Joeboy

Biography

Joseph Akinwale Akinfenwa-Donus (born 21 May 1997), known professionally as Joeboy, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter. He is signed to Warner Music Africa in partnership with his record label, Young Legend. He was formerly signed by Mr Eazi under emPawa Africa, where he was discovered in 2017, through the emPawa Africa talent incubation program.

Career

Joeboy began his music career in 2017 with a viral cover of Ed Sheeran's "Shape of You". The cover marked his transition from rapping to singing, a decision encouraged by a friend. It caught the attention of Nigerian artist and entrepreneur Mr Eazi, who discovered Joeboy on Instagram and invited him to join the emPawa Africa initiative, a program designed to support emerging African artists by providing them with resources to grow their careers.
The Mr Eazi-assisted track "Fààjí×Fààjí26 October 2018 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Fààjí2:30" was released on 26 October 2018; Joeboy used his portion of the grant he received from emPawa100 to shoot a video for the song.
In early 2019, Joeboy recorded his hit single "Baby" after receiving a beat created by Dëra the Boy and sent to him by producer BeatsbyKO. He wrote and recorded the song in just 45 minutes, trying out several choruses before finalizing the hook. When Mr Eazi heard the track, he shared it on social media, building anticipation ahead of its release on 1 March 2019. With support from emPawa Africa, Joeboy utilized a cost-effective visualizer to promote "Baby", which played a crucial role in the song's viral success. He credited the initiative with equipping him to effectively market his music and maintain his independence. "Baby" garnered 20 million streams across YouTube and Spotify in 2019. The visualizer music video for "Baby" surpassed 31 million views on YouTube. Joeboy released the Killertunes-produced track "Beginning×Beginning15 August 2019 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Beginning2:38" on 15 August 2019, where its accompanying visualizer music video accumulated 23 million views on YouTube. In the video, he finds himself developing feelings for a friend whose advances he had initially dismissed. Followed by this, he released his debut extended play Love & Light in November 2019 by emPawa Africa. It was supported by the singles "Baby" and "Beginning". The EP also contains the Mayorkun-assisted track "Don't Call Me" and "All for You".
Joeboy won Best Artiste in African Pop at the 2019 All Africa Music Awards, and Best Pop at the 2020 Soundcity MVP Awards Festival. He was nominated for multiple City People Entertainment Awards and The Headies. Joeboy released the Dera-produced track "Call" on 10 April 2020. Described as a "catchy love song" by OkayAfrica , "Call" is the lead single from his upcoming debut studio album. The TG Omori-directed video for the single features dystopian sci-fi themes.
In January 2021, Joeboy announced his debut album, Somewhere Between Beauty & Magic×Somewhere Between Beauty & Magic3 February 2021 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 17 tracks1Count Me Out1:482Focus2:333Number One2:394Police3:095Door2:326Show Me2:487Runaway2:428Lonely2:569Consent2:3810Call2:4511Oshe2:1412Oh2:4913Door2:3214Sugar Mama2:2615Better Thing2:5116Celebration2:3917Becoming the African Pop Star (Documentary)9:03, which was released in February 2021 to moderate commercial success.
On 19 May 2023, Joeboy released his sophomore studio album, Body & Soul×Body & Soul19 May 2023 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1Normally3:252Body & Soul2:343Check My Phone2:444Lose Ya2:015Duffel Bag2:076Contour3:097Interlude1:238Wetin Be Love2:359Woman3:2210Chicken, Spice & Curry1:5711Better3:2212Sip (Alcohol)2:3813Slowly2:4614The Best For You2:5315Halle2:28, preceded by the four singles "Sip (Alcohol)×Sip (Alcohol)24 September 2021 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Sip (Alcohol)2:38", "Contour×Contour19 August 2022 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Contour3:09", "Body & Soul", and "Duffel Bag×Duffel Bag7 April 2023 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Duffel Bag2:07".
On 2 February 2024, Joeboy announced the launch of his record label "Young Legend".

Copyright infringement accusation

Singer Asa issued a copyright infringement notice to Joeboy in October 2022, over his song "Contour×Contour19 August 2022 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Contour3:09", over claims that the composition of the song was originally recorded by her and the producer of the song "Tempoe", earlier in September 2020 during a recording session. Asa, through her legal counsel, made a notice to Joeboy via mail, which was shared by Joeboy on his Instagram story on 3 October 2022. The notice revealed that she demanded the sum of N300 million and gave a 24-hour ultimatum for the song to be removed from all digital streaming platforms. Through her management, Asa also asked for a 60 percent publishing split on the song, and a written apology.