Haruna Abdullahi, better known by his stage name DJ AB, is a Nigerian rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer widely regarded as one of the leading voices in Northern Nigeria’s hip-hop scene. Fans and peers alike have nicknamed him “The King in the North,” a title earned through years of consistency and a catalogue that has helped define contemporary Arewa hip-hop.

DJ AB was born on 30 December 1993 in Kaduna State, Nigeria. He completed his junior and senior secondary education at Federal Government College, Kaduna, an environment that exposed him early on to a wide range of cultural influences. He went on to study Quantity Survey at Ahmadu Bello University, balancing his academic pursuits with a growing passion for music that would eventually become his full-time career.

He began his musical journey in 2011 as a singer, rapper, producer and songwriter, steadily building a name for himself across Northern Nigeria. DJ AB’s signature style fluidly blends Hausa and English, a bridge between regional identity and mainstream appeal that has helped his music travel well beyond Kaduna. Hit songs like “Su Baba Ne,” “Yar Boko” and “Babarsa” have become staples of the Arewa music scene.

His talent has not gone unnoticed by the wider industry. DJ AB was signed to Mr Eazi’s emPawa Africa alongside fellow Northern artist Namenj, a move widely seen as a strong bet on the commercial potential of Arewa music reaching international audiences. He also won the Northern Nigeria Best Singer of the Year award in 2019 and has picked up multiple City People Music Award nominations, including for Best Rap Artiste of the Year, Best Kannywood Hip-Hop Artist of the Year and Arewa Artiste of the Year.

DJ AB remains a regular collaborator across the Northern Nigerian music scene, frequently featured alongside artists like Twiglava and Buzu, and continues to be one of the clearest examples of Arewa hip-hop’s growing reach into the national conversation.