11.17.2023
“PRINCE OF AFROPOP” OXLADE SHARES KATIGORI/PIANO EP, FEATURING TWO NEW SONGS, PLUS “KATIGORI” MUSIC VIDEO
LISTEN HERE
WATCH “KATIGORI” HERE
Critical Praise:
“Oxlade’s ‘Ku Lo Sa’ is Big. He’s Thinking Bigger…Though he’s built a respectable repertoire of tender Afrobeats jams since 2018, Oxlade is a recent international sensation, thanks to his viral hit ‘Ku Lo Sa,’ in which he contours his delicate, refined voice around lovelorn pleas.” – Rolling Stone
“Oxlade is one of the biggest Afrobeats singers with more than 290,000 videos using his song ‘Ku Lo Sa’ on TikTok alone.” – BBC
“Oxlade has become a force in Afrobeats this past year.” – UPROXX
“Oxlade’s sultry voice was first introduced on his big break, Blaqbonez’s ‘Mamiwota,’ and from that moment it was apparent that Nigerian music had another star on its hands. It was a performance that helped change the tide towards mid and low-tempo songs in mainstream Nigerian music. It was only a matter of time before Oxlade proved to the world that he was a force to be reckoned with, and a special talent among the new guard of Afrobeats stars.” – OkayAfrica
“Ku Lo Sa” is one of The Best Afrobeats Songs of 2022 – OkayAfrica
The EP + Video:
(Paris – November 17, 2023) Today, rising “Prince of Afropop” Oxlade returns with a two-song EP, KATIGORI/PIANO, along with a new music video for “KATIGORI.”
A sweeping Afropop epic, “KATIGORI” (produced by Timmy) is a lush showcase for Oxlade’s honeyed vocals, as he goes about proving that he is a cut above his imitators–they’re not in the same category. Meanwhile, “PIANO” (produced by P-Prime) mixes the Lagos Afrobeats sound with the signature log drum of amapiano, the ascendant South African dance genre, as Ox layers his vocal harmonies and rhythmic flows over the propulsive percussion.
“‘Katigori’ is a three-year-old record, it was created in a space where I had fame but not success,” says Oxlade. “It was me manifesting where I am now and prophesying my future because I feel like there’s a moment in my music career where everybody will accept that I’m the GOAT.”
“On the other hand,” Oxlade continues, “‘Piano’ is a result of all my fast-paced records that didn’t get the blessings they deserved. Now that I have the audience and numbers, I want to show everyone the fast, club side of Oxlade. ‘Piano’ is the strongest song I’ve dropped this year MUSICALLY. I want everyone to have 2 sides of the coin, the cautious Oxlade and the party Oxlade. ‘Piano’ is a love song, ‘Katigori’ is a statement piece, letting them know that we’re not mates.”
“KATIGORI” arrives with a music video, filmed on the shores of Nigeria by director A Kambipictures, paying tribute to the Lagos native’s cultural roots. Clad in all-white, Oxlade dances on the beaches of his home country, before making his way to a local village and watching a fire dance with the fashionable locals.
“KATIGORI” and “PIANO” are the latest releases from Oxlade From Africa, Oxlade’s forthcoming debut album, following “Intoxycated,” the red hot collaboration with UK rap star Dave. A smooth single that dissects the modern language of love, “Intoxycated” reached the Top 50 of the UK official charts, garnered coverage in The New York Times, and earned Hottest Record distinction from BBC Radio 1. The album continues the momentum from Oxlade’s massive 2022 hit, “Ku Lo Sa,” which racked up over 462 million global streams.
Oxlade’s rise to mainstream recognition has continued in full force this year. The artist’s “Ku Lo Sa” is nominated for “Best Afrobeats Song” at this weekend’s 2023 Billboard Music Awards. Oxlade’s BBMA nomination follows a strong showing at the 2023 Headie Awards, where he received four nominations including Best Song Of The Year and Best Recording Of The Year. This summer, Oxlade raised his profile with incredible live performances, including a performance with Usher at the Global Citizen Festival in Ghana, and a performance alongside Wizkid at the Accor Arena in France.
Oxlade From Africa arrives in early 2024 via Epic Records France.
About Oxlade:
Born Ikuforiji Abdulrahman Olaitan and raised in Lagos, Oxlade started his musical journey in the choir, then releasing his first songs on Soundcloud back in 2017. He caught the attention of Nigerian fans the following year with the release of his debut single “Shugar“. Oxlade’s international glow started in 2020 with his single “Away,” making it to Rolling Stone’s “Top 50 songs of the year 2020” and getting praised by Drake.
The 26-year-old native of Lagos scored a global hit last year when he revealed an intimate performance of his song “Ku Lo Sa” on COLORSxSTUDIO. The green-tinted video was a massive success, generating over 77 million YouTube views, making it the most-watched COLORSxSTUDIO video in the past four years. “Ku Lo Sa” catapulted on its YouTube momentum to become a global hit: charting in across 61 countries on Apple Music and 23 markets on Spotify, peaking in the Top 10 in the UK’s Hip-Hop/R&B chart and peaking at #5 on Billboard’s U.S. Afrobeats chart, and reaching #11 on Billboard’s Year-End U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart. Oxlade welcomed Camila Cabello for the official “Ku Lo Sa” (Remix), and its sultry music video. “Ku Lo Sa” is nominated for “Best Afrobeats Song” a the 2023 Billboard Music Awards.
“Ku Lo Sa” was merely the latest demonstration of Oxlade’s immense talent. Since emerging on the scene as a teenager in 2017–notably on Blaqbones’ hit song “Mamiwota“–Oxlade has turned heads with his pure singing voice and relatable, romantic lyrics. His 2020 EP OXYGENE cemented his spot as one of the most talented artists in the flourishing African scene. The EP was home to “Away,” a glorious anthem that is still a staple of Afrobeats DJ sets to this day. Ox recently turned heads with his performance at London’s Meltdown Festival and appeared on a major officially-sanctioned remixes such as Bob Marley’s classic “Three Little Birds” and Whitney Houston’s “Okay (It’s Not Right).”
For more info about Oxlade, please contact:
Michelle McDevitt, Audible Treats
Destiny Riley, Audible Treats
Derek Shannon, Epic Records
Links:
instagram | youtube | spotify | tiktok | apple | audiomack
“KATIGORI” Music Video: https://youtu.be/tQ7zd5A6lQI
KATIGORI/PIANO EP: https://oxlade.lnk.to/KATIGORI-PIANO
“Intoxycated” ft. Dave: https://oxlade.lnk.to/.intoxycated
“Ovami” ft. Flavour: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GN8Yn0s4kJM
“Ku Lo Sa” (A COLORS Show): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pDQjwaH3qk
“Ku Lo Sa” (Remix) ft. Camila Cabello: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcIkmPU9reU