The Rise of Adekunle Gold

Adekunle Gold / amped illustration

We are just days away from the release of the sophomore studio album of multitalented Alternative singer & Lead performer of the 79th element band, Adekunle Gold. This piece looks at the highest points and rise of this superb and outstanding Nigerian performer who was vastly unknown till around the end of 2014, when Olamide signed his then in-house graphic designer Guy to his YBNL imprint. Adekunle released his debut single Sade; which was a cover of the Popular International record by the now defunct English-Irish pop band, One Direction. The Song became a smash hit and introduced the Nigerian music listening audience to Adekunle Gold. The success of Adekunle and the song reminded me of how the same formula broke BankyW into the industry with his hit Ebutte Metta which was a cover of Rihanna’s worldwide hit, Umbrella.

Adekunle didn’t rest on the laurels of the success of sade, he followed up with Orente, a yoruba love song that explained the faithfulness of a woman who adores her man despite all the odds against him, needless to say that was a huge hit. With two successful hits under his belt, the stage was set for Adekunle to shine and shine he did, if he got his feet in the game with Sade and found his footing with Orente, he planted his feet firmly with the single Pick Up, this song was a prayer, ironically the song also answered his prayers. Pick Up was hugely successful and ended up being his biggest song to date.

Riding of the wave of three hugely successful singles, Adekunle Gold did the next logical thing to do and dropped his debut album – GOLD. The album featured production from well-known producers like Masterkfraft, Pheelz, Bbanks and Oscar. The album was success both critically and commercially as it peaked at number 7 on the billboard world album chart and it established AdekunleGold as Nigeria’s biggest alternative artiste. Adekunle Gold is a complete artiste and not just on the hype. Open your heart to listen to this album whenever you can, in the build up to what is surely to be ‘The Album of The Year’ as you savor the moment before the release of the “About 30” album. While promoting his debut album, Adekunlegold took the time to perfect his craft, by taking tips from Music Legends like King Sunny Ade & Ebenezer Obey in improving in his songwriting skills as well as mastering the excellent features of a stage performer. As two years since his introduction into the music scene, he is regarded as one of the best performers in the nation; as a set with Adekunlegold is one that cannot be matched by anyone in the entire music industry in the country. Looking to depart from his record deal which was not-subject to a renewal from his label boss, Adekunlegold was surely not relying on the hype in getting him to the higher levels.

He decided to evolve once more and Add a proper-music band to his whole act. So, in came the announcement of the 79th-Element band which features superb guitarist; Femi Leye, his sister as his backup singer and other talented instrumentalist whom all have a crazy work-ethic that gives the distinctive edge to Adekunlegold’s songwriting and stage performances. With this output from his brand, all seems to be going well for Adekunlegold as the hardly impressionable Nigerian public finally accepted the once unknown singer from Ikotun Area, of Lagos State.

We are ready for the new Adekunle Gold album, we are all about 30.