Michael Ovie Hunter (born October 21, 1999),[2] known professionally as Thisizlondon[3] (pronounced as London, and formerly known as LONDON), is a Nigerian-British record producer and DJ. He is best known for producing the fire 2022 hit single, "Calm Down" for Rema before Selena Gomez hopped on the remix. It reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100, peaked atop the IMI International (becoming the second song by a Nigerian artist to do so) and remains the most internationally successful Afrobeats song.
Thisizlondon | |
|---|---|
 Hunter in 2023 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Michael Ovie Hunter |
| Born | October 21, 1999[1] Kaduna, Nigeria |
| Origin | England |
| Genres | Afrobeats, Afropop |
| Occupation | Record producer |
| Instruments | FL Studio, Ableton Live |
| Years active | 2018–present |
| Labels |
|
Signing with Blowtime Entertainment in 2019, he's produced for other notable artists including Crayon, Ayra Starr, Wizkid, Selena Gomez, 6lack, Yseult, and Ladipoe. His other successful productions include Rema's: "Soundgasm" and "Bad Commando", Ayra Starr's "Fashion Killa" and "Bloody Samaritan", Tiwa Savage's "Koroba", and Johnny Drille's "Mystery Girl". In 2022, he signed a publishing deal in a joint venture with Sony Music Publishing France and Bluesky Music Publishing.[4]
Early life
editMichael Ovie Hunter was born in Kaduna, to a Nigerian Mom, from Isoko and a British Dad.[5][6] Michael grew up in the sub-division of the Northern Nigeria state, Kaduna, where he rounded up his high school named Christ Ambassadors College, Kaduna in 2016.[6] Michael's musical career began in the church as a drummer and soon took personal lessons on beat making. He tells Tush Magazine, “I when, out of curiosity, I discovered the FL Studio software From a close friend in the company I worked for in Kaduna as a graphics designer.”[6]
Career
edit
In 2018, he produced "Turn Up" for DJ Tunez featuring Wizkid and Reekado Banks. In 2019, he decided to move to Lagos, to stay with Mavin's in-house producer BabyFresh,[6] who eventually signed him to Blowtime Entertainment, a division of Mavin. His production tag was first introduced to the public on 12 July 2019, following the release of Crayon debut EP "Cray Cray", on the opening track "So Fine", produced by London, and BabyFresh. In October 2019, he had his solo production breakthrough with Rema's debut EP Bad Commando, named after the opening track "Bad Commando",[7] which he produced. Then went on to work on Wizkid project Soundman Vol. 1, on the track "Electric", in which he was featured.
London served as the executive producer on Rema's debut studio album Rave & Roses, producing 14 songs out of 16 tracks on the album. On 22 April 2022, while speaking with Notion magazine, he disclosed being the primary producer of the studio album Rave & Roses, and almost gave up on working on the album because he got scared at some point following the deadline date to meet up with, he says.[4] On 14 July 2022, he tells Mixmag writer Shirley Ahura, “Working on Rema’s album is one of my proudest achievements, honestly. To see how people are accepting it and vibing to it gives me more motivation to keep going, to keep doing what I know how to do best.”, he says.[8]
On 5 March 2021, following the release of Coming 2 America soundtrack album, he did a re-make of the song "Koroba" by Tiwa Savage for Amazon Studios, and Def Jam Recordings.[9] In 2024, London signs with LVRN.[3] Billboard journalist Heran Mamo says London is currently working on his debut project to be released under LVRN. Following the announcement, London went by Thisizlondon.[3] On 15 August 2024, he released "Pinacolada", featuring Nigerian singer Ayra Starr, and American rapper 6lack.[10] "Pinacolada" earned Thisizlondon his first chart entry on Nigeria's Official Top 100 songs, Nigeria Top Afropop songs and Nigeria radio. "Pinacolada" also earned him his first Afrobeats chart entry by the UK Official Charts Company and America Billboard charts.
Artisty
editNotion described his sound as a blend of “weaving church influences and R&B elements”.[4] He cited Sarz, OVO 40, Bursbrain, Killatunez, and Don Jazzy, as his musical influence.[11]
Production discography
editAlbums/EPs
edit| Artist | Album/EP | Release date | Certifications | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crayon | Cray Cray | 12 July 2019 |
|
Co-producer | |
| Twelve A.M | 26 March 2021 |
|
Co-producer | ||
| Rema | Bad Commando | 27 September 2019 | Mavin Records | Co-producer | |
| Rave & Roses | 25 March 2022 | Lead producer | |||
| Alpha P | King of the Wolves | 15 November 2019 | Universal Music Group Nigeria | Co-producer | |
| Dr SID | The Interesting | 7 May 2020 | Mavin Records | Co-producer | |
| Ceeza Milli | Diamond in the Rough | 29 May 2020 | Aristokrat Records | Co-producer | |
| Ricky Tyler | Small World | 17 July 2020 | Universal Music South Africa | Co-producer | |
| Tiwa Savage | Celia | 27 August 2020 | Co-producer | ||
| Wizkid | Made in Lagos | 30 October 2020 |
|
Co-producer | |
| DJ Tunez & J. Anthoni | All You Need | 23 March 2021 | BT Music Worldwide | Co-producer | |
| Ayra Starr | 19 & Dangerous | 6 August 2021 | Mavin Records | Co-producer | |
| Johnny Drille | Before We Fall Asleep | 3 September 2021 | |||
| Ladipoe | Providence | 4 November 2021 | Co-producer | ||
| Black Sherif | The Villain I Never Was | 6 October 2022 |
|
Co-producer | |
| Marvel Studios | Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – Music from and Inspired By | 4 November 2022 |
|
Co-producer | |
| Kel-P | Bully Season Vol.1 | 24 February 2023 |
|
Co-producer | |
| Ayra Starr | The Year I Turned 21 | 31 May 2024 | Mavin Records | Co-producer |
Singles produced
edit| Title | Year | Album | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Turn Up" (DJ Tunez) |
2018 | Non-album single | |
| "Shima"[12] (Crayon) |
2020 | ||
| "Sometime" (Crayon) |
|||
| "On Code" (Crayon) |
|||
| "Do Me" (Crayon) |
|||
| "Koroba" (Tiwa Savage) |
Celia | 27 August 2020 | |
| "Temptation" (Tiwa Savage) | |||
| "Mystery Girl" (Johnny Drille) |
Non-album single | ||
| "River" (DJ Tunez & J. Anthoni) |
2021 | All You Need | 23 March 2021 |
| "Soundgasm" (Rema) |
Rave & Roses | 25 March 2022 | |
| "Bloody Samaritan"[13] (Ayra Starr) |
19 & Dangerous | 6 August 2021 | |
| "Afro Jigga" (Ladipoe) |
Providence | 4 November 2021 | |
| "Calm Down" (Rema) |
2022 | Rave & Roses | 25 March 2022 |
| "late4dinner" (Azanti) |
TBA |
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Awards ceremony | Award description(s) | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | AFRIMMA | Music Producer of the Year | Nominated |
| The Beatz Awards | Producer of the Year | Nominated | |
| Afro-Pop Producer of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Afro Dancehall Producer of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Don Jazzy New Discovery Producer of the Year | Nominated | ||
| 2022 | Grammy Awards | Best Global Music Album for Made in Lagos (Deluxe Edition) by Wizkid | Nominated |
| 2023 | The Headies | Producer of the Year for "Calm Down" by Rema | Nominated |
References
edit- ^ "London". 1883 Magazine. May 30, 2022. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
- ^ "LONDON". The NATIVE. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
- ^ a b c Mamo, Heran (September 17, 2024). "Afrobeats Producer Thisizlondon Signs With LVRN". Billboard. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Firsts With London". Notion. April 22, 2022. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
- ^ Storm, Camille. "Nigeria's LONDON Is Producing Afro Sounds of the Future - OkayAfrica". www.okayafrica.com. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
- ^ a b c d "London: Meet The Wave-Making Producer". Tush Magazine. June 28, 2022. Archived from the original on June 28, 2022. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
- ^ Orubo, Daniel (December 10, 2019). "#Beatsmith: London On Producing Rema's "Bad Commando"". Zikoko!. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
- ^ Ahura, Shirley. "Creating masterpieces: London is the Nigerian producer making unique bangers". Mixmag. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
- ^ Gatera, Emmanuel (November 23, 2021). "Music production has no rules, says top African producer London". The New Times. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
- ^ "On "PINACOLADA," LONDON Curates a Party-Starting Groove With Ayra Starr and 6lack - Okayplayer". www.okayafrica.com. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
- ^ "London Wants It All: In Conversation With Grammy-Nominated Producer and DJ, London". MoreBranches. June 17, 2022. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
- ^ Onabanjo, Adedamola (March 24, 2020). "Crayon Picks Up Single Run With Rhythmic London-Produced Single 'Shima'". The Culture Custodian. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
- ^ Peter, Dennis Ade (November 30, 2021). "Bruk It Down: London on the making of "Bloody Samaritan" by Ayra Starr". The NATIVE. Retrieved January 12, 2023.