Chinonso Obinna Amadi[1] (born September 1, 1995) is a Nigerian singer, songwriter and music producer.[2] He is a self-taught songwriter and music producer who embarked on his music career in 2012, while at Covenant University, where he studied chemical engineering.[3] He is signed to UMG Canada, Def Jam Recordings, UMG Nigeria, Polydor, and MCA Records France.
Nonso Amadi | |
|---|---|
 Amadi in 2018 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Chinonso Obinna Amadi |
| Born | September 1, 1995 Lagos, Nigeria |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2012 - present |
| Labels |
|
| Website | nonsoamadi |
Early life
editNonso Amadi was born on September 1, 1995, to Nigerian parents. He is the third born in a family of seven and grew up in Nigeria before moving to United Kingdom.
Education
editHe attended St Gregory’s College Ikoyi, Lagos and graduated in 2009. He studied chemical engineering in Covenant University, and in 2014 he continued his studies at Swansea University United Kingdom. He holds a master's degree from McMaster University, Canada.[4]
Career
editIn 2015, Nonso Amadi released his first EP, Alone, and a few months later he released a follow-up single, "Tonight",[4] which became his major hit and peaked at number 9 on Playdata charts.[5] He has so far garnered international attention and collaboration with artists such as Banky W., Maleek Berry, M.I, and Juls within the first year of his professional career.[2] In December 2017, "Tonight" was ranked by MTV Base as one of the hottest Nigerian songs of the year.[6] In the same month, he held his first 'Homecoming Concert' in Nigeria.[4] In 2017, he released a four-track joint EP with fellow singer Odunsi the Engine titled WAR EP.[7][8]
In 2019, Amadi released another solo EP titled Free featuring collaborations with Mr. Eazi. and Simi.[9] After a three-year hiatus, he returned to the music scene in 2022 with a new single titled "Foreigner" followed by another single featuring the Canadian Rnb duo Majid Jordan titled "Different".[10] On 1 September 2022, he released "Eye to Eye", with its accompanying music video which debuted on MTV Base Africa.[11] On 20 January 2023, Nonso released "Ease Up", co-produced by him with Gordon Harper, and TJ Whitelaw.[12]
On 20 March 2023, Nonso teamed up with BEAM on "Kilimanjaro", as the fifth lead single off his upcoming debut studio album When It Blooms. The record "Kilimanjaro" also premiered on Apple Music’s Africa Now Radio, with Daddaboy Ehiz.[13] On 24 March 2023, Nonso released "Lock Up" featuring Marlian recording artist Zinoleesky.[14] On 27 April 2023, "Lock Up" music video which released and directed by Joe Penny.[15] Before the release of his debut studio album When It Blooms, Nonso Amadi signed a distribution deal with Def Jam Recordings,[16] and Universal Music Nigeria, to support his record deal with Universal Music Canada,[17] backed-up by Polydor Records and MCA Records France.[18]
On 26 May 2023, Nonso Amadi released When It Blooms through Def Jam Recordings, and Universal Music Group flagship in Canada and Nigeria. The project was exclusively produced by Nonso Amadi, with additional production from London, Harper Gordon, CAPTAIN, FrancisGotHeat, Azul, P.Priime, Goldchain, Dëra, TSB, Mont Jake, Jordan Ullman, and TJ Whitelaw. Featuring guest appearances from Beam, Zinoleesky, Tay Iwar, Tamera, and Majid Jordan., supported by lead singles "Kilimanjaro", and "Lock Up".[19][20]
On 26 January 2024, Nonso and Emotional Oranges released a joint 4-track extended play titled Blended, and released through Avant Garden Records.[21]
Artistry
editNonso Amadi is known for fusing Afrobeats elements with R&B.[22] In an interview with Wonderland, he says: “I would say it is Afro-RnB music.”[23]
Discography
editAlbums
edit| Title | Details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| NG | ||
| When It Blooms |
|
27 |
Extended plays
edit| Title | Details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| NG | ||
| Alone |
|
— |
| War - EP
(with. Odunsi the Engine) |
|
— |
| Free |
|
— |
| Blended
(with. Emotional Oranges) |
|
— |
Singles
editAs lead artist
edit| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NG |
NG Afropop |
SA |
UK |
UK Afrobeats |
US |
US Afrobeats | ||||
| "Radio | 2016 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | |
| "Tonight" | 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Kwasia" (feat. Eugy) | 2017 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Long Live the Queen" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Aika" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "No Crime" | 2018 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Free | |
| "Dial Me" (feat. Kida Kudz) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | ||
| "Emergency" | 2019 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Comfortable" (feat. Kwesi Arthur) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Kolo" (with. Paul Play) | 2020 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Foreigner" | 2022 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | When It Blooms | |
| "Different" (with. Majid Jordan) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Eye to Eye" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Ease Up" | 2023 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Kilimanjaro" | 70 | 46 | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Lock Up" (with. Zinoleesky) | 56 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
As featured artist
edit| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NG |
NG Afropop |
SA |
UK |
UK Afrobeats |
US |
US Afrobeats | ||||
| "Falling" (Jay Newton feat. Nonso Amadi) | 2018 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | TBA | |
| "I'm Yours" (Kofi feat. Nonso Amadi) | 2022 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Just To Piss You Off | |
| "Closure (Remix)" (Savannah Ré feat. Nonso Amadi) | 2023 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | TBA | |
| "Danger" (Pronto feat. Nonso Amadi) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Spaceman (Remix Nonso Amadi)" (Jujuboy feat. Nonso Amadi) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | ||
| "Danger (RMX)" (Pronto feat. Nonso Amadi, & Epoque) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Daily (Remix)" (Ryan Ofei, Limoblaze, & Nonso Amadi feat. Becca Folkes) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Back 2 Love" (Kito featuring Wafia & Nonso Amadi)[24] |
2024 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | TBA | |
Other charted songs
edit| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NG |
NG AfroR&B |
SA |
UK |
UK Afrobeats |
US |
US Afrobeats | ||||
| "Pieces" (with. Tay Iwar) | 2023 | —[A] | 13 | — | — | — | — | — | When It Blooms | |
Notes
edit- ^ "Pieces" did not enter Nigeria Top 100, but peaked at number 13 on the Bubbling Under Top 100 chart.[25]
References
edit- ^ "IN THE NIGHT FEAT NONSO AMADI". ASCAP. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
- ^ a b Ekemezie, Henry (15 December 2018). "Singer, Nonso Amadi drops video for No Crime | The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World NewsSaturday Magazine — The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News". Guardian.ng. Retrieved 2019-05-25.
- ^ "About". Nonso Amadi. 2023-04-06. Retrieved 2023-06-01.
- ^ a b c "The new promising voice of alternative music, Nonso Amadi". www.pulse.ng. 30 April 2018.
- ^ "Most Played Songs in Nigeria – 2017 Week 23". Playdata charts. Playdata charts. Archived from the original on 28 September 2018. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
- ^ Reporter, Our (17 December 2017). "MTV BASE unveils PANEL to select hottest Nigerian song of 2017". Tribune Online. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
- ^ "Odunsi & Nonso Amadi Are Making Nigerian R&B For The Future - Okayplayer". www.okayafrica.com. Retrieved 2023-11-08.
- ^ BellaNaija.com (2017-05-01). "Odunsi & Nonso Amadi collaborate on New EP "War" | Listen on BN". BellaNaija. Retrieved 2023-11-08.
- ^ "Nonso Amadi Releases New EP, "Free"". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 2019-08-09. Retrieved 2022-08-11.
- ^ "Nonso Amadi Drops Video Of New Single "Different" Featuring Majid Jordan". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 2022-05-26. Retrieved 2022-08-11.
- ^ "New Music: Nonso Amadi – Eye to Eye". BellaNaija. 2 September 2022. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
- ^ Adebiyi, Adeayo (20 January 2023). "Nonso Amadi returns with new single 'Ease Up'". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
- ^ Daniel, Osafo (26 May 2023). "Apple Music's Africa Now Radio with Dadaboy Ehiz this Friday with Nonso Amadi". News Ghana. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
- ^ Adebiyi, Adeayo (24 March 2023). "Nonso Amadi taps Zinoleesky for new thrilling single 'Lock Up'". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
- ^ "New Video: Nonso Amadi feat. Zinoleesky — Lock Up". BellaNaija. 28 April 2023. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
- ^ "Nonso Amadi". www.defjam.com. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
- ^ "7 Essential Facts About Nonso Amadi's Debut Album - Okayplayer". www.okayafrica.com. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
- ^ "About". Nonso Amadi. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
- ^ Adebiyi, Adeayo (26 May 2023). "Nonso Amadi drops highly anticipated debut album 'When It Blooms'". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
- ^ Yusuf, Aisha. "Nonso Amadi: The Rise, Hiatus, and Debut Album 'When It Blooms'". TurnTable Charts. TurnTable. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
- ^ "EMOTIONAL ORANGES X NONSO AMADI". Wonderland. 26 January 2024. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
- ^ "Nonso Amadi Reveals Why He Has Not Released Any Song For Two Years". Cool FM Port Harcourt. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
- ^ Staff, Wonderland (6 June 2023). "Nonso Amadi Releases Debut Album: "When It Blooms"". Wonderland. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
- ^ "Kito - back 2 love (feat. Wafia & Nonso Amadi) [Official Visualizer]". YouTube. 20 September 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ "Bubbling Under Top 100". TurnTable Charts. TurnTable. Retrieved 21 November 2023.