Nigerian music legend and greatest pop act 2face Idibia is forty years old today (September 18).
Most of 2face’s years on earth has been dedicated to his first love, music. His career is unarguably the most illustrious of our generation.
Erockcity gives you 26 things you ought to know about the singer’s amazing career.
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Music came to 2face naturally. He never sang in a choir, but discovered his singing ability early.
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In 1992, 2face first visited Lagos, and was inspired to make a return to rule the city.
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After wrapping up his OND in 1997, he teamed up with Blackface. The duo performed and attended different gigs around campuses.
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2face made the decision to go into full-time music after his OND, a decision which was not well-received by his parents. They wanted more education for their son, but on seeing his insistence, they gave their blessings.
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2face and Blackface started the group Plantashun Boiz in 1997. They moved to Lagos where they holed up in Festac, at Blackface’s uncle’s.
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The duo met Faze in Festac where he was planned to do a feature on their album. But on recording, they came upon an uncommon synergy, which inspired them to add him to the group.
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Plantashun Boiz were paid N10,000 as their first professional fee when they performed at the Rothmans Groove which was booked through the help of veteran event planner, Eddie Lawani.
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The group was signed was later signed to Nelson Brown’s Dove Records, the imprint where they released their albums.
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In 2000, They dropped their first album, “Body and Soul” in 2000 and it was a commercial success. The album contained popular songs like ‘You and I’, ‘Knock Me Off’ and ‘Cousin’s cousin’.
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Another album was released in 2003 “Sold Out.” It was also produced by Nelson Brown.
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In 2004, 2face left Plantashun Boiz to begin a solo career. He got signed to Kennis Music where he dropped his solo debut, Nfana Nbaga.
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His debut album, ‘Face 2 Face’ sold over 2 million copies. It had songs like Ole (whose video was the first video aired on MTV Base), ‘Right Here’ and the internationally acclaimed ‘African Queen’.
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2face was featured in Wyclef’s Proud to be African in 2004. The single also had Faze and Sound Sultan and was one of the songs which was released in Wyclef’s 5th studio album, Welcome to Haiti: Creole 101.
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In 2005, he won the MTV Europe Music Award for Best African act.
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In 2006, his love influenced track, African Queen as the sound track of Hollywood movie, Phat Girls which stared Monique and Jimmy Jean-Louise.
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He dropped his second album, Grass to Grace in 2006 and it was also a commercial success. The album sold over a million copies in its first week of release.
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He emerged the first Nigerian act to win MOBO awards in 2007 defeating D’banj and other top African music acts.
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2face reunited with his former group Plantashun Boiz in 2007 and they released another album, Plan B which is the last musical project they worked on as a group.
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2face left Kennis Music in 2007 and started his own outfit, Hypertek Entertainment teaming up with Efe Omorogbe’s Now Music.
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He released his 3rd album, Unstoppable in 2008 with tracks like ‘Enter The Place’, Excuse me Sister’ and Flex which featured Rn B king, R. Kelly.
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The Unstoppable album had 17 songs, an intro and an outro. 2face became a NAFDAC ambassador in 2009 and released the conscious song, ‘Man Unkind’ which spoke about the ills of fake drugs.
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In 2010, he repackaged the Unstoppable album and had an international release. The album had some songs from his third record as well as new songs. The Unstoppable International Edition has 14 songs.
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His 5th album, Away and Beyond dropped in 2012 with songs like Spiritual Healing and Rainbow.
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In January 2012, 2face signed Dammy Krane to his Hypertek imprint. He also signed veteran musician, Sir Victor Uwaifo in November, 2013.
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In his over 10 year solo career, 2face has won numerous awards including 5 Headies, 4 MAMAs, 4 Channel O Music Video Awards, 1 Kora and 1 BET awards.
