REEKADO BANKS

Early Life and Background

Reekado Banks was born on December 6, 1993, in Lagos, Nigeria. He grew up in a devout Christian family and is the last of six children. His family's deep involvement in music—his father is a pastor and his mother was a caterer who also loved to sing—played a crucial role in shaping his career path. His older brother is a music producer, and his sister is a gospel singer. He began writing music in 2008 after his brother taught him the basics of singing, writing, and producing.

He attended the prestigious University of Lagos (UNILAG), where he graduated in 2014 with a degree in History and Strategic Studies. He initially went by the stage name Spicy before adopting Reekado Banks, which he has said loosely translates to "ruler of riches."

Mavin Records and Breakthrough

Reekado Banks' career took a monumental leap after he participated in an online talent search organized by Mavin Records. His brother submitted some of his songs without his initial knowledge. Out of over 5,000 entries, his submission was selected by the label's founder, the legendary producer Don Jazzy.

On February 21, 2014, he was officially signed to Mavin Records alongside Korede Bello and Di'Ja. He was featured on the critically acclaimed Mavin all-star single "Dorobucci" that same year, which became a continental anthem and introduced him to a massive audience.

He released his first official single under Mavin, "Turn It Up," but it was his subsequent releases like "Katapot," "Sugar Baby," and "Oluwa Ni" that solidified his status as a certified hitmaker. "Katapot" was particularly notable, as it was rumored to be a diss track aimed at other artists, though he denied this.

In 2015, he won the highly coveted and controversial "Next Rated" award at The Headies, a moment that is still widely discussed in the Nigerian music industry.

"Spotlight" Album and Departure from Mavin

In September 2016, Reekado Banks released his debut studio album, "Spotlight." The album was a commercial success, debuting at number 10 on the Billboard World Albums chart. It featured a collection of his hit singles and new tracks, showcasing his versatility and songwriting prowess.

After a successful five-year stint, Reekado Banks announced his departure from Mavin Records in December 2018. He described the exit as amicable and expressed his gratitude to Don Jazzy and the label for the opportunity.

Banks Music

Following his exit from Mavin, he launched his own independent record label, Banks Music. Under his own imprint, he has continued to release music, including the popular track "Rora" and his "Off the Record" EP series. He has collaborated with numerous top artists in the industry, such as Tiwa Savage, Wizkid, and Fireboy DML, maintaining his relevance and reputation for crafting smooth, infectious Afropop hits.