If you are listening to us from Lagos, Abuja, Kaduna, Anambra, Enugu, Benin, Portharcourt, Owerri or online, once
again, you are welcome to our AOTW segment. Today, we will be talking about the Klitoris master – BRYMO.
Born with the birth name Olawale Ashimi, he is a famous Nigerian songwriter, singer and recording Artist. Brymo was
born on the 9th of May, 1986 in Okokomaiko, Ojo, Lagos State, Nigeria as the only child of a father who was an Aworo
carpenter and a mother who was an Egun petty trader. He attended Ajanju Aka Primary school in Okokomaiko, Ojo,
Lagos state for the early stage of his primary school education and later completed his primary education in Japual
primary school also in Okokomaiko from 1990-1997. Brymo completed his secondary school education in Ajangbadi
High school from 1997-2003. He went on to Lagos State University to study Zoology but dropped out after the first
year to pursue his music career. Brymo grew up very stubborn and troublesome, this made him get into a lot of fights
with the kids in his neighborhood. This article is about Brymo biography and other interesting facts about him.
Brymo wanted to go into football at first, but his love for music won over. He recorded his first song titled ‘Future’
when he was thirteen in 1999 while still in secondary school. Brymo formed a music group with some of his friends in
2002. The music group was called ‘The Aliens.’ Brymo’s role in the group was to write and compose songs. He was able
to write over 85 songs within two years. The group separated in 2005 due to some issues. After the division of the
group, he went on a solo career under no record Label.
Brymo released his debut album in 2007 which he titled ‘Brymstone’ with the assistance of a local talent spotter.
He later released a single titled ‘Shawdy,’ (which is our no. 4 song). Its music video listed as number two on MTV Base
Africa’s Top 10 Countdown, It peaked at number one on Nigezee’s top 10 and also got him a nomination at Sound City
Music Video Awards. Take a listen…
Brymo met M.I Abaga through Denrele Edun who told M.I all about Brymo and caused them to respond. After he met
with M.I, he has introduced Jesse Jagz and Ice Prince. He came to the limelight when he was featured in Ice Prince’s hit
single ‘Oleku’ which was part of his debut album ‘Everyone Loves Ice Prince’ in 2010. Brymo collaborated with Jesse
Jagz in his single ‘Love You’ which was in Jesse Jagz’s debut album ‘Jagz of All Trades’ released in 2011. He was also
featured on other hit singles like ‘Attention’ by 2-Shotz, ‘Action Film’ by M.I and ‘Ma Wo Be’ by Sasha.
Brymo was signed into Chocolate City Record Label in 2010- the contract agreement was later broken in 2013. He
released his second album ‘Son of a Kapenta’ in 2012 under Chocolate City Record Label. The hit singles in his second
album are ‘Ara’ and ‘Good Morning.’ ‘Son of a Kapenta’ featured guest appearances from M.I, Jesse Jagz, Ice Prince
and Pryse.
Bonus: Goodmorning
Brymo’s third album ‘Merchants, Dealers & Slaves’ was released on the 20th of October, 2013. This album got him a
lot of positive reviews. This album was released when an interim injunction was filed against him from Chocolate City
Record Label which restrained him from doing any music ventures outside of the Record Label. He signed a
distribution deal with Spinlet in August 2014, which was to enable the company to distribute his album online but the
deal was broken after Spinlet was made aware of the existing contract between Chocolate City Record Label and
Brymo.
The album was later allowed to be distributed on the 20th of March, 2014, some days after the interim injunction was
lifted in court. The album was produced by Mikky Me and David the Guitarist appeared in the record as a guest. The
lead single which was ‘Down’ was released officially on October 1st, 2013 and its music video was uploaded to
YouTube on the 30th of September, 2013. In May 2014, Nigerian Entertainment Today reported that the
undergraduate students of Southern Illinois University, Carbondale analyzed the lyrics of ‘Down’ as part of a case
study project. He was invited to the case study’s presentation by the University. Let’s take a listen to our No. 3 song
DOWN which won him the ‘Songwriter of the Year’ award at the 2013/2014 All Africa Music Awards.
‘Tabula Rasa’ his fourth album was released on the 3rd of October, 2014, the hit single being ‘Fe Mi’ which was
released on the 18th of September, 2014. Brymo named the album Tabula Rasa after hearing the judge use it in his
speech. Brymo released an 8-Tracks compilation album the next year on the 8th of December, 2015. The 8-Tracks
compilation was titled ‘Trance’ and was produced by American Record Label and publishing company ‘Tate Music
Group.’ The album contained songs from his third and fourth album and was targeted primarily for the U.S audience.
His music is a combination of R&B, Fuji, Rock, and Pop. In an interview with Okay Africa in 2016, Brymo stated
“Although my songs reflect many issues which are relevant in my society. I believe that human relations are the site
where all issue emerge”.
Our no. 2 song is from the album Oso. It was released independently on 27 March 2018. The album was produced
entirely by Mikky Me Joses and consists of 11 tracks, including three recorded in the Yoruba language. The album's
music has elements of mysticism and sheds light on Brymo's folk and traditional roots. Oṣó was supported by two
singles: "Heya!" and "Bá’núsọ". It received critical acclaim from music critics, who complimented its production and
Brymo's songwriting. The website Pulse Nigeria and Nigerian Entertainment Today ranked Oṣó second on their list of
the best Nigerian albums of 2018.
No. 2. Olanrewaju. The song was nominated for BEST RECORDING OF THE YEAR at the Headies 2019 Awards which
held on Saturday, October 19, 2019, at the Eko Convention Centre in Lagos. It unfortunately lost to Teni’s Uyo Meyo.
Brymo Albums: Brymstone – 2007, The Son of a Kapenta – 2012, Merchants, dealers, and Slaves – 2013, Tabula Rosa –
2014, Klitoris – 2016, Oso – 2018, Yellow – 2020 (unreleased).
Compilations: Trance – 2015, Live! at Terra Kulture Arena – 2019
CONTROVERSY:
– In 2014, Flavour announced that his new album, 'Thankful', has sold a record one million copies in five days. Brymo
tweeted using his official handle @BrymOlawale “the records are selling in the millions again, the lies are heaping
again!!!” After a series of other tweets, and probably after he had been bashed, he again tweeted “It’s cool, am deeply
sorry. Nobody send me, I’ll let it be…”
-In 2018 the OAU Akintola Hall Executives Brymo Cheated Us – Akintola Hall (oau) Executives allegedly claimed
Brymo’s management refused to refund the sum of N200,000 for a concert he refused to turn up for. This was after
they had made some other weighty allegations. You can read up online.
PERSONAL
– Brymo has a son who was born on 27 March 2015. On 12 November 2015, he uploaded pictures of his son onto his
Instagram account for the first time.
-He was announced as an Ambassador for the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry at the unveiling that took
place in Lagos State on the 14th of October, 2014. Other Ambassadors alongside Brymo were Olisa Adibua, 2face
Idibia, Vector the Viper, Kunle Afolayan and many others.
AWARDS:
– As earlier mentioned, he won the ‘Songwriter of the Year’ award for the song ‘Down’ at the 2013/2014 All
Africa Music Awards.
– He also won the ‘Recording of the Year’ award for the song ‘ARA’ at the Hip Hop World Awards in 2012 and
the ‘Most Gifted Afro Pop Video of the Year’ for ‘ARA’ at the Channel O Music Video Awards in 2012, which is
our no. 1 song and arguably his biggest hit. The music video for ‘Ara’ was released on the 31st of December,
2011, it was directed by AJE Film and produced by Legendary Beatz. Brymo revealed in an interview with
Damete Braide of The Sun Newspaper that ‘Ara’ is a slang that loosely translates to mean ‘Wonder.’
Till we come your way next time, don’t forget to visit theboxshowafrica.com for all your gist, gossip, health news etc
and of course to listen to this show again and again. Also follow us across all our social media platforms…and follow
me blackboymcm…etc.
We are out!
No. 1 Song – ARA
