Raldie Young

Raldie Young (born Rex Okey Opara Jr.) is a boundary-pushing Nigerian multidisciplinary artist and producer, whose genre-fluid sound traverses alternative R&B, Afro-fusion, electronica, and experimental pop. Known for his emotive storytelling and fearless sonic experimentation, Raldie brings a unique perspective to contemporary African music—one rooted in deep introspection, cultural richness, and continual reinvention.

Born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria, Raldie’s creative journey was profoundly shaped by his father’s eclectic record collection and his heritage, drawing inspiration from both his father’s Igbo roots in Eastern Nigeria and his mother’s Ibibio lineage from the South. Early fascination with computers led him first to graphic design and later to music production, discovering FL Studio and teaching himself to craft beats and record songs for SoundCloud.

Since his debut single “Manuel” (2015), Raldie’s evolution has spanned acclaimed projects such as the introspective EP “RIVERS” (2016), “The Morningstar Prelude” (2018), and the visionary “Songs From My Bedroom” (2020). Each new release reflects a willingness to blend genres and explore hard truths—guided by influences like James Blake, Janelle Monáe, and Frank Ocean.

In 2021, Raldie was awarded the prestigious OneBeat Virtual Music Fellowship. The following year, his selection for the Goethe Talents Scholarship took him to Berlin, where his first international performance at Pop-Kultur Festival inspired the 2023 mixtape “BAHN+”—a cutting-edge fusion of ambient house, hyperpop, and Afro-electronic textures themed around freedom and self-discovery.

Now, with “PHOENIX: EMBERS” (2025), Raldie turns his creative energy toward rebirth, resilience, and boundless reinvention. Fusing futurist Afro-electronic production with deeply personal songwriting, this new chapter sees him standing at the vanguard of Nigeria’s next wave of alternative artists—redefining what African music can sound and feel like.