King Ajibade And The Gbajumo Tribe
Los Angeles, CA | Established. Jan 01, 2017
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King Ajibade Passport EP An Electic Listen
An Eclectic Listen!
I am always ecstatic to get the chance to hear something different musically that is not the “norm” we’re used to hearing on pop radio. I was very excited to get to check out King Ajibade’s Passport EP, which is due out next month on 2/17. King Ajibade is a Nigerian born artist who merges influences of Caribbean, Latin ,and African music. Is his EP worth a listen? Read on for my thoughts.
King Ajibade Passport EP Review
“Excuse Me Lady,” which opens the EP, is a really interesting opener. While I wasn’t what sure what to expect, what I heard was reminded me of a fusion of Wyclef Jean, 90s dance, and a modern world edge. I was totally into the song and immediately found myself wanting to get up and dance. Also, the repeated phrase of “Excuse me lady, I want to date you” was stuck in my head less than a minute in.
It was by complete irony I felt that the phrase from the opener was stuck in my head, as the second track is called “Stuck In My Head.” This song had more of an 80s/early 90s electronic sound sonically, but reminded me of the predecessor with the repeated phrasing and how it made you want to get up and dance. I also found myself giggling at the “She’s a sexy mother shut your mouth line.”
“Yeah,” which appears later on the EP, was another interesting track. This had a different sound in that it sounded like something I’d never heard before but in a good way. The merged cultural elements were definitely present here, and I enjoyed it. - Realmrhousewife
Nigerian-born King Ajibade describes his music as “world fusion” – a danceable style with a savor that’s definitely tropical, incorporating elements of Caribbean, Latin and African musical genres with classic RnB and rap. In Yoruba, his name means “one that wakes into royalty” and keeping that connection with his heritage is another important thread throughout the release.
Based in the United States with his family at a young age, Aji started with singing in a gospel choir and graduated to rap after high school. One of his mentors along the way was the late Ann Tillman, one of the founders of Destiny’s Child, and Aji is a producer as well as singer and songwriter. He released his first single in 2011 on his own label, 26th Element Records, (now distributed through Universal Records,) and following it with a string of singles and his first EP in 2014, Bad Boy In Disguise.
Passport, dropping February 17th, is Aji’s foray into the international world pop market with a style that he’s hoping to take to a global audience – and it certainly has the potential. The EP offers a winning combination of high energy influences, including Afrobeat and Latin rhythms. “Excuse Me Lady,” the first track, has an infectious energy with driving rhythms. It covers the usual ground of boy wanting to meet girl with a world beat sensibility. It’s the lead track and now available as a single in advance of the album release in February
King Ajibade has a nice fat voice that he can manipulate in and out of melodies that contrast the driving rhythms. “Stuck in my Head” continues in a dance-pop mode, with Aji’s fluid vocals wrapping wrap around the throbbing dance rhythms. “Coming Around” mixes plaintive lyrics about — naturally — love with an upbeat tropical vibe.
“X feat: Blaque Ra” is a standout track that mixes hip hop with the guitar rhythms of Latin music – a multi-layered piece where the vocals, beats, and effects are nicely balanced. “Yeah!” is another great track, with a horn section adding a thick sound in a cross between Afrobeat and ska.
Passport represents a solid entry into the international/global pop canon, with slick production and tracks that offer a range of styles that showcase his strengths – danceable rhythms and smooth vocals that lie on top of the mix. - My Entertainment World
For an artist whose name translates to “one that wakes into royalty,” King Ajibade’s music certainly exemplifies the regal and beautiful connotations of such a title. The Nigeria native’s new EP, Passport, pays tribute to that royalty as Ajibade honors his Yoruba heritage by blending African, Latin, and Caribbean music with Western pop. It’s a sound that’s friendly to ears of any creed, and a sweet taste of the most flavorful genres in music.
Check out King Ajibade’s new video for “Excuse Me Lady,” a song that’s sure to lift spirits and get your body moving. - Pop Dose
Nigeria’s largest city Lagos is an undoubted hotbed of musical talent, having given us the likes of Femi Kuti, Keziah Jones and Asa. The latest off the bustling city’s conveyor belt of talent is singer-songwriter-rapper-producer King Ajibade. He is a man who wears many hats not just in terms of his artistry, but culturally as well. A few years after he was born King Ajibade bade his motherland farewell and boarded a plane for the US. Here he began nurturing his musical gift by performing in his junior high school’s gospel choir. But after he was done with high school he switched from singing to rapping as he expanded his musical palate.
With time he moved out to Houston, Texas where he realized that his eclectic style of music was in demand. As a result he ended up rubbing shoulders with the likes of Oji Pierce, who produced 90s R&B star Montell Jordan, as well as renowned underground rappers such as Bushwick Bill, one half of the Geto Boys. One of the most valuable encounters he had at this time was with Ann Tillman, who helped put together Destiny’s Child. She mentored the then impressionable Ajibade and became his good friend. All these experiences helped chisel and shape Aji’s sound as a solo artist when he ventured out in 2011.
His first ever solo release, a single titled ‘Waiting for You’ came out that same year. It was also the first from his newly formed imprint 26th Element Records. He followed this single three years later with his debut EP, ‘Bad Boy In Disguise’. Seeking to build on this momentum, King Ajibade is currently working on his second EP ‘Passport’, due for release early next year. The six-song record, as the title suggests, is an invitation to music lovers from all the four corners of the planet to dance their worries away. “This music is meant to travel the world. Life is so stressful…I want to help people to enjoy it,” King Ajibade says. - wedoitfortheloveofmusic
Discography
Ajibade \ Ah-ji-bah-dey : One who wakes into Royalty [ Aji: Wake up + B: to + Ade: kingship ]
……………………………………………….
King Ajibade was crowned with a name that
translates to “one that wakes into royalty” and it is this fusion
producers sole intention to uphold his royal Yoruba heritage by bridging
Caribbean, African, Latin and Pop with his majestic gift for music.
A Nigerian native, Ajibade hails from the bustling capital city of
Lagos and moved to the US as a young boy. The only one of six children
with any musical aptitude, Aji sang with the gospel choir in his junior
high school as well as in the church then began rapping after high
school. The ability to sponge up an assortment of musical styles led to
the creative richness of the eclectic, soulfully energetic sound he is
now known for..
As a young adult he was sought after for
his authentic take on the international music scene and began networking
with blue chip industry insiders in Houston Texas where he moved after
high school. His most cherished experience is with Ann Tillman, the now
deceased co-founder of Destiny’s Child who served as a great mentor,
inspiration and a wonderful friend during Aji’s musical coming of age.
He also worked closely with Oji Pierce, producer for Montel Jordan, as
well as many underground artists including Bushwick Bill of the Geto
Boys.
As a solo artist, King Ajibade began his
journey in 2011 with the single “Waiting for You” and launched his
imprint 26th Element Records to handle the release. The single was
followed by the Bad Boy In Disguise EP in 2014 which set the foundation
for his newest EP. Passport (due out XXX) is a deliberate move into
international world pop, providing a taste of the sound King Ajibade
hopes to cultivate for his broad audience. “This music is meant to
travel the world” asserts Ajibade when reflecting on the EP’s title.
“Life can be so stressful…I want to help people to enjoy it.”
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Bio
King Ajibade was crowned with a name that translates to “one that wakes into royalty” and it is this fusion producers sole intention to uphold his royal Yoruba heritage by bridging Caribbean, African, Latin and Pop with his majestic gift for music.
A Nigerian native, Ajibade hails from the bustling capital city of Lagos and moved to the US as a young boy. The only one of six children with any musical aptitude, Aji sang with the gospel choir in his junior high school as well as in the church then began rapping after high school. The ability to sponge up an assortment of musical styles led to the creative richness of the eclectic, soulfully energetic sound he is now known for..
As a young adult he was sought after for his authentic take on the international music scene and began networking with blue chip industry insiders in Houston Texas where he moved after high school. His most cherished experience is with Ann Tillman, the now deceased co-founder of Destiny’s Child who served as a great mentor, inspiration and a wonderful friend during Aji’s musical coming of age. He also worked closely with Oji Pierce, producer for Montel Jordan, as well as many underground artists including Bushwick Bill of the Geto Boys.
As a solo artist, King Ajibade began his journey in 2011 with the single “Waiting for You” and launched his imprint 26th Element Records to handle the release. The single was followed by the Bad Boy In Disguise EP in 2014 which set the foundation for his newest EP. Passport (due out XXX) is a deliberate move into international world pop, providing a taste of the sound King Ajibade hopes to cultivate for his broad audience. “This music is meant to travel the world” asserts Ajibade when reflecting on the EP’s title. “Life can be so stressful…I want to help people to enjoy it.”
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