By Yinka Akanbi
Nigerian Afropop singer, Adekunle Gold, has officially signed with Def Jam Recordings.
The American-based multinational record label announced this in a press statement issued by its CEO, Tunji Balogun.
“I’ve been following Adekunle Gold since I first heard his record ‘Sade’ in 2016. Over the years, everything in AG’s world has elevated — his songwriting has refined, the scope of his artistry has widened, his vocals have strengthened, his approach to fashion is more distinct, and his showmanship and performance ability have grown exponentially,” says Balogun. “He’s stepped into stardom on his own terms and is completely comfortable being his true self.”
He added, “When I started at Def Jam, I knew I wanted to bring the label into the Afrobeats space tastefully, with the right artists and partnerships. Adekunle felt like the perfect fit – he’d already done so much work on his own to build a base, but I knew that we could scale his audience to an even bigger level if we combined our energies and worked together.”
Adekunle Gold’s newly-released single ‘Party No Dey Stop’ featuring Zinoleesky marks his Def Jam debut and arrives ahead of his fifth studio album due in June. He’s also expected to embark on a 4-month world tour in support of the project in September.
The statement also quoted AG as saying that it’s good news for him, and he hopes to hit the ground running with the record label. “The track record is there. The history is there. They break artists, and they have niche, unique artists like me, so I think it’s the right move for me.”
Congratulating the artiste on his latest feat, Founder of Silverbird Group, Ben Murray-Bruce, described the deal as a “testament to your unwavering pursuit of excellence in the music industry.”
He added: “Your journey has been nothing short of inspiring, and as a fellow Nigerian, I take immense pride in your achievements. You have consistently used your music to promote our rich culture and heritage, creating a unique sound that resonates with listeners not only in Nigeria but across the globe. Your success is a shining example for the Nigerian youth and a powerful reminder of the limitless potential we possess as a nation.”
AG first rose to fame in 2015 with the single ‘Sade’, a highlife love song that samples instrumentals from One Direction‘s 2013 hit ‘Story of My Life’. ‘Sade’ went on to win best alternative song at the 2015 edition of The Headies, a Nigerian music awards show.
