Kelechi Emeonye, known mononymously as Kelechi or Kelechief, is an American rapper. He rose to prominence in 2014 with the release of the single "Want", off his first EP, Loose Change. In 2016, he won a rap contest sponsored by Mountain Dew's Green Label Sound for "Want".[1] He won Best Song - Dance/Electronica at the 16th Independent Music Award in 2018.
Kelechi | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Kelechi Emeonye |
| Born | Atlanta, U.S. |
| Genres | Hip hop, Afro-Centric, R&B |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Years active | 2014 |
| Labels | STNDRD Music |
Early life
editKelechi Emeonye[2] was born in Atlanta to Nigerian parents. He is a native of the Igbo people, from the Eastern region of Nigeria. He dropped out of Georgia State University to start a rapping career in his basement at home.[3] In 2015, he opened for Chance, and Wale at Family Matters Tour.[4] In 2016, he won the $50,000 prize for a rap contest sponsored by Mountain Dew's Green Label Sound.[1]
Kelechi started out releasing projects under the stage name "SUBMiT", prior to 2014 he changed his stage name to Kelechi. His musical influence is inspired by the words of Common, the melodies of Nelly, and the charisma of Kanye. He tell's The Masquerade.[5]
Career
editIn 2014, Kelechi first gained attention from SoundCloud, following the release of his first extended play Loose Change. On 1 December 2016, he released his first studio album Before the Quarter through STNDRD Music, shortly after he won the rap contest. The project lead singles where "Play With My Hair" and " Immigrant Son". On 11 December 2017, he released his second studio album Quarter Life Crisis, with guess appearance from K Camp, VanJess, Phay and Ezi.[6] On 4 April 2018, he released his first mixtape album Woke Up To Winter, and his second mixtape on 29 June 2018, titled Spring Breakup,[7] through STNDRD Music, with guess appearance from Zip K, Phay, and Hanna Lashay. In 2019, he toured with Jidenna, and performed at 85 to Africa tour.[8] On 17 February 2021, he released his third studio album Going Home, with guess appearance on the feature from Jidenna, Phay, and Yungmoonling. On 9 July 2021, Kelechi announced Going Home Nigeria show via Instagram, titled Going Home, Homecoming Concert at Hard Rock Cafe Lagos, on 4 December 2021.[9]
On 5 September 2018, he won Best Song - Dance/Electronica at the Independent Music Awards, via Anish Sood single "Starry Night".[10]
Discography
editSingles
edit| Year | Title | Albums |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | "3AM In Decatur" | Non-album single |
| 2016 | "Play With My Hair" | Before the Quarter |
| 2017 | "See You Grow" | Non-album singles |
| "Gone" | ||
| "Be Right Back" | ||
| "Shaquille O'Neal's Quarter Life Crisis" | ||
| 2019 | "I Told You" | |
| "Better" (feat. Deante' Hitchcock) | ||
| "Run It Up" | ||
| "Ni**as Really On Tour" | Going Home | |
| 2020 | "Waiting For You" | |
| "Money In The Way" | Non-album single | |
| "Road Life" | Going Home | |
| "On Me" | ||
| "Like My Dad" | ||
| 2021 | "Thank You" | Going Home |
| "The World (Interlude)" | ||
| "Get High" (feat. Phay) | ||
| "Waiting For You (remix)" (feat. Yungmoonling) | ||
| "Ride For You" | ||
| "Going Home" | ||
| "DFWM" |
Extended play(s)
edit| Title | EP Details |
|---|---|
| Loose Change |
|
Studio album(s)
edit| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Before the Quarter |
|
| Quarter Life Crisis |
|
| Going Home |
|
Mixtape(s)
edit| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Woke Up To Winter |
|
| Spring Breakup |
|
References
edit- ^ a b Davis, Ahmad (6 January 2021). "Kelechi Is Musically Unapologetically Himself". KAZI. MAGAZINE. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
- ^ "INTERVIEW: The world owes Africa a lot, I am paying back with my music - Kelechi, Nigerian-American rapper". NewsWireNGR. 13 June 2021. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
- ^ Idowu, Tomi (22 February 2017). "Kelechi: The Nigerian-American rapper about to have everyone reachin'". The Culture Custodian. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
- ^ "Watch Kelechi and Chance The Rapper Take Over Raleigh During 'Family Matters Tour'". HYPEBEAST. 15 April 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
- ^ "Kelechi". The Masquerade. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
- ^ "kelechi: 'Quarter Life Crisis' (Album)". Hype Off Life. 13 December 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
- ^ "Kelechi Turns In His "Spring Breakup" Project". HotNewHipHop. July 2018. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
- ^ Anokam, Crystal (13 February 2020). "Kelechi Releases "Waiting For You"". ONETRIBEMAG. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
- ^ "Kelechi 'Going Home' with His Homecoming Concert". Jaguda. 19 July 2021. Archived from the original on 27 August 2021. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
- ^ "THE 16TH INDEPENDENT MUSIC AWARDS WINNERS". Independent Music Awards. Retrieved 27 August 2021.