| Blaqbonez | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Emeka Akumefule |
| Also known as | Mr. Boombastic, Emeka The Stallion |
| Born | (1996-01-29)29 January 1996 (age 29) Imo, Nigeria |
| Genres | Hip hop,Afro-fusion |
| Occupations |
|
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Years active | 2012 – present |
| Labels |
|
| Website | blaqbonez |
Emeka Akumefule, known professionally asBlaqbonez, is a Nigerian rapper and singer signed toChocolate City.[1]
Blaqbonez is popularly known for his distinct rap style as well as his creative ingenuity. In 2019, he was profiled byThe New York Times as one of the new guards ofNigerian music. He is widely known for his controversial self-proclaimed status as the "Best Rapper in Africa" (abbreviated as "BRIA"), which became the most talked about topic in the Nigerian hip hop space between July and September 2019.[2] After carving out one of rap's most loyal fan bases, Blaqbonez unleashed his debut album “Sex Over Love” to a public that was more than ready to receive it. His unorthodox approach and humorous personality, resonated with the younger generation, and earned him co-signs from the likes ofWizkid andBurna Boy.
Emeka was born on 29 January 1996, to anIgbo family, and grew up exposed to theYoruba andUrhobo culture in Nigeria. Blaqbonez hails from Imo state, a state in south-eastern Nigeria dominated by the Igbo tribe. He grew up with his mother, a pastor, in a Yoruba and Urhobo mixed environment. He had his tertiary education atObafemi Awolowo University (OAU), where he studied Computer Engineering.
He was 13 years old when he discovered he could rap, and his journey into music was a result of happenstance. He self-discovered his talent while listening to the radio with his cousin, when the song of a 12-year-old rapper was played. His cousin liked the song and challenged Blaqbonez to come up with his own lyrics, since he liked criticizingrappers. A few minutes later, he had enough bars for a verse, and that was where it all began.[3] His parents were not in support of his newfound hobby, so he secretly pursued his passion. While in school, he dropped his first project, Hip-Hop in Blaq, and participated in competitions.[4] In 2011, Blaqbonez started participating in underground rap battles. He eventually won Terry Tha Rapman's Zombie Competition in 2012 at the age of 16, beating 3000 rappers in the challenge.[5] In the same year, he featured on Terry's 2012 mixtape titled “World Domination” alongside top Nigerian musicians includingOlamide,Vector,Mode 9, andSpellz. Five years later, Blaqbonez featured Terry on one of his projects.[6] He emerged first runner-up in Vector's King Kong competition, won theRhythm fm Freestyle Fury and became RhythmFm's artiste of the month, became theHennessy Vs class captain, part of theSoundcity blast cypher, also released his much talked about mixtape CTAT "Cssette Tapes and Tvs" grossing over 60,000 engagements in streams and downloads, which is his third mixtape, following "hip-hop in blaq" and the "unfinished EP".[7]
In an interview withThe Punch newspaper, he said his "Best Rapper in Africa" proclamation was a response to a diss track and need to wake up other rappers in Nigeria.[8] He was recently described byThe Guardian as'carrying the torch of Nigerian rap'[3] and on 2 January 2019, he was listed by the same publication as one of the "Top 10 Artists to watch in 2019".[7] Blaqbonez was namedWest African Rapper Of The Year at the inaugural Creative-Africa Hip HopAwards. The same publication ranked him second in their Top 50 African Rappers Of 2021list.
Blaqbonez released his eighth EPBad Boy Blaq on 31 August 2018.[9] It was released as part of the L.A.M.B project, a series of three hip hop albums that attempts to reawaken Nigerian hip hop.[9]Bad Boy Blaq was executively produced byM.I Abaga and released through 100 Crowns,[10] a label imprint ofChocolate City.[11] The EP was the last of three releases and was preceded by M.I Abaga'sA Study on Self Worth: Yxng Dxnzl (2018).[9] Areissue of the EP, titledBad Bloy Blaq Re-Up, was released in February 2019.[3]
Blaqbonez released his ninth EPMr. Boombastic on 25 October 2019. A day before the release of the EP, Blaqbonez released the promotional single "Jesus Is Black (Letter to Kanye West)". In it, he tellsKanye West to postpone the release of his ninth studio albumJesus Is King, which had the same release date asMr. Boombastic.[12]
In 2020, Blaqbonez released 'Haba[13]'.
On 30 April 2021 Blaqbonez dropped his albumSex Over Love. The 14-track album houses previously released songs like "Bling" featuringAmaarae andBuju (BNXN), "BBC (Remix)" featuringTiwa Savage and "Haba". Other artists featured on the album includeNasty C on "Heartbreaker",Joeboy on "Fendi",Bad Boy Timz and1Da Banton on "Faaji",Laycon,Psycho YP and AQ on "Zombie" andSuperboy Cheque on "Best Friend". On 17 September 2021, Blaqbonez dropped "1000 Years". On the song "1000 Years", the disk jockey DJ Yankee employed the rap flows of Chocolate City rapper Blaqbonez, alongside Penthauze Music act "Cheque" who enhanced the song with his rap flows, lyrics, and melody.
On 28 October 2022, Blaqbonez released his 14-track studio album,Young Preacher. The album released was a follow-through of his anti-love crusade on 14 February that year[14] and featured already-released track, Back in Uni which featured British-Ghanaian producer,Jae5 and was popular for its much talked about parody music video. Other features on the album areLojay,Amaaare, Takura & Bien ofSauti Sol andBlxckie.
On 27 October 2023, Blaqbonez released his third studio albumEmeka Must Shine[15] consisting of 14 tracks and it was released[16] underChocolate City Music.[17][18] The album is the follow up album ofYoung Preacher album. The album included guest appearances from indigenous artists such asBlack Sherif,Jeriq,Victony,Odumodublvck,M24,Zlatan,Young Jonn andLudacris.[19]
2023: Like Ice Spice
On 8 July 2023, Blaqbonez released his two-packed singles Like Ice Spice, and Bezos.On the 16th headies award show held at Atlanta on 3 September 2023 he won in the category of the "Best rap album of the year".