Lojay, whose real name is Lekan Osifeso Junior, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter and record producer born on April 28, 1996, in Lagos, Nigeria. He grew up as the eldest of three children in a family where music and hard work played important roles. His mother is a pastor, and growing up around gospel music and church worship helped nurture his love for melodies from an early age. As a child, he enjoyed singing, dancing and imitating performers like Michael Jackson, while also drawing inspiration from artists such as Wizkid, Bruno Mars and Timbaland. His childhood was split between Ikorodu and Victoria Island in Lagos, giving him exposure to different sides of the city and experiences that would later influence his music. On the personal side, Lojay has described himself as an introverted and emotionally expressive person, qualities that are reflected in his songwriting. He often draws from real-life experiences, relationships, heartbreak, personal growth and the complexities of love. Although his music frequently explores romance and attraction, he prefers to maintain boundaries between his public image and private life. He has also spoken about the importance of his family, particularly his mother, whose influence and support have remained meaningful throughout his journey.
Four: Kuli Kuli
Released on October 1, 2016, “Kuli Kuli” was Lojay’s second official single, following his debut release, “Simple Matter.” The song represents an early chapter in the Nigerian singer’s musical journey, before his eventual rise to international recognition. At this stage of his career, Lojay was still developing the sound and artistic identity that would later distinguish his music. Although “Kuli Kuli” is available on digital platforms, detailed information about its chart performance, commercial sales and critical reception is limited, but it has garnered over 42K views on its official music video on YouTube. There isn’t enough reliable information to say that it was a major hit or to be certain about what the lyrics mean. Nevertheless, the track remains a useful starting point for understanding Lojay’s early catalogue and tracing his evolution into one of Afrobeats’ recognisable contemporary voices.
FYI
- Interestingly, music was not initially his only ambition. Lojay attended school in Nigeria before moving to the United Kingdom to study at the University of Portsmouth. He initially pursued Civil Engineering at the University of Leeds but later switched to Portsmouth, where he studied Marketing and eventually completed a postgraduate degree in Business Management.
Three: Sensational — Chris Brown Ft9 Davido and Lojay
Released on October 20, 2023, “Sensational” is a collaboration between American R&B superstar Chris Brown and Nigerian Afrobeats stars Davido and Lojay, featured on Brown’s eleventh studio album, 11:11. The song received significant industry recognition, winning two awards at the 2024 NAACP Image Awards and earning nominations at the BET Awards, MTV Video Music Awards and the 2025 Grammy Awards for Best African Music Performance. Lojay brings his distinctive melodic delivery to the track, complementing Davido’s energetic contribution and Chris Brown’s polished vocals. Commercially, the collaboration became a major international success, debuting at No. 96 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in January 2024 and reaching No. 22 on the UK Official Singles Chart. It also climbed to No. 1 on Billboard’s Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart. Additionally, this track has successfully garnered over 162M streams on Spotify and over 167M views on its official music video on YouTube. For Lojay, “Sensational” was a defining international milestone, introducing his voice to a wider audience and demonstrating his ability to hold his own alongside established global stars.
Two: Money Lingo
“Money Lingo” is a solo single by Nigerian singer and songwriter Lojay, released through Inner Circle Entertainment under exclusive licence from Koratori Music on September 30, 2026. At the heart of the song is the idea that money is the only language Lojay wants to hear, with lyrics celebrating financial success, luxury, enjoyment and the freedom that comes with making money. commercially, this track has garnered over 733K streams on Spotify and over 151K views on its official music video on YouTube. Interestingly, Lojay revealed that the inspiration behind the song came from his father’s bank statement, adding a personal and humorous twist to its central theme. The single generated conversation ahead of its release after Lojay shared a studio snippet featuring Davido, prompting speculation about a possible collaboration. One particularly memorable moment is the reference to Paystack, which caught the attention of the fintech company’s CEO, Shola Akinlade. The song has began making its mark on Nigerian music platforms, reaching No. 91 on Apple Music Nigeria’s Top Songs chart during the week of October 3, 2026.
Awards/Nominations
- Lojay has steadily established himself as a recognised name in Afrobeats, earning nominations and awards both in Nigeria and internationally.
- In 2022, Lojay received nominations at The Headies for Next Rated and Song of the Year for “Monalisa,” his collaboration with Sarz, although he did not win either category.
- In 2024, he earned international recognition through “Sensational,” receiving nominations at the BET Awards for Viewer’s Choice and the MTV Video Music Awards for Best Afrobeats. That same year, he shared two wins at the NAACP Image Awards with Chris Brown and Davido: Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Contemporary) and Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album, both for “Sensational.”
- In 2025, the collaboration earned him a Grammy nomination for Best African Music Performance, marking a major milestone in his international career.
Discography
* GANGSTER ROMANTIC (2023)
* XOXO (2025)
One: Monalisa — Lojay and Sarz
Released on June 4, 2021, as part of the collaborative EP LV N ATTN, “Monalisa” by Lojay and Nigerian record producer Sarz is widely regarded as Lojay’s signature record and biggest hit to date. The song blends Afrobeats with amapiano-inspired percussion, atmospheric production and Lojay’s smooth, expressive vocals. This song has successfully garnered over 285M streams on Spotify and over 163M views on its official music video on YouTube. The record quickly gained traction across Nigeria and beyond, reaching No. 7 on Nigeria’s TurnTable Top 100 and No. 3 on the UK Afrobeats Singles Chart. It also peaked at No. 8 on the UK Official Afrobeats Chart, where it spent 12 weeks. Its success grew further in 2022 when American R&B star Chris Brown joined Lojay and Sarz on a remix, which reached No. 99 on the UK Official Singles Chart and No. 8 on Billboard’s US Afrobeats Songs chart. “Monalisa” also became a defining moment in Lojay’s career, earning award nominations and helping establish him as one of the Afrobeats artists to watch. More than just a successful single, “Monalisa” introduced global audiences to the musical chemistry between Lojay and Sarz and laid the groundwork for Lojay’s subsequent international collaborations, including “Sensational.”
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