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Illbliss

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Illbliss
Background information
Birth nameTobechukwu Melvin Ejiofor
Also known asOga Boss
OriginNkwerre, Imo State, Nigeria
GenresHip hop
Occupation(s)Rapper, Record Executive, TV Content Producer, Businessman and Actor
Years active2000–present
LabelsCAPital Hill Music/The Goretti Company

Tobechukwu Ejiofor, professionally known as Illbliss (stylized as iLLBLISS), is a Nigerian rapper, actor, and businessman. He is the owner of the talent managing outfit known as 'The Goretti Company',[1] company responsible for launching the careers of Chidinma and Phyno, among others. He is regarded as one of the most influential Nigerian Rappers helping to pioneer the 'Eastern - Igbo Boy Movement' in Nigerian hip hop.[2][3][4]

Also popularly known as Oga Boss, he has received many nominations and won awards, the most notable being the award for Best Hiphop Video (for the hit "U Go Wound O!!") at the 2008 maiden edition of the Soundcity Music Video Awards. This award was presented to him by the American hip-hop star Nas.In 2019, he made a debut in acting by starring in the movie[5]
King of Boys as Odogwu.[6] His debut album, Dat Ibo Boy, which dropped in 2009,[7] contained, "Aiye Po Gan! (Enuf Space)".[8] He then released a new album July 2020, Illy Chapo X.[9] His album Illy Chapo X[10] was also nominated[11] for the category of best rap album[12] for the Headies[13] 2020 award. Considering the situation of the country back in 2019, the indigenous rapper said President Buhari is silent many issues surrounding the country. He said "Mr. Buhari, are you still ruling us? You are mute on a lot of issues, I really don't get you". He further added "We all feel like a ship with no captain, no direction. This is a powerful country you have been installed to rule. Can you really just rule and show any level of empathy? Can you sir".[14]

Acting career

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Illbliss ventured into acting in 2018, appearing in the critically acclaimed Nigerian film King of Boys, directed by Kemi Adetiba. He played the role of Odogwu Malay, a character that endeared him to Nollywood fans.[15] The movie’s success led to a sequel, King of Boys: The Return of the King, which became Nigeria’s first Netflix Original Series, where Illbliss reprised his role in 2021.[16]

Recent projects and brand partnerships

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In 2020, Illbliss released iLLY Chapo X, which was met with critical acclaim.[17] He won another Lyricist on the Roll award at The Headies in 2021 for his politically charged single "Country".[18] Afterward, he took a hiatus from music to focus on other ventures, including television production.[19]

Between 2019 and 2023, Illbliss entered a five-year brand partnership with Hero Lager Beer by International Breweries Plc, which involved his executive production of an album titled Worthy, released in 2023.[20] The project aimed to support rising talents in the South East and South-South regions of Nigeria and featured a blend of Afrobeats and highlife.[21]

In 2024, Illbliss returned with his seventh studio album, Sideh Kai.[22] The album featured collaborations with several prominent Nigerian artists, including OdumoduBlvck, Vector, Teni, Made Kuti, Fave, and Cobhams Asuquo, and was hailed as a contemporary Nigerian hip-hop classic.[23]

Television production

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In 2024, Illbliss expanded his media portfolio by producing Freemen, a seven-part documentary series on the Igbo Apprenticeship System.[24][25] The show premiered on Showmax and marked iLLBLISS’s first major foray into television production through his content company Gosibe.[26]

Discography

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Solo albums

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  • Dat Ibo Boy (2009)
  • Oga Boss (2012)
  • #Powerful (2015)
  • Illygaty:7057 (2016)
  • Illy Bomaye (2017)
  • Illosophy (2019)
  • Illy Chapo X (2020)
  • Sideh Kai (2024)

EPs

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  • Position of Power, Vol. 1 (2012)
  • Position of Power, Vol. 2 (2014)

Collaborative albums

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  • IllyZilla (with Teck Zilla) (2019)#

Filmography

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Year Film Role Notes Ref
Actor Director Producer Writer
2018 King of Boys Yes [15]
2021 King of Boys: The Return of the King Yes [16]
2024 Freemen (Documentary) Yes [24]

Awards and nominations

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Year Event Prize Recipient Result Ref
2008 Sound City Music Video Awards The SMVA for Best Hip-Hop Video Himself Won [27]
2009 South South Music Awards The SSMA for Most Popular Video for "Aiye Po Gan! (Enuf Space)" Himself Won
2010 The Headies Hip Hop World Revelation of the Year Himself Nominated [28]
The Headies Award for Best Rap Album Himself Nominated
The Headies Award for Best Collaboration Himself Nominated
2012 The NMWA The Best Hip-Hop Video Himself Won
2013 The Headies The Headies Award for Best Rap Album Himself Nominated [29]

References

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  1. ^ NotjustOk. "The Goretti Company". NotjusOk. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  2. ^ "Illbliss… The Making Of Dat Ibo Boy". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 10 August 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  3. ^ Ohunyon, Ehis (28 January 2019). "iLLBliss speaks on his upcoming 6th album, role in King of Boys and getting the respect he deserves". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  4. ^ Madaki, Rishama (5 December 2022). "Top 10 Greatest Nigerian Rappers Of All Time: The G.O.A.T.S of Rap In Nigeria". Soot Africa: SootAfrica.com. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  5. ^ IMDb. "IllBliss King of Boys". IMDb. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  6. ^ TheGuardian. "The Making Of Dat Ibo Boy". guardian.ng. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  7. ^ "Illbliss Debut Album Review". tooxclusive.com. December 2012. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
  8. ^ "Aiye Po Gan FT Terry G". notjustok.com. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
  9. ^ Jonathan (3 July 2020). "Album: Illbliss – Illy Chapo X". Eapolyent. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  10. ^ Notjustok (29 May 2020). "IllBliss - Illy Chapo X (Album) « NotJustOk". Notjustok. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  11. ^ BBC. "Artistes wey Headies snub for 2020 award nomination list". BBC News Pidgin. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  12. ^ 2020 Headies Award (6 December 2020). "Headies Awards 2020: Check Out Full Nominees List » Bossvibe". Bossvibe. Retrieved 7 December 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ The Headies. "The Headies – Hip Hop World Magazine". The Headies. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  14. ^ "Buhari silent on many issues - Illbliss". Vanguard News. 8 August 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
  15. ^ a b Samuel, Olajide (19 December 2021). "How King of Boys changed my life– Illbliss". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  16. ^ a b Adeyemi, Daniel (7 January 2022). "On the making of King of Boys, Netflix's first original Nigerian series". TechCabal. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  17. ^ BellaNaija.com (29 May 2020). "iLLBliss's New Album "Illy Chapo X" is Totally Worth the Wait". BellaNaija. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  18. ^ "Headies Award 2021 Winners list: Wizkid na Artiste of The Year, Omah Lay win 2020 Next Rated, Fireboy, odas win for di 14th edition". BBC News Pidgin. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  19. ^ Esomnofu, Emmanuel (28 April 2024). "The Rap-Centric Philosophies of Illbliss". The Republic. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  20. ^ Staff, Daily Post (7 May 2023). "Hero Lager launches People's Hero initiative for fast-rising music talents". Daily Post Nigeria. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  21. ^ "In Search of the People's Hero – THISDAYLIVE". www.thisdaylive.com. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  22. ^ "Illbliss Unveils Album 'Sideh-Kai' with Star-Studded Lineup". Nollywood Reporter. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  23. ^ Adebiyi, Adeayo (29 February 2024). "Illbliss shows that class is permanent on 'Sideh Kai'". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  24. ^ a b Writer, Staff (6 February 2024). "Showmax documentary Freemen explores the Igbo Apprenticeship System". Showmax Stories. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  25. ^ "Freemen: Igbo Apprenticeship System Isn't Slavery, Obi Cubana, ILLBLiSS Insist – Independent Newspaper Nigeria". 10 February 2024. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  26. ^ "Showmax Unveils Documentary On Igbo Apprenticeship System "Freemen"". The Culture Custodian (Est. 2014.). 6 February 2024. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  27. ^ "Past Headies". Hip Hop World Magazine. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
  28. ^ HHWA. "Hip Hop World Awards Nominees List". UnderdaRock. Archived from the original on 6 October 2015. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  29. ^ "2013 Headies Nominees List". hiphopworldmagazine.com. Archived from the original on 25 March 2015. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
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