Posted by By Olumide Oduntan on
He is very proud of his name such that he sings it loudly in his debut album. But you wouldn't blame him when you realise where he is coming from.....
He is very proud of his name such that he sings it loudly in his debut album. But you wouldn't blame him when you realise where he is coming from. New hip-hop rave, Ikechukwu Ugonna Onunaku, was born in Mannassas, Virginia, USA, to Nigerian parents. But he was flown back home before his first birthday and raised here for a couple of years in his life.
As he grew up, he took to dancing, acting and other entertaining activities. He got in contact with the music of Marvin Gaye and the Jacksons and his taste began to take shape especially around the heavy influx of hip-hop and reggae. Immediately overwhelmed by these music stars, Ikechukwu started working on his first rhyme and became the regular beat boxer.
By 1992 and like his siblings before him, it was off to the US for a college education, initially to study Medicine, obviously to satisfy his parents, Ikechukwu got shipped to Ohio where his musical training began.
It was at this point that Ikechukwu took his music career further when he stayed in the streets of New York. He collaborated with music squads like Co-ed, PGA (Pimps, Gorillas and Apes) and Dusty. After opening shows for Dela-Soul in 2000 and steadily doing shows in New York, New Jersey and Maryland, Ikechukwu was convinced that he was ready for a solo debut.
With a grimy voice that touches the heart and announces his type of hip-hop, Ikechukwu was signed on to Storm Records early this year. And just last weekend, he released his solo album; Son of the Soil, featuring blasts such as Naija Boy, My name is Ikechukwu and Legal Representer.
When asked why he sings with so much passion, Ikechukwu, who featured in the video of Dare Art Alade's Fuji, told Saturday Life & Beat that 'I'm a lyrical rebel with a cause. I sing out of the pains I went through in my growing up years. I'm somebody with a lot of pains."
Though the multi-talented artiste declined explaining further, of his debut album, he said it is something that is sure to feed your soul and keep you on the dance floor.