The Biography of Lojay the “BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (MALE)” At The headies

Gidiweb4 weeks ago

0 0 1 minute read

Here’s a detailed biography of Lojay (often stylized as Lojay or LoJay), the Nigerian singer, songwriter, and rising Afrobeats star:

Full Name: Lekan Osifeso Jr. (though some sources incorrectly list “Oluwatobiloba Ajayi”).
Birth: Born on April 28, 1996, in Lagos, Nigeria. Today (2025-04-28) marks his 29th birthday.
Family: Son of a pastor mother and a construction businessman father. Grew up in a Pentecostal household, heavily influenced by gospel music and church drumming from age 10.
Education: Graduated with a degree in Marketing and a postgraduate diploma in Business Management from the University of Portsmouth, UK (2018).

Grew up listening to Michael Jackson, Bruno Mars, Wizkid, and Nigerian folk artist Lagbaja.
Started as a rapper in a teenage group Decoy (2009) before transitioning to singing after a church choir soloist opportunity.

Released his debut EP Midnight Vibes (2017) while studying in the UK.
Gained global fame with LV N ATTN (2021), a collaborative EP with producer Sarz, featuring the hit “Monalisa” (later remixed with Chris Brown). The song peaked at #8 on Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs and became a viral sensation after Jay-Z was seen vibing to it.

Blends Afrobeats, Amapiano, and R&B, with a falsetto vocal style and themes of love, vulnerability, and “gangster romanticism”.
Notable tracks: “Tonongo,” “Sensational” (feat. Chris Brown), “Arizona” (feat. Olamide).

Released Gangster Romantic EP (2023), a darker, introspective project about his love life.
Collaborated with artists like Wizkid, DJ Maphorisa, and Kabza De Small.

Awards: Nominated for The Headies (Next Rated Artist, Best Afrobeats Single) and NAACP Image Awards.
Global Impact: Performed in Dubai, London, and Europe; aims to pioneer Afrobeats in untapped markets like Japan.
Net Worth: Estimated at $300,000 (as of 2023).

On Authenticity: “Truth hits more. One line of truth can hit more than four lines of lies”.
On Afrobeats: Believes the genre’s global rise is fueled by diaspora identity but critiques Western ownership of African music.