Akinbi Bamidele Brett (born 23 March 1995), known professionally as Cheque, is a Nigerian rapper and singer. He rose to mainstream fame for his 2020 single "Zoom".[1] In 2021, he won an award for Best Duo African HipHop at the All Africa Music Awards alongside Fireboy DML.[2] He is currently signed to Phyno's Penthauze imprint.[3]
Cheque | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Akanbi Bamidele Brett |
| Also known as | Superboy Cheque |
| Born | March 23, 1995 Ondo State, Nigeria |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2015–present |
| Labels | Penthauze |
Early life
editCheque was born in Okitipupa, Ondo State, but grew up in Ondo Town, Ondo State. He attended Obafemi Awolowo University in Osun State where he studied Chemical Engineering and graduated in 2016.[3][4]
Career
editWhile Cheque was still an undergraduate at the university, he started off as a musician using the stage name Kyle B. His genre of music was particularly Gospel hip hop.
Cheque attended the same school with the likes of Blaqbonez and others. During his music days as Kyle B, he worked on Hennessy Cypher (Part VI) featuring the likes of Dark Poet, Kursor, Blaqbonez, Toosleek, and Eclipse.
While garnering popularity on campus as Kyle B, he released an extended play (EP), titled Super Adventure Crew.
In February 2019, he was discovered by Phyno who immediately gave him a recording deal with Penthauze Music.
In March 2019, an introductory song, "Nyem Space" was released for Cheque which was a collaboration with one of the acts in the record label. Cheque's music style is an infusion of afrobeat into rap, trap, RnB, and other genres. During June while still very much marked under Penthauze Music, he dropped "Jekasoro" (a Yoruba word meaning "Let’s talk"), "Pain Away", and "Abundance".
The rave of the moment act became popular after being announced as a new act by Phyno via his social media platforms.
As Kyle B, also known as Cheque released his five track EP, S.O.O.N EP in 2015. It featured DML (Now Fireboy DML), Chinko Ekun and Zamora. In January 2019, he was officially signed onto Penthauze and he was on the collective track "Nyem Space", which also had Rhatti and Nuno, who Phyno also just signed at the time.[5]
In February 2020, he was featured on the track "Warlord" in Olamide's 999 EP.[6][7][8] In July 2020, he released his first EP in Penthauze music titled Razor which had the hit track "Zoom".[9] He also did a remix of "Zoom" with Davido and Wale afterwards.[1][10] In September 2021, Cheque featured Olamide in a single titled "LOML" (Love Of My Life)[11] and later released his debut studio album Bravo on 24 September 2021.[12][13]
Discography
editAlbums/EPs
edit- S.O.O.N EP (2015)
- RAZOR EP (2020)
- Bravo (2021)
Selected singles
edit- Wave (2018)
- Energy (2019)
- Jekasoro (2019)
- Pain Away (2019)
- Abundance (2019)
- Zoom (2020)
- LOML (2021)
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Akinwale, Akinyoade (2020-12-22). "Davido And Wale Feature On Cheque's 'Zoom (Remix)'". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. Archived from the original on 2020-12-22. Retrieved 2021-09-24.
- ^ "Afrima Awards 2021 winners list: Wizkid, Iba One, Fireboy DML, win for dis year All Africa Music Awards". BBC. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
- ^ a b Motolani, Alake (2020-07-18). "Cheque tells Pulse Nigeria about Fireboy, Razor EP, OAU, Phyno, Penthauze and more [Interview]". Pulse Nigeria. Archived from the original on 2020-11-26. Retrieved 2021-09-24.
- ^ "Cheque: My Infinite Vibe is a Mix of Different Genres". THISDAYLIVE. 2020-07-03. Archived from the original on 2020-08-08. Retrieved 2021-09-26.
- ^ "PentHauze Music ft. Phyno x Rhatti x Nuno x Superboy Cheque – "Nyem Space" » tooXclusive | MP3". tooXclusive. 2019-01-24. Retrieved 2021-09-24.
- ^ Motolani, Alake (2020-02-10). "Olamide - 999 EP". Pulse Nigeria. Archived from the original on 2020-02-14. Retrieved 2021-09-24.
- ^ Taiwo, Okanlawon. "Olamide set to drop '999' EP - P.M. News". pmnewsnigeria.com. Archived from the original on 2020-02-10. Retrieved 2021-09-24.
- ^ "Olamide Drenches in Dreaded 999 EP". THISDAYLIVE. 2020-02-15. Archived from the original on 2020-07-14. Retrieved 2021-09-24.
- ^ Motolani, Alake (2020-07-06). "Read: Cheque - Razor [EP Review]". Pulse Nigeria. Archived from the original on 2020-11-25. Retrieved 2021-09-24.
- ^ Motolani, Alake (2020-12-22). "Davido and Wale feature on 'Zoom (Remix)' by Cheque". Pulse Nigeria. Archived from the original on 2021-01-26. Retrieved 2021-09-24.
- ^ MODUPEOLUWA, ADEKANYE (2021-09-02). "Listen: Cheque Features Olamide In New Single 'LOML'". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. Archived from the original on 2021-09-24. Retrieved 2021-09-24.
- ^ Motolani, Alake (2021-09-05). "Cheque to release debut album, 'Bravo'". Pulse Nigeria. Archived from the original on 2021-09-05. Retrieved 2021-09-24.
- ^ Motolani, Alake (2021-09-23). "NEW ALBUM: Cheque releases 13-track new album, 'Bravo'". Pulse Nigeria. Archived from the original on 2021-09-23. Retrieved 2021-09-24.