Brymo | |
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 Brymo performing "Let Us Be Great" for Ndani Sessions in November 2018 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Olawale Ashimi |
| Born | 9 May 1986 Okokomaiko, Ojo, Lagos State, Nigeria |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) |
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| Instrument(s) |
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| Years active | 1999–present |
| Labels | Independent |
Ọlawale Ọlọfọrọ (born Olawale Ibrahim Ashimi; 9 May 1986),[1][2] better known as Brymo, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, sonic artist, actor and author who was born and raised in Okokomaiko. Brymo started recording music in 1999 while in secondary school. He signed a recording contract with music label Chocolate City in 2010 but was accused of breaching his contract in 2013.[3][4] Brymo released his debut studio album Brymstone in 2007. His second studio album The Son of a Kapenta was released in 2012, and was supported by the singles "Ara", "Good Morning" and "Go Hard". His third studio album Merchants, Dealers & Slaves, which was released on 20 October 2013, received positive reviews from music critics and yielded the singles "Down" and "Eko".
In October 2014, Brymo released his fourth studio album Tabula Rasa; its lead single "Fe Mi" was described as a "soft traditional ballad". His eight-track compilation album Trance was released on 8 December 2015. It was primarily targeted at audiences in the U.S., and includes songs from Merchants, Dealers & Slaves and Tabula Rasa. Brymo released his fifth studio album Klĭtôrĭs on 9 May 2016; it was nominated for Best R&B/Pop Album at The Headies 2016 and for Album of the Year at The Headies 2018. In March 2018, Brymo released his critically acclaimed sixth studio album Oṣó, which includes a mixture of alternative folk and Yoruba music, and spawned the singles "Heya!" and "Bá’núsọ".[5][6] Brymo teamed up with three members of Skata Vibration to form A.A.A, an alternative rock band whose eponymous debut Extended Play (EP) was released in August 2019.
Brymo's seventh studio album Yellow was released on 1 April 2020; it was nominated for Best Alternative Album and Album of the Year at The Headies 2020. Brymo released his debut EP Libel on 5 November 2020. The five-track EP was produced by Bigfoot and includes guest vocals from Deborah Prest. In September 2021, Brymo simultaneously released 9: Èsan and 9: Harmattan & Winter as his eighth and ninth studio albums, respectively. His tenth studio album Theta was released on 27 May 2022; it has 10 tracks and is sung entirely in Nigerian Pidgin. Brymo exhibited Mansa, his eleventh studio album and debut as a sonic artist, at KAP Hub in March 2023. He has released books Oriri's Plight (2018), Verses (2020) and The Bad Tooth (2022), and starred in the films Price of Admission (2021) and Elesin Oba, The King's Horseman (2022).
- ^ Ade-Unuigbe, Adesola (9 May 2014). "FAB Entertainment: Brymo Spends His Birthday Morning Getting A Spa Treatment". Fab Magazine. Archived from the original on 6 June 2014. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
- ^ "Brymo Biography (Nigerian Artist)". Nigeria Music Network. 24 March 2014. Archived from the original on 13 November 2013. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
- ^ Osagie Alonge (25 October 2013). "NET Special Report: Chocolate City Vs Brymo, see you in court guys!". Nigerian Entertainment Today. Archived from the original on 13 May 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
- ^ "'I know the court can't save me', Brymo says he left Chocolate City over breach of contract". Nigerian Entertainment Today. 20 June 2013. Archived from the original on 21 June 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
- ^ Adeleke, David (28 March 2018). "Brymo's 'Oṣó' is a palette of brilliant songwriting and masterful instrumentation". Ventures Africa. Archived from the original on 17 January 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
- ^ Abimbolu, Debola (6 April 2018). "Essentials: Brymo's 'Oso' is perfect once you get past the melancholy". The Native Magazine. Archived from the original on 20 January 2019. Retrieved 19 January 2019.