Keshinro Ololade is popularly known by his stage name Lil Kesh, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter and rapper who rose to stardom after releasing his hit single ‘Shoki’ in 2014.
Early Life/Education
Lil Kesh was born on March 14, 1995 to Yoruba parents in Bariga, Lagos State. His father is a pastor. He completed his primary and secondary school education at Stockbridge College, Bariga.
He later enrolled in at National Open University Of Nigeria (NOUN) to study Mass Communication after he left linguistic at University of Lagos.
Music Career
His father being a pastor, Lil Kesh grew up around music, he was part of the choir, learning to play drums, and attending music shows.
Lil Kesh started his career by attending several talent hunt competitions and winning some of them which made me quite popular in school.
He began his career in music professionally in 2012 when he rapped among his colleagues in Bariga, he became popular in 2014 after he recorded his first single titled “Lyrically” which was positively accepted mainly by students in Nigerian universities.
On April 2, 2014, Lil Kesh got signed to Olamide’s YBNL Nation with the aid of his friend Viktoh who shared his song with the label boss and got interest in him.
Lil Kesh released his debut music in YBNL, titled “Shoki”, the song brought him into the spotlight with the ‘Shoki’ dance steps. Shoki got him a nod in the Best Street-Hop Artiste category at The Headies 2014. The remix of ‘Shoki’ which featured guest appearances from Olamide and Davido got nominated in the Hottest Single of the Year at the 2015 Nigeria Entertainment Awards.
On 23 February 2015, Kesh released a song titled “Gbese” which was produced by Young Jonn with the music video featuring cameo appearances from Skuki. He released another banging hit song mid 2015, “Efejoku” featuring label mate Viktor.
On March 17, 2016, he released his debut studio album titled Y.A.G.I featuring guest appearances from notable music acts including Olamide, Phyno, Davido, Adekunle Gold, YCEE, Wale, Viktor and Patoranking.
On April 26, 2016, he announced via Instagram that he has established his own label imprint called YAGI (Young And Getting It) Records with Olamide later confirming the news through the same medium following the expiration of Lil Kesh’s 2-year recording contract with YBNL Nation.
Breakout Songs
- Lyrically (2014)
- Shoki (2014)
- Efejoku (2015)
- Is It Because I Love You (2015)
- Ibile (2016)
- Again O (2018)
Album
- Y.A.G.I (2016)
Awards
- 2015 Nigerian Teen Choice Awards Celebrity Award – Song Of The Year (Shoki)
- 2015 City People Entertainment Awards – Popular Song of the Year (Shoki)
Scandals
In 2017, Lil Kesh was heavily criticised for using too much vulgar sentences and not finding the right balance in the lyrics of his songs. The rapper responded to this by saying the target audience for most of his songs were the street people, and that he had to connect with them.
During Reekado Banks’ Ibadan concert in December 2017, the former Mavin Records singer threw a jab at Lil Kesh, told eventgoers he was better than the rapper. However, Lil Kesh reacted in 2018, confirmed he saw the video online, but “I have nothing to say about that. I don’t care what anybody says, and I don’t have any feelings regarding what he said because I am just in my own world.”
Following the release of his 2018 single ‘Logo Benz’ featuring Olamide, the rapper was dragged on social media for promoting money rituals with the song. The lyrics of the song reads;
“I dey pray to Jesu, Jesu, owo wole, if money no enter, I go do blood money.
“I dey pray to Allah, Allah, owo wole, if money no enter, I go do blood money”.
In his defense, Lil Kesh replied a critical fan on Instagram, “We no dey promote wetin no dey exist na awareness we dey do so spread your pata at owner’s risk because won ka pata o,” he said.
On Olamide’s part, he said; “Logo Benz is for the 3rd party to have a glimpse into the current state of youths in our society. (Runs girls x runs boys).
“I’m not sure if there’s anything like 2 much awareness, but pardon me if there is. It’s all over the news, it’s always been in movies, don’t box musicians.”
Sometimes 2018, the ‘Ibile’ crooner was reportedly deported and banned from the United States of America for five years. Addressing the report, he said “I was never deported from America. The news is totally false and that is all I have to say. I kept quiet about the report to make a point, which is that there is no point addressing an issue that is not true. If I had spoken, it might have appeared that I was shedding more light on the situation. But it is not true that I was deported from America.”
Lil Kesh is currently in a clash with gospel singer Busola Oke, popularly known as ‘Eleyele’ who accused him of intellectual property theft. Report by Punch said Oke alleged that Ololade infringed on her copyright with the release of his song, ‘Undertaker’. She stated that elements of her 15-year-old eponymous single were used in Lil Kesh’s song which was released on February 29.
Angry Eleyele threatened to use Lil Kesh as scapegoat because intellectual theft is rampant in the music industry and she has decided to be a force that will put an end to it. Elaborating, the singer said;
“His manager called me and told me they wanted to use my song and I told them I didn’t understand. I told them that they should discuss whatever they wanted with my lawyer. Later, my lawyer told me that they had called him and that he told them not to use the song. A week later, Lil Kesh’s song was released. I think they had already used the song before they called us. We have been trying to reach him since then.
She added further “My lawyer wrote to them stating that we were ready to go to court, but we couldn’t find his office address; so, we had to post the letter on social media. Maybe he thinks I’m an illiterate that cannot do anything.”
Lil Kesh or anyone from his camp was yet to comment on this scandal as at the time of Within Nigeria’s report.
Personal Life
Lil Kesh is not public about his personal life, although he gave an hint in that the last time he dated was in 2016. We are however, yet to confirm if he’s currently in any relationship or not.
Social Media
- Instagram: @lilkeshofficial
- Twitter: @lilkeshofficial
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Lilkeshofficiall/