Adekunle Kosoko, known by his stage name Adekunle Gold, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter as well as a graphical designer who has gained a reputation in the musical sphere with his specific type of music direction that includes a fusion of highlife, Afrobeats, and popular modern pop music. His path from a young man with dreams of becoming an artist to a famous musician can be considered an example of determination and effort.
Early Life and Background
Adekunle Gold was born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria, and is from the Kosoko royal family of Lagos State, having been born on January 28, 1987. He grew up in a small, tight-knit family that maintained strong roots in tradition as well as in the new era. His father Prince Hakeem Kosoko, KSC also represents Adekunle’s lineage as he is from the royal bloodline of the famous King Kosoko of Lagos. This background could equip him with a rich and diversified vision of life: the main values of the pre-modern culture intermingled with those of the post-modern era.
Adekunle has always been drawn to the artistic fields since
his early childhood. He went to different schools in Lagos and then proceeded
to the Lagos State Polytechnic to further his studies in Arts and Design. His
academic experience in design also proved a tremendous influence on his career,
especially since he started off as a graphic designer in entertainment.
Musical Career
Adekunle Gold discovered his love for music at a tender age. He began singing in his church’s choir and learned how to sing correctly while at the same time growing his appreciation for music. Nevertheless, it was not until 2014 that he found his breakthrough with a track titled “Sade,” which is actually a solo cover of One Direction’s “Story of My Life”. This song, which chronicles a tale of unrequited love, struck a chord with many young Nigerians and propelled the artist to prominence in the Nigerian music scene.
After the release of “Sade’ Adekunle Gold was signed into
YBNL Nation which is owned by Nigerian rapper Olamide. Under this label, he
came out with his first music album titled “Gold” back in 2016. The album was
well received both by the critics and the public and included such hits as
“Orente,” “Pick Up,” and “Ariwo Ko.” “Gold” also made a contribution to
Adekunle’s position on the modern music map as in his productions Nigerian
traditional music roots fused with today’s popular music.
The music of the sensational artist can be described as
storytelling with influences from his life and background. By singing most of
his songs in his local language, Yoruba and dominated English, his songs are
understood in Nigeria and beyond. He has been producing songs and albums in the
past years, and he is still famous in Nigeria and other parts of the world. His
following albums: “About 30” (2018) and “Afro Pop Vol. 1” (2020) showed his
desire to experiment with different Afrobeat genres, focusing more on pop and
dance styles in his second album.
Personal Life and Marriage
Adekunle Gold is married to Simisola Ogunleye, who is
also a Nigerian singer, and songwriter, commonly known by her stage name as
Simi. Their love story had always been rumored until the two lovebirds decided
to get married in a rather intimate wedding in January 2019. People and the
media welcomed the news with open arms as Adekunle and Simi are both cherished
artists in Nigeria.
Like Adekunle, Simi has also made a name for herself in the music industry with her soul-touching voice and lyrics. The couple has composed music often, especially when they sang together, the songs immediately turned into hit songs. One of their biggest work together is on the song “No Forget” by Adekunle Gold, in his debut album titled ‘Gold.’ They are inseparable in both their personal lives and careers, and their fans love the lovebirds and their works as well.
The couple Adekunle Gold and Simi have had their first child
together in May in the year 2020 and the name of their daughter is Adejare
Kosoko. The couple has been pretty much secretive when it comes to their
personal lives especially when it comes to their children. Nevertheless, there
is no doubt that fatherhood has influenced him in some way, as he repeatedly
showed affection and commitment to his family through his songs and IG page.
Artistic Evolution and Impact
Since the start of his career as an artist, Adekunle Gold has never shied away from change. Although he rose to prominence with his highlife-influenced tunes, he has not shied away from exploring other sounds and rhythms. Such audacity has placed him in the minds of aficionados and critics alike.
His debut album "Afro Pop Vol. 1" was a turning
point as he incorporated more pop elements along with Afrobeats. For instance,
“Something Different” and “Okay” indicated that the musician was ready to
diversify his style and follow other trending styles whilst still preserving
his authenticity. The album indeed enjoyed relative sales success and enhanced
the listener’s perception of Adekunle as an artist who is not only creative but
also progressive.
Apart from his music, he has also developed quite an
intriguing look that is part of his brand. He occasionally wears traditional
Nigerian dressing apparel, alongside the latest fashion trends to depict his
origin. This has made him a role model in fashion in Nigeria with many youths
emulating him.
Conclusion
The journey of Adekunle Gold in his music career is a
true story of never looking back, being creative and hadn’t change his type of
music. Starting out as a graphic designer, then going on to be a multiple
award-winning musician, the afrobeat artist has always challenged himself. His
music which includes storytelling and cultural aspects, besides, entertaining
his fans, has placed him among the top artists in Nigeria. This shows the
versatility that he will bring as he progresses as an artist in the future and
definitely will help influence a new generation of artists.
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