Shasha Damilola Alesh better known by his stage name Dice Ailes, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter and rapper. In July 2014, he signed a record deal with Chocolate City.[1] He was nominated for Rookie of the Year at The Headies 2016.[2][3] In 2016, TooXclusive ranked his breakthrough single "Miracle" third on its list of the "Top 10 Songs for the month of October".[4] In 2017, tooXclusive named him as "one of the sixteen artists you need to know.[5]

Dice Ailes
Ailes showing his Gold slugs
Born
Shasha Damilola Alesh

(1996-08-01) 1 August 1996 (age 28)
NationalityNigerian- Canadian
Alma materYork University
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • rapper
Years active2014–present
Musical career
Genres

Early life and education

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He schooled in Nigeria at lagooz college, Republic of Benin, and Ghana then relocated to Canada where he studied at York University and also started his musical career before relocating back to Nigeria after his record deal with Chocolate City in 2014.[6]

Career

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He started out in a church choir. He started out too with Hyce- age, coker, Millie and Reihnard while in the label.[7] He achieved recognition in 2016 for his CKay-produced single "Miracle" featuring Lil Kesh.[8][9]

On 21 December 2016, Dice Ailes shared stage with the likes of WSTRN, Krept and Konan, Migos alongside Lil Kesh at the "Beat FM Xmas concert" 2016 in Lagos.[10]

In an interview with Tush Magazine, Dice Ailes describes his style of music as "Afro-pop RnB".[11] In his words:

I'm a pretty versatile artist. I don't have a specific genre. I started off rapping, then as I grew up it sort of just graduated to a lot of different stuff. So right now, I just do Afro-pop, RnB; you know what I'm saying, I just mix everything up.

He also said in 2018 that he didn't sing the song "Otedola" to either get money from billionaire Femi Otedola or get close to his family. He said "Whatever you do , people will always have their reservations and opinions , but I didn't do the song to get money from Otedola or to get close to his family. I was just having fun . Surprisingly , upon releasing the song , I got to meet Otedola and he gave me a lot of money. I am close to the family members and I call him on the telephone whenever I like. I didn't plan for all these as some people have said".[12] In 2020 a fan once challenged Dice for not lending his voice to the rape issue that was happening in Nigeria. The singer replied that he was not a Nigerian, this led to a row on Twitter as his fans vowed to disown the singer. [13]

Discography

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Singles

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As lead artist
Year Title Album
2014 "Fantasy" Non-album single
"Telephone"
2015 "Machinery"
2016 "Miracle"
2017 "Ella"
2017 "Otedola"
2018 "mr biggs"
2018 "Dicey"
2018 "Enough"
2019 "Alakori"[14](feat. Falz)"Ginika"
2020 "Pim Pim" (feat Olamide)[15]
As featured artist
Year Title Album
2015 "Awon Temi"
(Loose Kaynon feat. Dice Ailes & Koker)
The Gemini Project[16][17]
2016 "Brooklyn"
(Ice Prince feat. Dice Ailes)
Jos to the World
2017 "Olohungbo"
(Masterkraft feat. Ceeza, YCEE & Dice Ailes)
Non-album single
"No Favors"[18]
(Yung6ix feat. Dice Ailes & Mr. Jollof)
2017 "Your Father"

(M.I Abaga feat. Dice Ailes)

Rendezvous
2019 "Que Cera"

(Vision DJ feat. Dice Ailes, Kwesi Arthur, Medikal)

Compilation singles

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As lead artist
Year Title Album
2015 "Drank"
(DJ Lambo, Milli, Dice Ailes)
TICBN
"Oh No No"
(Dice Ailes)

Compilation albums

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Year Title Released Date
2015 The Indestructible Choc Boi Nation 30 April 2015

Cover

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As lead artist
Year Artist Title
2016 MI & Dice Ailes "Controlla (refix)"[19]

Awards and nominations

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Year Event Prize Recipient Result
2015 tooXclusive Awards Best New Artiste[20] Himself Nominated[21]
2016 The Headies Rookie of The Year Nominated
2018 Next Rated Nominated[22]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Dice Ailes Joins Chocolate City". P.M. News. 11 July 2014. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  2. ^ "Mayorkun Wins 'Rookie of the Year' Award at The Headies 2016". BellaNaija. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  3. ^ "Mayorkun, Terry Apala or Dice Ailes: Who will win the Headies 2016 Rookie of the Year award?". Nigerian Entertainment Today. 19 December 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  4. ^ "Top 10 Songs for the Month Of October". WetinHappen Magazine. 7 November 2016. Archived from the original on 11 September 2018. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  5. ^ "TooXclusive's Artistes To Watch in 2017!!!". tooXclusive. Archived from the original on 15 June 2017. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  6. ^ "Chocolate City star Dice Ailes features Lil Kesh in new single 'Miracle' – Vanguard News". Vanguard. 10 October 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  7. ^ "Artiste of the week: Choc Boy, Diles Ailes – Tribune". Nigerian Tribune. 12 May 2017. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  8. ^ Akan, Joey. "Dice Ailes will be a star with Miracle". Pluse Nigeria. Archived from the original on 29 April 2017. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  9. ^ "Rising act, Millywine teams up with Dice Ailes on 'Run Up'". Vanguard Newspaper. 28 June 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  10. ^ Solanke, Abiola. "Migos: Hip hop group party with Nigerian teens at Beat FM Xmas concert". Pulse Nigeria. Archived from the original on 10 May 2017. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  11. ^ "Dice Ailes on his 'Choc Boy' journey. – Tush Magazine". Tush Magazine. 12 January 2016. Archived from the original on 20 June 2017. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
  12. ^ "I didn't sing to get money from Femi Otedola –Dice Ailes". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  13. ^ "Nigerians disown Dice Ailes after he denies his Nigerian roots". Mynigeria. 31 May 2020. Archived from the original on 23 November 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  14. ^ "Listen: Falz And Dice Ailes Release New Catchy Tune "Alakori"". The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News. 8 June 2019. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  15. ^ "Dice Ailes features Olamide on 'Pim Pim'". P.M News. 28 March 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  16. ^ "Loose Kaynon – The Gemini Project". cloud 9. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
  17. ^ Base, MTV (12 January 2016). "News : loose kaynon releases "The Gemini Project"". MTV Base. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
  18. ^ "Yung6ix ft. Dice Ailes & Mr. Jollof – No Favors". 360nobs. Archived from the original on 9 May 2017. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  19. ^ Solanke, Abiola. "New Music: M.I Abaga, Dice Ailes – "Controlla" (refix)". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  20. ^ "tooXclusive Awards 2015 Nominees List". tooXclusive. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
  21. ^ "tooXclusive AWARDS 2015 – WINNERS!". tooXclusive. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
  22. ^ Ohunyon, Ehis. "Wizkid, Davido, Simi and Mayorkun are among the big winners at the 12th edition of the Headies Music Awards". Archived from the original on 4 July 2018. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
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