Adekunle Gold joins Def Jam

The news coincides with the release of his new single ‘Party No Dey Stop’ featuring Zinoleesky. 

Def Jam launched operations in Africa three years ago in Johannesburg and Lagos, and counts the likes of Ghana’s Stonebwoy, South Africa’s Cassper Nyovest and Nasty C, as well as Nigeria’s Larry Gaaga and Vector among its flagship stars. 

“Over the years, everything in Adekunle Gold’s world has elevated; his songwriting has refined, the scope of his artistry has widened, his vocals have strengthened, his approach to fashion is more distinct, and his showmanship and performance ability have grown exponentially,” Def Jam CEO/chairman Tunji Balogun said. “He’s stepped into stardom on his own terms and is completely comfortable being his true self.”

Balogun noted that part of his goal for joining Def Jam last year was to bring the label into the Afrobeats space, selecting the right artists and establishing partnerships, and holds that Adekunle Gold’s existing efforts in building a fan base, as well as the potential to increase his reach through a collaborative effort between them, make him an ideal choice. 

“I think Adekunle Gold’s is a truly global artist, and a rightful ambassador for Nigerian music and the emerging Afrobeats scene,” Balogun added. “He has the talent, virtuosity, focus, work ethic and temperament required to be a worldwide superstar. I’m excited to work with him and the Def Jam team to bring more fans into his world.”

Adekunle Gold said his signing was a “full circle moment”. He added: “The track record is there. The history is there. They break artists, and they have a niche, unique artists like me, so I think it’s the right move for me. All of the things that I’ve done for myself already, they know already and that’s why they’re on board.”

Meanwhile, following the release of the new album, Adekunle will hit the road in major cities across North America, Europe, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, South America and the Caribbean.