CKay

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

CKay
Birth nameChukwuka Ekweani
Born (1995-07-16) 16 July 1995 (age 26)
Anambra, Nigeria
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • producer
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • piano
  • drums
  • guitar
Years active2016–present
LabelsWarner Music South Africa
Associated acts

Chukwuka Ekweani (born 16 July 1995), better known by his stage name Ckay (SEE-kay), is a Nigerian singer-songwriter and record producer signed to Warner Music South Africa. He was formerly signed to Chocolate City, a member of Warner Music Group independent label services ADA. His international hit single "Love Nwantiti", also known as "Love Nwantiti (Ah Ah Ah)", was released in 2019 by Chocolate City.

Early life[]

Chukwuka Ekweani was born in Kaduna, a state in the north-western region of Nigeria. He is from Anambra State in Southeastern Nigeria. His love for music was driven by his father, who was a choir conductor at their local church.[1] While growing up, he was moved by musical instruments,[1] which prompted him to learn the piano from his father.[2] Thereafter, a friend introduced him to the production software Fruity Loops.[2] Chukwuka Ekweani started off his music career as a member of a band, made up of him and two other band mates,[1] before beginning his solo career as CKay.

Career[]

In 2014, he relocated to Lagos, after he got discovered. While signed to Loopy Music, he began working with Chocolate City, early 2015.[3] Following the merger of Loopy Music in 2016, he officially joined Chocolate City artist roster.[4] He is a musician who has made tracks in a variety of genres including Afrobeats, R&B and dancehall.[5] On 11 September 2017, he released his first extended play Who the Fuck Is CKay?,[6] through Chocolate City. On 30 August 2019, he released his second extended play CKay the First through Chocolate City,[7] and on 11 February 2021, he released his third extended play Boyfriend through Warner Music South Africa.[8] On 4 May 2021, he confirmed on Twitter that he is no longer signed to Chocolate City, but signed to Warner Music South Africa.[9][10]

On 2 March 2018 he released "Container", an Afrobeat record influenced by the South African gwara gwara dance style. The song became a breakthrough record, and earned him substantial airplay in Nigeria. It was released through Chocolate City, and was produced by Tempoe.[11] On 6 July 2018, he released the music video, directed and shot by the Myth in various locations in Lagos.[12]

In 2019, following the release of CKay the First, "Love Nwantiti" became a major record in Nigeria. On 14 February 2020, CKay released a remix titled "Love Nwantiti (Ah Ah Ah)" featuring Joeboy and Kuami Eugene. In 2021, it went viral on TikTok[13] and became an international hit, charting across Europe, Africa, Australia and New Zealand, also reaching number 23 in the UK[14] and earned him his first entry on the US Billboard Hot 100. A North African remix featuring ElGrande Toto became popular in the Maghreb countries and in Germany. A French remix featured Franglish, a German remix featuring Frizzo, Joeboy and Kuami Eugene, the Spanish version with De La Ghetto, the East African remix featuring Rayvanny and a South African remix featuring Tshego and Gemini Major.

He was featured on the song "La La" from Davido's studio album A Better Time, released on 13 November 2020, through Davido Music Worldwide, RCA Records, and Sony Music. and "Beggie Beggie" from Ayra Starr's debut studio album 19 & Dangerous, released on 6 August 2021, through Mavin Records. On 28 July 2021, he received his first YouTube plaque for reaching 100k subscribers.[15] On 8 October 2021, Ckay became the first African artist to hit 20 Million Spotify Listeners, with over 21 million monthly listeners on his Spotify page.[16]

Artistry[]

On 4 June 2019, in an interview with Ayo Onikoyi of Vanguard Nigeria, CKay described his style of music as Afro-pop from the future (2056 A.D specifically).[17] On 24 September 2021, Helen Ainsley of the Official Charts Company describes CKay's music as fusing Afrobeats with pop, electronic music, and even interpolating classical music.[18]

Discography[]

EPs[]

List of extended plays, with selected details and chart positions
Title Details Peak chart positions
CAN
[19] 		DEN
[20] 		FRA
[21] 		NED
[22] 		US
[23] 		US
World
[24]
Who the Fuck Is CKay? — — — — — —
CKay the First
  • Released: 30 August 2019
  • Label: Chocolate City
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
 20 24 35 12 117 4
Boyfriend — — — — — —

Singles[]

List of singles, showing title and year released with selected chart positions
Title Year Chart positions Certifications Album
AUS
[25] 		FRA
[26] 		GER
[27] 		NLD
[28] 		NOR
[29] 		NZ
[30] 		SWE
[31] 		SWI
[32] 		UK
[33] 		US
[34]
"Container"[35] 2017 — — — — — — — — — — Non-album single
"Way" 2019 — — — — — — — — — — CKay the First
"Love Nwantiti" — — — — — — — — — —
"Felony" 2020 — — — — — — — — — — Boyfriend
"Skoin Skoin"
(featuring Bianca Costa) 		2021 — — — — — — — — — —
"Love Nwantiti (Ah Ah Ah)"
(featuring Joeboy and Kuami Eugene) 		8 1 6 1 1 2 4 1 3 26 TBA
"Kiss Me Like You Miss Me"
(with Payal Dev)[48] 		— — — — — — — — — —
"Emiliana" — 13
[49]		 — 21 — — 90
[50]		 27 — —
"By Your Side"
(featuring Blxckie) 		— — — — — — — — — —

Accolades[]

Year Awards ceremony Award description(s) Nominated work Results
2018 City People Music Award Best New Act of the Year Himself[51] Nominated
2020 City People Music Award Best Collabo of the Year Love Nwantiti "(with. Joeboy, & Kuami Eugene)"[52] Nominated
2021 All Africa Music Awards Most Promising African Artist Himself "Felony"[53] Nominated
Mobo Awards Best African Music Act Himself[54] Nominated
2022 Brit Awards Best International Song "Love Nwantiti" Nominated

References[]

  1. ^ a b c Mbendeni, Alutho. "Nigerian star CKay speaks to us about being 'Africa's boyfriend' and new music". Drum. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Ckay Wants to Be Your Boyfriend: Interview". DJBooth. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
  3. ^ Olorunsola, Michael (9 June 2017). "Chocolate City's CKay discusses His New Single, Coming Projects & More on Exclusive Interview with BN Music". BellaNaija. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  4. ^ "Ckay Signs To Chocolate City Music". Nigerian Voice. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  5. ^ "I'm the future of Afrobeat music – CKay". Vanguard News. 4 June 2019. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  6. ^ Idowu, Tomi (8 September 2017). "Ckay Leverages The Publicity With Release of 'Who The Fuck Is Ckay EP'". The Culture Custodian (Est. 2014). Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  7. ^ BellaNaija.com (6 September 2019). "Ckay Releases new EP "Ckay the First" | Stream on BN". BellaNaija. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  8. ^ "Ckay releases new EP, 'Boyfriend'". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  9. ^ Daramola, Kunle. "Ckay: I'm signed to WMG South Africa NOT Chocolate City". TheCable. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  10. ^ "CKay". Warner Music South Africa. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  11. ^ "New Music: CKay – Container". BellaNaija. 2 March 2018. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
  12. ^ "New Video: CKay – Container". BellaNaija. 9 July 2018. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
  13. ^ C.J, Nelson (24 September 2021). "CKay's 'Love Nwantinti' Took Over TikTok -- But He's Only Now Getting Full Credit". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
  14. ^ "Ckay's 'Love Nwantiti' charts at No. 23 on the official UK top 40". Pulse Nigeria. 21 September 2021. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
  15. ^ "CKay Receives Youtube Plaque for Crossing New Milestone". NotjustOk. 28 July 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  16. ^ "CKay Makes History As First African Artist to Hit 20 Million Spotify Listeners". OkayAfrica. 8 October 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  17. ^ "I'm the future of Afrobeat music – CKay". Vanguard News. 4 June 2019. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
  18. ^ Ainsley, Helen. "Who is CKay? The Emo-Afrobeat artist flying up the charts with Love Nwantiti". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  19. ^ "Billboard Canadian Albums Chart: October 16, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  20. ^ "Album Top-40 Uge 41, 2021". Hitlisten. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  21. ^ "CKay discography". lescharts.com. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  22. ^ "CKay discography". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  23. ^ "Billboard 200 Chart: Week of October 16, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  24. ^ "World Albums Chart: Week of October 9, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  25. ^ "CKay discography". australian-charts.com. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  26. ^ "CKay discography". lescharts.com. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  27. ^ "Discographie CKay". offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  28. ^ "CKay discography". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  29. ^ "CKay discography". norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  30. ^ "Discography CKay". charts.nz. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
  31. ^ "CKay discography". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  32. ^ "CKay discography". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  33. ^ "CKay | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  34. ^ "The Hot 100 Chart: February 5, 2022". Billboard. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  35. ^ "New Music: CKay – Container". BellaNaija. 2 March 2018. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  36. ^ "Gold/Platinum". Music Canada. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
  37. ^ "Ckay Feat. ElGrande Toto "love nwantiti" | IFPI". ifpi.dk. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
  38. ^ Música, El portal de, LOVE NWANTITI (REMIX) - CKAY / AXEL / DJ YO | EPDM, retrieved 23 January 2022
  39. ^ "ARIA Top 50 Albums for week of 15 November 2021". Australian Recording Industry Association. 15 November 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  40. ^ "British certifications – CKay – Love Nwantiti (Ah Ah Ah)". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  41. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (CKay)" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  42. ^ "American certifications – CKay – Love Nwantiti (Ah Ah Ah)". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  43. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – CKay – Love Nwantiti (Ah Ah Ah)". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  44. ^ "Auszeichnungen Archiv". IFPI Austria - Verband der österreichischen Musikwirtschaft (in German). Retrieved 23 January 2022.
  45. ^ "Richiedi targhetta". www.fimi.it (in Italian). Retrieved 23 January 2022.
  46. ^ "http://www.audiogest.pt/uploads/files/file_2022-01-06-12-27-03". Audiogest. Retrieved 23 January 2022. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  47. ^ Música, El portal de, LOVE NWANTITI (AH AH AH) - CKAY | EPDM, retrieved 23 January 2022
  48. ^ "Payal Dev collaborates with international artiste CKay for a romantic track". The Tribune. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  49. ^ "Top Singles (Week 9, 2022)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  50. ^ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 4". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  51. ^ "#CPMA2018: City People Music Awards Nominees' List Out". City People Magazine. 17 October 2018. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  52. ^ "#CPMA2020: Citypeople releases nominations for 2020 Music Awards". City People Magazine. 30 November 2020. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  53. ^ "FULL LIST: Wizkid earns six AFRIMA 2021 nominations". TheCable Lifestyle. 22 September 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  54. ^ "FULL LIST: Rema, Ayra Starr, CKay nominated for 2021 MOBO Awards". TheCable Lifestyle. 11 November 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021.

External links[]

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