Yemi Alade

Overview
Yemi Eberechi Alade (born March 13th, 1989) is an award-winning Nigerian afro pop/R&B artiste who won the 2015 MTV BASE Africa Music Awards (MAMA) for Best Female in South Africa, song-writer, composer, actress and entertainer. She is popularly referred to as the “ghen ghen babe” and “the Yoruba-Ibo girl” by virtue of her electrifying stage-craft, music, edgy and un-matched style, evolving African style and her bi-tribal descent. Yemi Alade has won numerous awards and competitions; like the Peak Talent Show in 2009 which gave her the platform to launch her mainstream musical career afterwards she returned to school and graduated with a degree in Geography from the University of Lagos in 2010. She is currently signed to Effyzzie Music Group. Yemi Alade is a 2015 BET Awards nominee and a two time MOBO Awards nominee 2014/2015 for Best African Act.
Early Life & Career Beginnings
Yemi Alade was born in Abia State, Nigeria, to Helen Alade (nee Uzoma), a business woman, and James Alade, a retired Police Commissioner. Her mother, a native of south-eastern Nigeria and her father is of south western Nigerian descent, thus earning her the moniker, “that Yoruba-Ibo girl”. The fifth of seven siblings; Yemi, has four brothers and two sisters.
She grew up listening to popular music of the late eighties and early nineties and singers like Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Etta James and Aretha Franklin. The captivating vocal ability she possessed placed her in the church adult choir at the age of twelve and was known to have made melodies from everyday conversations. In her words; “I’ve practically lived my life on stage”, Yemi was exposed to singing and dancing competitions as a child. She grew up in several Nigerian cities owing to her father’s job description. Yemi Alade was educated at Saint Saviors’ British Primary School, Lagos and then Victory Grammar School, Lagos, before proceeding to the University of Lagos where she majored and graduated with a B.Sc in Geography in 2010.
Yemi Alade began making music professionally in 2005 when she was the lead of a girl group called Noty Spices managed by Storm Management. Afterwards she entered the maiden edition of the Peak Talent Show in 2009 and went on to win the competition based on her talent as a singer and performer under the supervision of Bayo Omisore. Her debut single “Fimisile” featuring eLDee became a radio hit accompanied with an engaging music video which introduced her officially as a musical force and gained her fans across the continent.
Career & Success
In mid-2012 Yemi Alade signed a deal with Effyzzie Music Group and started working with hit producers DJ Klem, D’tunes, E-Kelly, Sizzle Pro, Fliptyce and renowned South African producer Garth. Shortly afterwards she released her successful single ‘Ghen Ghen Love’ which was produced by the iconic OJB Jezreel. ‘Ghen Ghen Love’ became a hit topping numerous radio and video charts across Africa. She was also featured on singer Dipp’s album on the track ‘Rock Ur Body’ and the song and video went viral and received praises earning the duo an award nomination for best R&B video category at the Nigerian Music Video Awards 2012.
In the first quarter of 2013 Yemi Alade enlisted Ice Prince and Sasha P for the remix of her single ‘Ghen Ghen Love’, and the massive collaboration was premiered with a high-profile online hangout powered by Google influenced by Michelle Obama’s live Google hangout broadcast on websites and became a global trending topic.
In July of 2013, Yemi Alade released the emotive video for her romantic afro-R&B ‘Bamboo’ produced by Fliptyce. ‘Bamboo’ went on to be a moderate hit and a massive love and wedding anthem. In the last quarter of 2013, Yemi Alade shocked and broke records when her most recent hit single ‘Johnny’ produced by Selebobo leaked on the internet. The dance number received major critical acclaim and became an instant smash hit topping and dominating countless music charts across the globe and it been listed as one of the best songs of 2013 despite the fact it was released towards the end of the year without a video.
Yemi Alade who has covered a number of magazines and performed across the globe sharing the stage and songs with Mary J. Blige, Shina Peters, M.I, Wizkid, Becca, May D, Waje and Yemi Sax headlined the Super Diva’s Nite at the 2013 Calabar Festival, and also was called upon to open the 2013 edition of the televised Headies Awards ceremony (popularly referred to as the Nigerian Grammys) with an electrifying performance.
In 2014; Yemi Alade was featured on Yung6ix’s album on the critically acclaimed track ‘Lights’ and also on the remix of the smash hit ‘Sebiwo’ by Benin Republic afro-pop star Lace.
Yemi Alade teamed up with award-winning cinematographer Clarence Peters to create movie-like visuals for her international smash hit ‘Johnny’.
Continued Success
Yemi Alade released the music video for ‘Johnny’ in March of 2014 to critical acclaim gaining over 1 million VeVo/YouTube views in 2 months and made ‘Johnny’ an international smash hit as the single dominated , topped music charts and became an anthem in countries like Tanzania, Kenya, Ghana, South Africa, Liberia, Uganda, Zimbabwe, The United Kingdom and more. Yemi Alade became the first contemporary Nigerian artiste to release a song fully recorded in French when she release the French version of ‘Johnny’ due to popular demand from her fans in France and many Francophone countries.
Yemi Alade was picked as an ambassador for the UNESCO World Book Capital 2014 and recorded a theme song along fellow artistes M.I. Waje, Timi Dakolo and Burna Boy for the
Port Harcourt World Book Capital; a project urging the new generation to read and stay in school. She also appeared on rapper Falz’ debut album as a guest artiste on the track ‘Marry Me’, which went to be a massive smash hit with a viral music video; and was featured on DJ Kenalty’s ‘Headache’ alongside Dammy Krane.
Yemi Alade released a new single ‘Tangerine’ featuring Selebobo and embarked on an African tour visiting and performing in countries like Congo, Ghana, Zambia, Togo, Benin Republic, Kenya, Burkina Faso, South Africa and Tanzania.
After releasing the praised music video for ‘Tangerine’ which became an instant viral hit; gaining over 500,000 online views in 2 months. Yemi Alade was announced as the brand ambassador for international alcoholic drink Barcadi Breezer in Nigeria and the face of digital fashion and accessories store Bland 2 Glam. Yemi Alade teamed up with Tanzanian act Diamond Platnumz in Kenya for the second season of Coke Studio Africa; where she premiered a new single titled “Kissing”.
King of Queens
In October of 2014, Yemi Alade released her debut acclaimed album “King of Queens”. The album was a critical and commercial success peaking at number 2 on the iTunes World Albums Charts and spawning hit tracks like ‘Duro Timi’, ‘Sugar’, ‘Temperature’ featuring Dil, ‘Taking Over Me’ featuring Phyno and ‘Pose’ featuring Ghana’s top duo R2Bees. Yemi Alade also bagged countless awards and nominations including the coveted “Next Rated Award” at the 2014 Headies Awards and also gave a memorable performance at the Channel O Music Video Awards.
In 2015, Yemi Alade embarked on her European “King Of Queens” tour and performed in sold-out venues in Paris (France), Rome (Italy), Berlin (Germany), Lausanne (Switzerland) amongst others. She collaborated with Afro-Caribbean music star Marvin on the French remix of her smash hit single “Kissing”, which became a massive hit. Yemi Alade was also featured on France 24’s “Eye on Africa” during her European tour.
Yemi Alade was selected with the likes of Waje and Omotola Jalade Ekeinde and more to fight poverty and gender inequality in Africa with the #PovertyIsSexist campaign. She
collaborated with nine other African top female artistes to record a song with video titled “Strong Girl” to empower the females across the world.
Yemi Alade is currently touring and working on her second studio album.
Awards & Nominations
Nigerian Music Video Awards 2012 – Best R&B Video (Winner)
Dynamix Awards 2012 - Female Artiste of the Year (Winner)
YEM Awards 2012 - Female Artiste of the Year (Winner)
Blueprint Magazine Awards 201 2 - Best Female Artiste (Winner)
PIRA Awards 2013 - Female Artiste of the Year (Winner)
Blueprint Magazine Awards 2013 - Best Female Artiste (Winner)
ELOY Awards 2013 - Most Promising Female
City People Awards 2013 - Best Female Artiste
Nigerian Entertainment Awards 2014 – Female Artiste of the Year
City People Awards 2014 - Best Female Artiste
MTN 4syte Music Video Awards 2014 - Best Africa Video
Nigeria Music Video Awards 2014 – Best Indigenous Concept (Winner), Video of the Year, Best Pop Extra Video, Best Use of Costume
Headies Awards 2014 – Next Rated, Best Pop Single, Song of the Year
Ben TV Awards 2014 – Best Female Act
2014 MOBO Awards – Best African Act
Vodafone Ghana Music Awards 2015 – Best African Act
2015 Kunde Awards – Best West African Act (Winner)
2015 BET Awards – Best International Act: Africa
2015 MTV Africa Music Awards: Best Female (Winner) & Song Of The Year
2015 Nigerian Entertainment Award: Best Female (Winner)
2015 AFRIMMA Awards: Best Female Artist West Africa (Winner)
2015 MTV Europe Music Awards - Best African Act
2015 MOBO Award - Best African Act