Lyrikal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lyrikal
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Jesse James Enoch |
| Also known as | Lyrikal |
| Born | September 14, 1983 Aba, Abia, Nigeria |
| Origin | Port Harcourt, Nigeria |
| Genres | Hip Hop |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, Rapper, Producer |
| Years active | 2001–present |
| Associated acts | Korkormikor, M Trill, Mode 9, Eva Alordiah, Shank, KING STUNNA |
Jesse James Enoch (born September 14, 1983), who is better known by his stage name Lyrikal, is a Nigerian rapper, record producer, and songwriter. He first became known in the music world in 2003 with the Port Harcourt record label Tuck Tyght. Throughout his career, Lyrikal has used his music to talk about important social and political topics in Nigeria.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Jesse James Enoch was born in Aba, a city in the state of Abia, Nigeria. His family is from Akwa Ibom state, but he grew up in Sokoto. He is the second child of a retired government worker.
In 1989, his family moved to the city of Port Harcourt because of his father's job. Lyrikal attended both primary and secondary school in Port Harcourt. In 2005, he started studying at the University of Lagos but had to leave after one year.
Music Career
How His Music Journey Began
When Lyrikal was young, he listened to many different kinds of music, especially reggae and disco. This made him want to become a musician. His first musical heroes were famous artists like Madonna, Michael Jackson, MC Hammer, and Shabba Ranks. He became very interested in rap music after watching the movie House Party in 1990.
In the early 1990s, Lyrikal fell in love with hip-hop. He practiced rapping, writing rhymes, and creating songs. He was inspired by famous rappers like Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Tupac Shakur, Wu Tang Clan, and Nas. In 2003, he officially started his music career with a group called Tuck Tyght.
Going Solo and Making Mixtapes
In 2006, Lyrikal started working on his own music. He recorded many songs and released several singles during this time.
Later, in the 2010s, he joined a music label called Xcel Music. There, he was very productive and recorded over one hundred songs. In 2013, he released his first mixtape, called RMFAO. The next year, in 2014, he released his second mixtape, O.C.D: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. This project included songs with other artists like Mode 9 and Eva Alordiah.
The "Behind Bars" Campaign
In January 2014, Lyrikal started a special project called the "Behind Bars" campaign. The goal was to inspire young people in Nigeria to get involved in making their country a better place.
To spread his message, he released a series of photos of himself behind prison bars. Each picture had a powerful quote from famous people like Nelson Mandela. The "bars" were a metaphor, meaning they were not real prison bars. They represented the challenges that young Nigerians face, such as lack of opportunities and creative freedom. The campaign was shared on many websites and started important conversations.
Discography
- 2013: RMFAO (mixtape)
- 2014: O.C.D (mixtape)
See also
- List of Nigerian rappers
