YCee | |
|---|---|
 Ycee speaking with Flytime Promotions in December 2017 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Oludemilade Martin Alejo |
| Also known as | Zaheer |
| Born | (1993-01-29)29 January 1993 (age 32) Lagos State, Nigeria |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
|
| Instruments |
|
| Years active | 2012–present |
| Labels |
|
Oludemilade Martin Alejo (born 29 January 1993), known professionally asYcee (pronounced/ˈwaɪsiː/WY-see; also stylized asYCee), is aNigerian rapper, singer and songwriter.[1] He gained popularity after his single "Condo", which features vocals byPatoranking, earned him two nominations at the2015 Nigeria Entertainment Awards.[2] He was also nominated for Best Artist in African Pop at the 2015All Africa Music Awards[3] and forNext Rated atThe Headies 2016.[4] Ycee signed a record deal withSony Music in October 2016, but terminated his contract with the label in February 2018.[5]
Ycee was born inFestac Town, a housing estate in Lagos State, Nigeria. He completed hisbasic education at Dr. Soyemi Memorial Nursery and Primary School. He attended the Nigerian Navy Secondary School inOjo for his secondary education. Ycee studiedmarine biology at theUniversity of Lagos.[6]
Ycee started his music career in 2012 as an underground rapper. He signed a record deal with Tinny Entertainment. Due to his educational engagements, he took a brief hiatus from music after gaining admission to theUniversity of Lagos.[7] Ycee released the critically acclaimed song "Condo" in May 2015; it was nominated for Best Collaboration of the Year and Best Music Video of the Year at the2015 Nigeria Entertainment Awards.[8] On 20 July 2015, he released the hit single "Jagaban". Nigerian rapperOlamide asked him to be featured on the remix.[9] He gained further exposure after receiving a nomination for Revelation of the Year at the 2015MTV Africa Music Awards. Moreover, he was nominated for Best Artist in African Pop at the 2015All Africa Music Awards.[10]
On 25 June 2017, "Juice" featuringMaleek Berry became the most popular new music on Nigeria radio, ranked number 1 byPlaydata charts.[11] Ycee sold out a headline gig at theO2 Academy Islington on 12 January 2018. The gig featured additional performances from his label matesBella Alubo, Sona,Eugy,Ms. Banks and Flosha.[12] On 15 January 2019, he announced on Instagram that he left Tinny Entertainment.[13] He also announced the launch of his record label ANBT, anacronym for Ain't Nobody Badder Than.[14]
Ycee released his debut studio albumYcee vs Zaheer on 8 November 2019.[15] It is a mixture ofhip-hop,trap,Afrobeats, Afro-house, hyphy, R&B and alte.[15] The album serves as the follow-up to his 8-track debut EPFirst Wave (2017) and his collaborative EP withBella Alubo, titledLate Night Vibrations (2018).[15] The album was produced by Adey, Jay Bidz, Ballertosh, Fanatix, BeatsbyKarma, Syn X, Krizbeatz, Jay Popping, Buzzin Producer, AP Da Don, Two Seven, Elmore, Willis Give Dem and KO. It features collaborations withDavido,Niniola,Phyno, Ms Banks and Dapo Tuburna.[15]
Over the course of his career and since his rise to prominence, Ycee has featured on notable records to break upcoming artists. He featured on records to break his label mate Dapo Turbuna "Nothing" Remix in 2016,[16] Label MateBella on Radio in 2017 before going ahead to create a joint EP with her Late Night Vibrations.[17] Ycee also featured on Big Man Doingz[18] by Arosino alongside Dapo Tuburna and Karma. Some Say it was his way of giving back to emerging artistes as he was once on the receiving end of such impact through Olamide on his remix to Jagaban, his breakthrough single.
 |
| Year | Song | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | "Smile On Me" | Non-album single |
| "Pass Me" | ||
| 2014 | "Shots" | |
| 2015 | "Condo"(featuringPatoranking) | |
| "Jagaban" | ||
| "Jagaban" (Remix)(featuringOlamide) | ||
| "Omo Alhaji" | ||
| 2016 | "Su Mi" | |
| "Panda" (Cover) | ||
| "Omo Alhaji" (Remix)(featuringDJ Maphorisa) | ||
| "Ahahn" ("Ooouuu" cover) | ||
| 2017 | "Link Up"(featuringReekado Banks) | First Wave |
| "Juice"(featuringMaleek Berry) | ||
| "Don't Need Bae" | ||
| "Wavy" | ||
| "Kill Nobody"(featuring Calibrii) | ||
| "Bubbly"(featuringFalz) | ||
| "Need To Know"(featuringSeyi Shay) | ||
| "N.O.U.N"(featuring KLY) | ||
| 2018 | "Say Bye Bye"(featuring Eugy) | Non-album single |
| "Your Love" | ||
| "Juice" (Remix)(featuringJoyner Lucas) | ||
| "My Side" | ||
| 2019 | "Balance" | |
| "Dakun" | ||
| "Mo Salah" | ||
| "Wahala Dey" | ||
| 2020 | "Secreto" | |
| Summa Nights |
|
| Year | Award ceremony | Award description | Recipient | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 2015 Nigeria Entertainment Awards | Best Collaboration of The Year | "Condo" | Nominated |
| Best Music Video of The Year | Nominated | |||
| 2015 MTV Africa Music Awards | Revelation of the Year | Himself | Nominated | |
| 2015 All Africa Music Awards | Best Artist in African Pop | Nominated | ||
| 2016 | The Headies 2015 | Rookie of The Year | Won | |
| The Headies 2016 | Next Rated | Himself | Nominated | |
| 2017 | AFRIMA 2017 | Best African hip-hop | Won | |
| Soundcity MVP Awards Festival | Best Collaboration | Nominated | ||
| 2019 | The Headies 2019 | Lyricist on the Roll | Nominated |
