The artiste of the week is a youngster who was instrumental to encouraging the likes of Davido and Wizkid to pursue their passion for music. With his syrupy flow and angelic voice, this guy made cars rock and turned the country into one karaoke club with his songs being slammed from almost every music device.
Like every artiste, he has gone through stormy times on the big stage and has managed to remain one of Nigeria’s fan favourite. Famous for his unique signature tune – one that has created a lasting impression on music followers.
Oluwatobi Wande Ojosipe, popularly known as Wande Coal. Born 18 October 1985, born in Lagos Island. He’s the first of two children & has a degree in Curriculum Studies from the University of Lagos (Unilag). Like most music greats, Wande started singing in the teenage choir at his church. He went on to get his break in the Nigerian entertainment industry as a dancer. In 2006, he continued improving on his vocals skills and got signed to Don Jazzy‘s Mo’hits records. Wande then featured on D’banj’s Rundown/Funk you up album, providing vocals on singles such as “Loke”, “tonosibe” and “why me”.
A year later – in 2007, he released his first single “Ololufe”, which has been described as one of the greatest love songs ever written by a Nigerian. It was his first offering to & with the defunct Mo Hits family in an All Stars compilation album – CV (Curriculum Vitae). W.C was on 12 of the 15 singles on that compilation album.
Having succeeded with helping his team hit home hard, Wande Coal then pushed-out his first solo submission in what has turn out to be a blissful career, by releasing the album “Mushin 2 MoHits” in 2009.
The album transformed Wande Coal from a dusty dancer into a black star. Most importantly, his voice led to the re-transformation of pop music in Nigeria. Backed by Don Jazzy’s enchanting production, Wande Coal did the stuff legends by turning Nigerian music on its head.
With big hits such as “Bumper2Bumper”, “You Bad” (Featuring D’Banj), “Taboo”, “Who Born The Maga” (Featuring KaySwitch).
“Mushin 2 MoHits” is one album which defined the sound of pop music, at least for a generation. The creator, a Wande Coal with a high-pitched voice & such endearing lines that flow easily.
Even eight years after, the album still sounds outstanding.
Wande has blessed hooks for D’banj, Naeto C, Ikechukwu & of course the Mo’ Hits All Stars’ Curriculum Vitae album (the biggest benefactor from his soulful singing) with his ‘angelic’ vocals.
In 2012 following a fallout between record label Executives Don Jazzy and D’banj Wande Coal signed on to Don Jazzys new Record Label Mavin Records with the addition of Tiwa Savage from 323 entertainment acting as the first lady of Mavin Records.
Coal left Mavin Records in 2013 parting ways with long-time associate Don Jazzy while they were already working on his second album, which was almost done, and then in October 2013, he released a single called “Baby Face”.
After a long hiatus, Coal dropped his sophomore album “Wanted” in 2015. Most reviews of the album placed him on a slightly above average scale.
It is news no more that he was on stage with Wizkid at the concert in UK. Wizkid we hear has become the first African artiste to perform in a sold out concert in UK
Awards
- Next Rated Hip Hop World Awards 2008.
- Naija’s fastest Rising Superstar UNIPORT AWARDS 2008
- Dynamix Youth awards 2009-Song of the Year.
- BEST AFRO HIP HOP VIDEO Nigerian Music Video Awards (NMVA) 2009
- African Artiste of the Year – Ghana Music Awards 2010
- Artiste of the Year – 2010 Hip Hop World Awards
- Best R&b/Pop Single – 2010 Hip Hop World Awards
- Album of the year 2010 Hip Hop World Awards
- Song of the Year 2010 Hip Hop World Awards
- Hip Hop Revelation of the Year 2010 Hip Hop World Awards.
- Best rhythm and blues singer of the year 2009 City People
- Album of the year 2010 City People
- Outstanding Performance in the music industry 2010 City People
- Artist of year 2010 City People
Now a boss himself with a top brand Black Diamond Entertainment launched in 2013. We know he has an 8-year-old son.
Top4 songs by Wande Coal
- Super woman
- Iskaba
- You bad ft D’banj
- Ololufe
