Oladapo Daniel Oyebanjo, also known as D’banj, is a Nigerian musician, rapper, and entrepreneur who was born on June 9, 1980.
He co-founded Mo’ Hits Records with producer Don Jazzy and is also a music executive. He has received numerous honors for his musical accomplishments, including the Best African Act at the MTV Europe Music Awards in 2007, Artist of the Year at the MTV Africa Music Awards in 2009, Best International Act: Africa at the 2011 BET Awards, Best-selling African Artist at the 2014 World Music Awards, and Evolution Award at the 2015 MTV Africa Music Awards.
A combination of his initial name, Dapo, and last name, Oyebanjo, Oyebanjo adopted the stage moniker D’banj.
His 2012 summer smash “Oliver Twist,” a fast-paced dance blend of Afrobeats and electronic dance music that topped the African charts in 2011 and was a top 10 hit in the UK singles chart in 2012, peaking at No. 2 on the UK R&B chart, is what made him most well-known globally.
According to D’banj, 2021 will be remembered for its grand style, and he plans to release his album “Ikebe” before the end of the first quarter.
Early Life & Education
D’banj, sometimes referred to as the Kokomaster or Bangalee, was born on June 9th, 1980 in Zaria, Nigeria’s Northern region.
His parents were Faith Olubukolola Oyebanjo, a devout church dignitary businesswoman from Shagamu in Ogun State, and Daniel Duro Oyebanjo, a military officer who oversaw an artillery unit.
Taiwo and Kehinde Oyebanjo, Dbanj’s twins, are siblings. Shola and Femi Oyebanjo are his other siblings.
D’banj received his degree from Lagos State University. He has a mechanical engineering degree.
Career
D’banj pays homage to his mentor Fela Kuti by fusing Afrobeat and Afropop to breathe new life into his music and usher it into the 21st century with exuberant excitement and a healthy dose of comedy. His songs, which are often amusing but sometimes have deeper meanings that depict the struggle of a young Nigerian striving to realize his aspirations, are based on his life. He speaks Pidgin English, English, and Yoruba while performing.
No Long Thing, D’banj’s debut album, was released in 2005. Tongolo was the lead single out of many that came from it. This turned out to be his signature song and a success. It also gave him the opportunity to assume the persona of Koko Master, the word having multiple connotations.
Due to D’banj’s first success, he worked with other musicians such Dare Art Alade and Ikechukwu. His song Koko served as the PDP’s (Nigeria’s ruling political party) campaign anthem for the 2007 general elections.
Rundown (Fuck U Up), D’banj’s second album, was released in 2006 and produced a number of tracks, including the club single Tongolo (Remix) and the lead single Why Me? This ended up being another success.
He was a Mo’Hits Records musician at the time and a part of the group’s collective Mo’ Hits Allstars, which also included artists Dr. SID, Wande Coal, KaySwitch, and D’Prince. He once appeared with “Smile Lasisi,” one of Nigeria’s most outstanding vocalists. Curriculum Vitae, the group’s debut album, was made available in December 2007. It featured the number-one hits “Be Close To You,” “Booty Call,” and “Move Your Body.” Ikechukwu’s 2008 hit “Wind Am Well” included D’banj.
The Entertainer, D’banj’s third album, was released in July 2008 and featured the singles “Gbono Feli Feli,” “Kimon,” “Olorun Maje,” and “Entertainer.”
D’banj joined the Kanye West G.O.O.D Music record label in June 2011 as an artist. On June 9, 2011, he posted the following message to his Twitter account, @iamdbanj: “Just like yesterday, my brother and I performed Tongolo. Mo’Hits signs with GOOD Music 7 years later. The best birthday present ever. Thank you, God.
It was stated that D’banj had been let go by GOOD Music in September 2016.
In August, he released the album King Don Come, which featured Gucci Mane, Wande Coal, Harrysong, Bucie, Busiswa, and other artists. ‘It’s Not A Lie, El Chapo, and his 2012 mega-hit Oliver Twist’ are among the album’s singles.
Endorsements
D’banj received his first endorsement from the energy drink Power Fist along with the release of his debut album. He was appointed the Bank of Industry (BOI) ambassador in May 2013.
D’banj re-signed a multimillion Naira contract in November 2013 with Globacom, the business he left in 2010. He signed a contract with Heritage Bank in June 2014.
D’banj was chosen as Beats by Dr. Dre’s official African ambassador in October 2014. He was appointed Ciroc Nigeria’s official African ambassador in February 2015.
Banky W and D’banj provided further details about their journey to becoming Ciroc Ambassadors in an exclusive piece for Tush Magazine Issue 11.
D’banj was appointed the brand ambassador of SLOT, a well-known retailer of mobile phones and electrical devices, in September 2015. He is currently one of Nigeria’s richest Afrobeats musicians.
Personal Life
In June 2016, D’banj wed Lineo Didi Kilgrow. In May 2017, he announced the arrival of their baby, Daniel Oyebanjo III; in June 2018, the kid drowned.
Nollywood actress Genevieve Nnaji and D’banj once dated.
After D’banj encouraged people on social media to “say no to rape,” Seyitan Babatayo accused him of raping her in 2018, stating she wanted to “[call] him out on his hypocrisy.”
Soon after, she vanished for two days, and at that time, posts on her social media claimed that the accusations were a PR gimmick to promote a new D’banj single. She was located with assistance from the NGO Stand to End Rape (STER), according to The Guardian.
She said she’d been abducted by Nigerian police, who turned her over to D’banj‘s management team, who co-opted her social media and made the retraction posts. D’banj denied the accusations, calling them “false allegations and lies from the pit of hell.” After several days Babatayo issued a statement saying she and D’banj had agreed upon a “non-monetary” settlement, saying, “I just want my peace.”
On 3 July 2020, D’banj sued Babatayo for N1.5 billion. Shortly after that, D’banj‘s former manager Franklin Amudo reported that Babatayo had told him D’banj had raped her the day after the alleged rape.
The 42-year-old songwriter spoke at ‘Bliss Experience’, a church event hosted by Moses Bliss, a music artist.
In June 2018, Dbanj and Lineo Didi Kilgrow, his wife, mourned Daniel Oyebanjo III‘s loss, their one-year-old son. The toddler was reported at the time to have drowned in the pool in the singer’s home in Ikoyi, Lagos. Happily, they welcomed their second child Zane Oyebanjo.
Recalling the tragic incident, D’banj said God has replenished him by blessing him with not one but two children.
“What I was trying to say is that I’m actually born again. When I said Jesus is the Koko, I meant it. If anybody knows my story, for every one of my albums, I always give honor to whom honor is due,” he can be heard saying.
“I always know the source of where I stand. Three years ago, I lost my first son. But the Lord restored me. You would say things to people, and they won’t relate because they believe you don’t know what they’re through.
“But God will put you through some journey so that you stand…[inaudible] Thank you so much. God bless you.
Awards & Nominations
- 2011 D’banj” Best International Act (Africa
- 2006 D’banj for “Tongolo””Best Newcomer.”
- Best Male Video”
- 2007″Why Me””
“Best African West Video”
“Best Special Effects Video” - 2008″Move Your Body””Best African West Video.”
- 2010″Fall in Love””Most Gifted Afro Pop.”
- 2011″Mr. Endowed (Remix)””Most Gifted Male Video.”
Most Gifted Video Of The Year” - 2012″Oliver Twist””Most Gifted Male Video
Most Gifted Video of the Year” - 2013″Tony Montana (Bad Pass) Remix.”
(Naeto C featuring D’banj)
Most Gifted Duo/Group/Featuring Video - 2006 D’banj for “Tongolo””Best Newcomer
- 2012 D’banj African Artiste of the Year
- 2006 D’banj “Revelation of the Year
- 2007 Why Me””Song of the Year.”
- 2008D’banj”Artiste of the Year.”
- 2009 The Entertainer.”
Album of the Year”
D’banj”Artiste of the Year - 2005 D’banj “Most Promising Male Artist.”
- 2012 D’banj for “Oliver Twist””Best Male West Africa
- 2008 D’banj Best African Act.”
- 2012 D’banj Best African Act
Videography
- 2006 Tongolo
- 2006 Socor
- 2006 Mobolowowon
- 2015 Confidential Featuring Idris Elba
- 2015 Knocking on My Door
- 2015 Salute Featuring Ice Prince Zamani
- 2016 Emergency
- 2016 Superstar
- 2017 It’s Not A Lie
- 2017 El Chapo
- 2018 “Action”(Prod. by Pheelz)
- 2018 “Agidi”(Prod. by Chopstix)
- 2019″Mo Cover Eh” Featuring Slimcase
Discography
- No Long Thing Released: 2005
- Rundown Fuck You Up Released: 2006
- The Entertainer
- King Don Come Released: 2017
- Curriculum Vitae
- D’ Kings Men
- Tongolo” (featuring Tola HU)
- No Long Thing”Socor”
- “Mobolowowon.”
- Run Down (Funk U Up)”
- Why Me
- Toniolo Remix”––––2008
- “Kimon”
- The Entertainer
- Suddenly
- “Gbono Feli Feli”
- Entertainer”
- Fall in Love
- Igwe
- Scapegoat
- Mr. Endowed (remix) featuring Snoop Dogg
- Cash flow (featuring KaySwitch)
- Top of the world
- Finally
- Feeling the Ni*ga”––––2015
- Feeling a Nikka” (Remix) (with Akon)
- Extraordinary”
- “Frosh” (featuring Akon)
- Emergency”
- Focus
- It’s Not a Lie”
- El Chapo”
- King Don Come
- Agidi”
- Senrere
- Issa Banger
- Shoulda
- Action
- Shake It (featuring Tiwa Savage)
Net Worth
As of the current year, D’banj‘s net worth is roughly US$30.1 million, making him one of Nigeria’s top 10 richest musicians.
Social Media
- Instagram: @iambangalee
Do you find Xclusivepop useful? Click here to give us five stars rating!
Leave a Reply