Obongjayar

About

Nigerian singer acclaimed for his gravelly, expressive vocals and genre-defying blend of Afrobeat, soul, hip-hop, spoken word, and experimental electronics. He released his debut studio album, "Some Nights I Dream of Doors," in 2022 before dropping his 2025 album, "Paradise Now."

Before Fame

He listened to bootleg rap throughout his childhood including artists like Eminem and Snoop Dogg. He relocated to the UK when he was 17 years old and attended university in Norwich. After beginning to publish his music on SoundCloud, he caught the attention of XL Recordings exec Richard Russell, who invited him to contribute to his "Everything is Recorded" project.

Trivia

His 2022 album, "Some Nights I Dream of Doors," was nominated for the Best Album Ivor Novello Award. His 2023 collaboration with multi-Grammy Award-winning music producer Fred again.. on the track "Adore U" earned Platinum certification in both the UK and Australia. His 2025 single, "Gasoline," was featured on the soundtrack of the Brad Pitt-starring film, F1 the Movie.

Family Life

He was born Steven Umoh. After his mother fled to the UK to escape his abusive father, he was raised by his grandmother. He reunited with his mother at the age of 17.

Associated With

He has collaborated with numerous artists including Danny Brown, Little Simz, and Moonchild Sanelly.