If you know the music scene in Ghana,
then the name Mr. Eazi shouldn’t be new.
Mr. Eazi who is a Nigerian by the name of
Tosin Ajibade has been heating up the
Country with his hit tracks ‘Bankulize’,
‘Shitor’, ‘Skin tight’, ‘Anointing’ and
more.
A graduate of Mechanical Engineering from
Kwame Nkrumah’ University of Science and
Technology, Kumasi, he also holds an MSc
degree in Engr/Management from Coventry
University.
Eazi started recording as a hobby in 2010
with a group called Code Red. The reception
of their songs especially towards him made
him dedicate more time recording and
learning his craft while still in university.
From singles to features, he become a major
force in the underground/upcoming game
getting co-signs from EL, Fuse ODG and
featuring on Sarkodie’s song – ‘Thank God’,
X.O Senavoe’s ‘Fever’ and Stay Jay’s ‘Baby
Lace’; adding the Naija flavour they needed
to each song.
In 2013, he released his mixtape ‘About to
Blow’ which had the songs ‘Pipi Dance’,
‘Orobo’ and ‘Bankulize’ as breakout singles.
‘Pipi Dance’ went on to be played on radio
massively in Ghana.
In 2014 November, a new version of
‘Bankulize’ produced by DJ Juls (who
produced the hit single ‘Feel Alright’ by
Show Dem Camp) feat Pappy Kojo was
released. By February, it was the number
one song in Ghana according to iTunes. All
of these had made the Nigerian, who had
schooled and lived in Ghana, and made
music for Ghanaians, using their influence
and culture a star.
But he wasn’t accepted by some section of
the Ghanaians, who called him a Nigerian,
and kept him away from VGMA in 2015, the
biggest music honor in the land. The PRO for
Charterhouse, the organizers of the annual
prestigious Vodafone Ghana Music Awards
disclosed that VGMAs board thought it wise
not to include Mr. Eazi for the event because
he is not a Ghanaian by heritage, and
disregarded that he has been staying in
Ghana, and creating content for Ghana.
“I’ve heard lots of talk about VGMAs not
nominating Mr. Eazi in the various
categories. But they should know that the
reason why we deem it fit not to make him
part and parcel of the award scheme is that
he’s not a Ghanaian.” He said.
“Mr. Eazi is a Nigerian, and the only
category he can compete for is the African
Artiste of the Year category and with that
one he didn’t qualify because his influence
on the African map is nothing to talk home
about as compared to the other artistes in
that category.” He continued.
Mr Eazi has since seen his song ‘Skin tight’
penetrate the Nigerian market, and he is
currently enjoying tremendous acceptance
in Nigeria. Interviews and press rounds
have been carried out, as his profiles
continue to grow. A UK tour has been held,
and many more are lined up planned. His
latest song ‘Anointing’, which features
rapper, Sarkodie, is gradually penetrating
radio, racking up over 1.5 million Youtube.
What has made Mr Eazi so appealing to
Ghana? His sound. Mr Eazi’s partnership
with Julz is currently one that is working.
Grabbing inspiratuion from 80s and 90s
Ghanaian Highlife melodies, Julz creates a
modern fusion of these sounds, and hands it
to Mr Eazi, who layers his pop verses over
it. Thematic direction of the songs are all
romance and love-based.
Just like the 70s and the 60’s when Ghanaian
Highlife was appropriated by our Nigerian
fathers, the sounds from Ghana have been
mixed with a Naija delivery, and it has
caught on.
For now Mr Eazi still prefers his Ghanaian
home. “I prefer staying in Ghana – actually
Kumasi because, I love the Ghanaian culture
and things happen to be easy for me here in
Ghana,” He says. “I love the people and the
‘Banku’. But he is becoming a force in
Nigeria. One that has the potential to
explode.
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