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Reekado Banks
Reekado Banks
Background information
Birth name	Ayoleyi Hanniel Solomon
Also known as	Spicy
Born	6 December 1993 (age 31); Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria
Genres	Afropop
Occupations	Singer; songwriter;
Years active	2008–present
Labels	Banks Music; Virgin Music Nigeria; Mavin Records (former);

Ayoleyi Hanniel Solomon (born 6 December 1993),^[1] who is better known by his stage name Reekado Banks, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter. He was signed to Mavin Records between 2014 and 2018,^[2] and went by the stage name Spicy before his record deal with the label. Banks won Rookie of the Year at The Headies 2014,^[3] and received the controversial Next Rated award at The Headies 2015. His debut studio album Spotlight, which was released on 1 September 2016, debuted at number 10 on the Billboard World Albums chart.^[4]

Life and career

Reekado Banks is the last born child of a family that adores music. His father is a pastor from Isarun Ifedore LGA, Ondo State and his mother is a caterer.^[5] He grew up in a disciplinarian setting due to both of his parents being pastors. He completed secondary school at the age of 14, and started recording his first set of songs in 2008. His elder brother produced all of his earlier songs and tutored him on the rudiments of singing, writing and producing. He derived the stage name Reekado Banks by combining the meanings of the two names; the former part of his stage name translates to "strong ruler" and the latter part loosely translates to "wealth".^[6] In 2014, Banks graduated from the University of Lagos with a degree in history and strategic study.^[7]^[3] He has cited Don Jazzy, 2face Idibia, DJ Jimmy Jatt, Olamide and M.I as his key musical inspirations.^[8]

Mavin Records deal and artistry

Banks' record deal with Mavin Records emerged due to his brother’s submission of some of his songs to the label in an online talent search. He was signed to Mavin Records after his entries were selected from over 5000 entries.^[9] In an interview with the National Mirror, he said his brother submitted his songs and communicated with the label on his behalf without his initial consent. Banks also told the National Mirror he is a versatile artist who makes music with the thought that humans are different and have different taste.^[6]

2014–present: Singles and Mavin Records departure

Banks premiered the single "Turn It Up" on 21 February 2014, which coincided with the day he signed with Mavin Records. The song features vocals by Tiwa Savage and was released as his first official single under Mavin Records.^[10] Banks was featured on the critically acclaimed song "Dorobucci", alongside Don Jazzy, Korede Bello, Savage, Di'Ja, Dr SID and D'Prince.^[11] He also worked with some of the aforementioned artists on the collaborative singles "Adaobi", "Arise" and "Looku Looku". On 13 February 2015, he released the Don Jazzy-produced single "Katapot", which was alleged to be a diss track towards D'banj and Wande Coal. In February 2015, Don Jazzy debunked the allegations in a series of tweets.^[12] While speaking to Vanguard Newspaper, Banks said he created "Katapot" for his fans.^[13]

In July 2015, Banks signed an endorsement deal with Nigerian telecommunications company Globacom.^[14] On 7 December 2018, he announced his departure from Mavins Records and the launch of his independent outfit, Banks Music.^[15] In September 2019, Vanguard newspaper reported that Banks dropped his elder brother, Temi Solomon, as his manager.^[16] In 2021, he released the single "Ozumba Mbadiwe".^[17] Olukorede Ikazoboh, who heads the Nigerian arm of Virgin Music, announced that the label will be in charge of distributing Banks and Darkoo's music.^[18]

Discography

Studio albums

Spotlight (2016)

Extended plays (EPs)

Off the Record (2020)
OTR, Vol. 2 (2021)

Selected singles

Title	Year	Release date
"Turn It Up" (featuring Tiwa Savage)	2014	21 February 2014
"Dorobucci" (with Don Jazzy Tiwa Savage, Dr SID, D’Prince, Korede Bello and Di'Ja)		1 May 2014
"Adaobi" (with Don Jazzy, Korede Bello and Di'Ja)		27 May 2014
"Chop Am"		8 August 2014
"Arise" (with Don Jazzy and Di'Ja)		20 September 2014
"Looku Looku" (with Don Jazzy Tiwa Savage, Dr SID, D’Prince, Korede Bello and Di'Ja)		31 October 2014
"Katapot"	2015	13 February 2015
"Corner"		9 July 2015
"Sugar Baby"		10 July 2015
"Tomorrow"		11 July 2015
"Oluwa Ni"	2016	15 January 2016
"Standard"		5 June 2016
"Spotlight"		1 September 2016
Easy (Jeje)	2017	29 July 2017
"Kiss Me"		29 July 2017
"Like" (with Tiwa Savage and Fiokee)		6 December 2017
"Pull Up"	2018	3 April 2018
"Bio Bio" (featuring Duncan Mighty)		9 July 2018
"Blessings On Me"		26 September 2018
"Yawa" Banks Music (featuring Reekado Banks and DJ Young)	2019	21 March 2019
"Maria"		29 March 2019
"Rora"		5 September 2019
"In Put In Pressure"	2019	29 November 2019
"You Dey Mad" (featuring AttiFaya)	2020	20 November 2020
"Speak to Me" (featuring Tiwa Savage)	2020	26 November 2020
"Need More" (featuring Kida Kudz and EO)	2020	27 November 2020
"Happy Yourself"	2020	27 November 2020
"Ozumba Mbadiwe"	2021	21 October 2021

References

^ Wemimo, Esho (6 December 2014). "Mavin artiste turns 21". Pulse. Archived from the original on 14 April 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
^ "Stars to watch out for in 2015". Punch. 3 January 2015. Archived from the original on 14 April 2015. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
^ ^a ^b Damilare, Famuyiwa (28 December 2014). "REEKADO BANKS:I like to do crazy stuffs and music makes it easy". The Nation. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
^ Solanke, Abiola (15 September 2016). "Singer's "Spotlight" occupies number 10 spot on Billboard world album charts". Pulse. Archived from the original on 8 January 2017. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
^ Vanguard, Entertainment (23 April 2015). "I once worked as a bricklayer to survive -Reekado Banks". Vanguard Nigeria. Archived from the original on 22 April 2015. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
^ ^a ^b Oluwadahunsi, Olawale (12 November 2014). "I do all genres of music -Reekado Banks". National Mirror. Archived from the original on 18 March 2015. Retrieved 4 April 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^ Godwin, Ameh Comrade (28 April 2015). "Mavin Records act, Reekado Banks graduates from University of Lagos". Daily Post Nigeria. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
^ Jayne Augoye; Peter Okeugo (18 January 2015). "I can't be distracted by ladies —Reekado Banks". Punch. Archived from the original on 22 April 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
^ "Reekado Banks Bio". Mavin Records. 12 August 2014. Archived from the original on 1 April 2015. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
^ "Another Mavin Activated! Don Jazzy presents Reekardo Banks Feat. Tiwa Savage – Turn It Up". Bellanaija. 21 February 2014. Archived from the original on 22 May 2014. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
^ Otokpa, Regina (14 November 2014). "Dorobucci craze hits church". National Mirror. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 23 March 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^ Abimboye, Micheal (20 February 2014). "Don Jazzy says Reekado Banks' Kataput not dis at Dbanj". Premium Times. Archived from the original on 4 May 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
^ Ige, Tofarati (22 March 2015). "I have three things no other artiste has — Reekado Banks". Vanguard. Archived from the original on 12 April 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
^ "Glo signs on 28 ambassadors; Mama G, Wizkid, AY, P-Square, Korede Bello top list". Vanguard. 1 July 2015. Archived from the original on 1 May 2016. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
^ "Video: Reekado Banks Launches Record Label "Banks Music"". P.M News. 10 December 2018. Archived from the original on 7 February 2019. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
^ "Just in: Reekado Banks `sack' brother as Manager". Vanguard News. 11 September 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
^ "Reekado Banks and Fireboy DML fend off an ambush in their "Ozumba Mbadiwe (Remix)"". The FADER. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
^ Cooke, Chris (5 September 2023). "Virgin Music expands into Nigeria". CMU. Retrieved 10 November 2023.