Lil Kesh

Lil Kesh

Lil Kesh in 2016
Background information
Birth name Keshinro Ololade
Also known as I No Well
Born (1995-03-14) March 14, 1995
Bariga, Lagos State, Nigeria
Genres
Occupation(s) Rapper, singer-songwriter
Instruments
Years active 2012–present
Labels
Associated acts

Keshinro Ololade (born March 14, 1995), popularly known by his stage name Lil Kesh, is a Nigerian singer, rapper and songwriter. He rose to fame after his chart-topping song titled "Shoki" rose to critical acclaim from music critics.[1][2] Lil Kesh was born and raised in Bariga, a suburb of Lagos State. His music career started in 2012 while rapping among his peers in Bariga until he released "Lyrically", a single that quickly became popular in Nigerian Universities. In 2015, he was nominated in the Best New Act to Watch category at the 2015 Nigeria Entertainment Awards. Affiliated to YBNL Nation as a recording artist, Lil Kesh is currently signed under his record label YAGI Records, an acronym for "Young And Getting It".[3]

Early life and education

Lil Kesh was born to Yoruba parents in Bariga, Lagos State and went on to complete his primary and secondary school education at Stockbridge College, Bariga. Lil Kesh took interest in dancing before he delved into music after watching some of his peers rap.[4]

Career

2012–2014: Early beginnings

Lil Kesh's professional music career started in 2012 but he became popular in 2014 after he recorded his first single titled "Lyrically" which was positively accepted majorly by students in Nigerian universities.[5] Through YBNL Nation, Lil Kesh released "Shoki", a song which got him nominated in the Best Street-Hop Artiste category at The Headies 2014 while "Shoki Remix" which featured guest appearances from Olamide and Davido got nominated in the Hottest Single of the Year at the 2015 Nigeria Entertainment Awards.[6] On 2 April 2014, he signed his first music contract with YBNL Nation.[7]

2015–present: Y.A.G.I and YAGI Records

On 23 February 2015, Lil Kesh released a song titled "Gbese" which was produced by Young Jonn with the music video featuring cameo appearances from Skuki.[8] On 11 June 2015, he was nominated in the Best New Act to Watch category at the 2015 Nigeria Entertainment Awards and went on to be nominated at the 2015 Headies Award for Next Rated.[9][10] On March 17, 2016, Lil Kesh released his debut studio album titled Y.A.G.I which was positively received.[11] The album features guest appearances from notable music acts including Olamide, Phyno, Davido, Adekunle Gold, YCEE, Wale, Viktoh and Patoranking.[12][13]

On April 26, 2016, Lil Kesh announced via Instagram that he has established his own label imprint called YAGI Records with Olamide later confirming the news through the same medium following the expiration of Lil Kesh's 2-year recording contract with YBNL Nation.[14][15][16]

Artistry

Lil Kesh's versatility and style of music has been similarized to that of Olamide who raps and sings in his local dialect.[17][18] However, he has been criticised for using too much vulgar sentences and not finding the right balance in the lyrics of his songs.[19] In an interview with Naij he said,[20]

“ they are singles not an album, I know the kind of market am directing my songs to, am from the streets, I know what the people from the street want to listen to...they should wait for my album that is expected to drop towards the end of the year. I have very positive songs. ”

Discography

Selected singles

Year Title Album
2014 "Lyrically" Y.A.G.I
"Shoki" Non-album single
"Shoki (Remix)" (featuring Olamide & Davido)
2015 "Shoki (Female Version)" (featuring Cynthia Morgan, Chidinma, Eva Alordiah)
"Gbese"
"Efejoku" Y.A.G.I
"Is It Because I Love You?" (featuring Patoranking)
2016 "Ibile"

Studio albums

Year Album Title Album Details
2016 Y.A.G.I

Awards and nominations

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
Year Award ceremony Prize Result
2015 2015 Nigeria Entertainment Awards Best New Act to Watch Nominated[21]
2016 The Headies 2015 Next Rated Nominated[22]

Personal life

Lil Kesh is currently based in Lekki, Lagos State. He is also a student of Linguistics at the University of Lagos.[23]

References

  1. ↑ Abimboye, Micheal (24 December 2014). "Kiss Daniel, Slyde, Lil Kesh others to rule 2015". Premium Times. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  2. ↑ "MUST WATCH! AMBER ROSE Dances To Lil Kesh’s ‘SHOKI’ At D’banj’s Concert". Information Nigeria. 1 February 2015. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  3. ↑ Akan, Joey (27 April 2016). "Lil Kesh:Olamide sets standard with new business structure". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  4. ↑ "Superstar Interview Of The Week - Its Lil Kesh!". Cool FM Nigeria. 8 August 2014. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  5. ↑ "YBNL Rapper Lil Kesh Biography". Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  6. ↑ Ade-Unuigbe, Adesola (12 June 2014). "Kiss Daniel, Korede Bello, Falz, Wizkid, Olamide, Davido & More Nominated for the 10th Annual Nigerian Entertainment Awards". BellaNaija. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  7. ↑ Dede, Steve (2 April 2014). "Olamide shows off new YBNL acts Lil Kesh and Viktoh". Nigeria Entertainment Today. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  8. ↑ "New Video: Lil Kesh". MTV News. 3 March 2015. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  9. ↑ "The 10th NEA Awards 2015, Nominees List". NotJustOk. 11 June 2015. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  10. ↑ Eniola, Temilade (19 October 2015). "Headies Next Rated: Davido Favours Lil Kesh Ahead Of Korede Bello And Cynthia Morgan". Entertainment Express. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  11. ↑ Akan, Joey (17 March 2016). "Rapper’s “Y.A.G.I” album is an inspiration to Nigeria’s frustrated upcoming artistes". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  12. ↑ Showemimo, Adedayo (15 March 2016). "Lil Kesh shares artwork for debut album ‘Y.A.G.I’". Nigeria Entertainment Today. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  13. ↑ Solanke, Abiola (17 March 2016). "Rapper releases debut album "Y.A.G.I" (Young And Getting It)". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  14. ↑ Bamgbose, Temiloluwa (26 April 2016). "Lil Kesh starts record label". The Punch. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  15. ↑ Arogundade, Funsho (27 April 2016). "Why I parted ways with Olamide – Lil Kesh". P.M. News. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  16. ↑ "Lil Kesh leaves YBNL forms own record label, YAGI". Vanguard Newspaper. 26 April 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  17. ↑ Lala, Emmanuel (17 March 2015). "Why YBNL’s Lil Kesh Is Hinted as Olamide’s Heir Presumptive". tooXclusive. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  18. ↑ Ajose, Kehinde (12 September 2015). "I am not doing Hip-Hop for those that understand English alone -Lil Kesh". Vanguard Newspaper. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  19. ↑ Alawode, Abisola (16 October 2015). "Matters Arising: Lil Kesh’s Depreciating Lyrics". Leadership Newspaper. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  20. ↑ "Lil Kesh Explains Why He Embraces Vulgar Lyrics In His Music". Naij. 16 September 2015. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  21. ↑ Hassan, Sanusi (12 June 2015). "Full list of nominees for Nigerian Entertainment Awards 2015". Nigeria Entertainment Today. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  22. ↑ Akan, Joey (30 September 2015). "Profiling the nominees of the Next Rated category". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  23. ↑ "10 AMAZING THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT LIL KESH". Evatese. 29 July 2015. Retrieved 28 October 2015.

External links

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