Acclaimed singer Adekunle Kosoko, better known as Adekunle Gold, is on track to join the ranks of internationally recognized Nigerian artists. The “High” singer has officially signed with renowned American music label Def Jam Recordings, as reported by Billboard on Tuesday.
The announcement came from Def Jam’s CEO and Chairman, Tunji Balogun, who praised Kosoko for his exceptional songwriting, artistry, vocals, and stage presence.
“I’ve been a fan of Adekunle Gold since I first discovered ‘Sade’ in 2016,” Balogun said. “Throughout the years, every aspect of AG’s world has evolved — his songwriting has matured, his artistic range has expanded, his voice has grown stronger, his fashion sense is more distinctive, and his performance skills have soared.”
“He has risen to stardom on his own terms and is entirely at ease with his true self.”
Balogun shared that he had intended to bring Def Jam into the Afrobeats scene as soon as he joined the label in 2022.
“Adekunle seemed like the ideal choice – he had already put in so much effort to establish a foundation on his own, but I knew we could expand his audience even further by pooling our resources and working together,” he added.
Gold expressed enthusiasm about joining Def Jam and collaborating with Balogun, especially given their shared Nigerian heritage.
“He gets it,” Gold said. “Signing with Tunji makes sense. He’s like a studio companion who accompanies me everywhere. If he’s ever unavailable, I know he must be incredibly busy. He’s fantastic.”
“The track record and history are there. They break artists, and they have niche, unique artists like me, so I think it’s the right move for me. They’re aware of everything I’ve already accomplished for myself, and that’s why they’re on board.”
Adekunle Gold is scheduled to release a new album under the Def Jam label in June 2023.
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