Early Life

Oladapo Daniel Oyebanjo, widely known as D’banj, was born on June 9, 1980, in Zaria, Nigeria. Raised by a military officer father and a devout businesswoman mother from Ogun State, D’banj originally faced pressure to follow a military path. However, music became his calling after being introduced to the harmonica by his late older brother, Femi. That passion drove him toward a creative journey that would soon influence Africa’s music scene.

Career

D’banj made his debut with the album No Long Thing in 2005, where his breakout single Tongolo catapulted him to fame. He co-founded Mo’ Hits Records with producer Don Jazzy, and followed up with hits like Why Me? and albums such as Rundown Funk U Up and The Entertainer.

His charisma and stagecraft made him a political and cultural influencer, with tracks even used for national campaigns. In 2011, he signed to Kanye West’s GOOD Music label, which expanded his global reach with the hit single Oliver Twist. After Mo’ Hits disbanded, D’banj established DB Records and continued to release music, including King Don Come, featuring collaborations with international stars like Gucci Mane and Busiswa.

He has graced major stages including the Hackney Weekend, Global Citizen Earth Day, and the AFCON closing ceremony. In 2016, he married Lineo Didi Kilgrow, and they welcomed a son in 2017, who sadly passed away in 2018.

D’banj remains a key figure in shaping Afrobeats, turning personal stories into global anthems while nurturing new talents under DB Records.

Click Here For More Post