Oxlade
Biography
Oxlade, born Ikuforiji Abdulrahman Olaitan in 1997 in Lagos State, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter who has emerged as one of the most soulful and emotionally resonant vocalists of his generation. He grew up in Ojota, Lagos and developed his musical instincts through church singing and an early love of R&B and Afrobeats. He released his debut EP Oxygene in 2019 and quickly built a reputation as a vocalist of exceptional sensitivity whose Afro-fusion sound bridged contemporary Afrobeats with melodic R&B. His breakthrough moment came with the 2020 track Ku Lo Sa, which was later remixed for inclusion in the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack in 2022, exposing his voice to a massive global audience and confirming him as a major international prospect. He signed with Sony Music and RCA Records, becoming one of the most prominent Afrobeats acts to secure a major international deal of that nature. Ojuju from his debut EP and subsequent releases demonstrated a voice that combined effortless falsetto with grounded emotional intelligence. Oxlade has collaborated with Fireboy DML, Davido, and international artists, and performed at major international festivals. He was named one of Apple Music's Up Next artists, a programme that has consistently identified significant emerging talent. His songs Mine and Away demonstrated his ability to craft intimate, emotionally affecting ballads that complement his more uptempo material. He continues to develop as an artist with a clear artistic identity centred on emotional authenticity and vocal excellence.
