Early Life
Quddus King, popularly known as GMK, is a Nigerian record producer, sound engineer, rapper, and singer-songwriter. He has also made a significant mark in the music industry through his versatile contributions both behind the scenes and on the mic.
GMK gained widespread recognition for producing standout tracks such as Bridge’s “Needy” and “Searching,” Cruel Santino’s “Gangstar Fear,” Lady Donli’s “Cash,” and several hits for BOJ including “Awolowo,” “Bill Up,” and “Assignment.”
He also contributed to Burna Boy’s track “Different,” featured on the critically acclaimed album African Giant, which received a Grammy nomination for Best World Music Album in 2019.
This accomplishment earned GMK a special mention from The Recording Academy, spotlighting his influence in the global music scene.
GMK is signed to Warner Chappell Music and the Atlanta-based label Love Renaissance (LVRN), where he continues to work with some of the most innovative voices in contemporary music.
As a founding member of the Monster Boys collective, he also collaborates closely with artists like Cruel Santino and fellow producer Genio Bambino, pushing the boundaries of Nigerian alternative sound.
He honed his skills in Audio Engineering at SAE Institute in London, United Kingdom, where he deepened his technical knowledge and creative expression.
Career
GMK, short for Grand Master King, has built a strong reputation in the Nigerian music scene as a producer, sound engineer, rapper, and songwriter. He kicked off his music career in 2013 by dropping Sounds Of The Future on SoundCloud—a collaboration with Cruel Santino (then known as Ozzy B) and Yung from L.O.S.
On April 24, 2016, GMK released his debut EP Long Live the King exclusively on SoundCloud. The project featured standout artists like Odunsi (The Engine), Genio Bambino, Bridge, BrisB, and Cruel Santino. Listeners praised the project for its storytelling and sound design, and media outlets recognized it as one of the must-hear debut projects of 2016.
Later that year, he followed up with WasteMan, which he released independently on SoundCloud on December 16. That same day, he dropped the music video, directed by Falomo and shot in Lagos. The track gained attention and earned a spot on a popular music essentials playlist. In 2017, GMK released a series of tracks including Coconut Lips featuring Tomi Thomas, Pears & Mangos, and OTB. On August 5, he performed live at the Lucid Lemons Curd 2 showcase in Lagos, opening for Cruel Santino and Wavy the Creator. He wrapped up the year with Lagbaja featuring Odunsi (The Engine).
In 2019, YNaija recognized GMK in its New Establishment Class. He also made a cameo in Odunsi’s Star Signs music video, directed by The Candles. In 2021, following a publishing partnership between Warner Chappell Music and Love Renaissance, GMK and his collective Monster Boys signed a publishing deal.
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