CKAY

Early Life and Education

CKay was born on July 16, 1995, in Kaduna, a city in northwestern Nigeria, but is of Igbo descent from Anambra State. He grew up in a strict Christian household where his father was the choir conductor at their local church. This early exposure to music ignited his passion, and he was introduced to the piano by his father at the age of seven. A friend later introduced him to the music production software FruityLoops (now FL Studio), which he used to start creating his own beats.

After completing his secondary education, he relocated to Lagos in 2014 to pursue his music career.

Career Beginnings

CKay's professional career began in 2014 when he was signed by Loopy Music. Following the merger of Loopy Music with Chocolate City in 2016, he officially joined the Chocolate City roster. Under this label, he released his first EP, Who the Fuck Is CKay?, in 2017. He also gained recognition as a producer, working on several tracks for other artists on the label. He left Chocolate City in 2020 and later signed with Warner Music South Africa.

Global Breakthrough with "Love Nwantiti"

CKay's career catapulted to international stardom with his 2019 song "Love Nwantiti (Ah Ah Ah)." The track was originally featured on his second EP, CKay the First.

In 2021, the song became a viral phenomenon on the social media platform TikTok. Its popularity skyrocketed, leading to the creation of several remixes featuring artists from around the world, including Joeboy, Kuami Eugene, ElGrandeToto, De La Ghetto, and an acoustic version.

The song's success was unprecedented for an African artist. It charted across Europe, Asia, Australia, and the Americas, reaching the top of the charts in numerous countries. In the United States, it peaked at number 26 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it the highest-charting Nigerian song at the time. "Love Nwantiti" achieved multiple platinum certifications globally and became the first African song to surpass one billion streams on Spotify. This success cemented CKay's status as a global music force.

Subsequent Work

Riding the wave of his global hit, CKay released his debut studio album, Sad Romance, in September 2022. The album featured collaborations with artists like Davido, Focalistic, Ayra Starr, and Ronisia. It included the popular single "Emiliana," which also performed well on international charts. He has continued to tour globally, performing at major festivals and venues.