL LIST]". Daily Post Nigeria. Retrieved 18 August 2023.