Early Life
Runtown, born Douglas Jack Agu on August 19, 1989, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, and producer renowned for blending Afrobeats, hip-hop, R&B, and reggae in his music.
In 2016, Runtown further solidified his place in the industry with the release of the chart-topping single “Mad Over You,” which later gained even more attention with a remix by fellow Nigerian artist Mr Eazi.
Runtown’s ability to blend various musical genres has contributed to his widespread appeal, earning him both local and international recognition.
Career
His musical journey began in 2007 when he and his longtime collaborator Phyno moved to Lagos to pursue their careers. While in Lagos, Runtown and Phyno stayed with J. Martins, contributing to J. Martins’ second studio album. During this time, Runtown not only collaborated on various tracks but also produced several songs. Through J. Martins, he connected with Timaya, who became a mentor to him, helping him navigate the complexities of the music industry.
In 2011, Runtown officially launched his career by releasing his debut single, “Party Like It’s 1980”. However, it was his 2014 hit “Gallardo”, featuring Davido, that marked a major milestone in his career.
The song, which served as the lead single from his debut album Ghetto University, achieved commercial success and won the “Best Collaboration of the Year” award at the 2014 Nigeria Entertainment Awards. That same year, there were rumors that Runtown had written the popular song “Aye” for Davido, but he addressed this in an interview, clarifying that Davido had discussed the song’s origin in previous interviews.
Runtown released his debut studio album Ghetto University on November 23, 2015, through MTN Music Plus and Eric Many Entertainment. The album’s commercial success led to over ₦35 million in earnings from the music portal, earning Runtown a spot among the “Top 5 Most Streamed Artists”. In 2016, he released the ballad “Mad Over You,” a track inspired by African beauty, which charted at number 38 on the Billboard Twitter Top Tracks chart.
In 2018, after leaving Eric Many Entertainment due to contractual disputes, Runtown founded his own record label, Soundgod Music Group. He continued to release new music under the label, including singles like “Unleash” featuring Fekky and “For Life.” In 2019, he released the highly acclaimed EP Tradition, featuring tracks like “Emotions” and “Goosebumps”.
Runtown’s career continued to evolve, and in December 2022, he released the album Signs. While the album received mixed reviews, it marked another chapter in his artistic journey, with critics highlighting Runtown’s growth and exploration of different sounds.
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