KOHDEE

Nigerian artist Kohdee delivers vibrant, hook-filled Afropop, taking influence from a tapestry of sources including R&B, reggae, hip-hop, and highlife. A handful of independent singles in the late 2010s led to the 2020 release of his first EP, The Link. His star continued to rise with his 2023 signing to Troniq Music; he made his label debut the same year with "Mr. Fantastic." Born Ogechukwu Kohdee Otu in Port Harcourt, Kohdee loved music from a young age. His mother was a gospel singer and his father constantly played reggae and dancehall records at home. At secondary school, one of his friends introduced him to rapping and producing, and he began to teach himself to write and record music. Although he was studying information technology in college, the pull of music was too strong and Kohdee soon relocated to Lagos to begin his music career. Inspired by heroes like Wande Coal, Burna Boy, Drake, and Fela Kuti, he began releasing independent singles in 2017, honing his skills as a singer, songwriter, and producer and fostering a growing audience. Kohdee's 2020 EP, The Link, was his first collection and featured a guest spot from 1da Banton. The songs drew heavily from his personal life, relationships, and emotions. The rising star soon collaborated with highlife band the Cavemen on 2021's "Mexebu" and drew the interest of the Troniq Music label, which had recently found success with fellow Afrobeats artist Oxlade. In 2023, Troniq announced Kohdee's signing with the release of the single "Mr. Fantastic."
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