Oxlade, whose real name is Ikuforiji Olaitan Abdulrahman, was born on April 22, 1997, in Surulere, Lagos, Nigeria. He grew up with his grandmother after losing his mother at the age of three. His early life was filled with music, listening to African legends like King Sunny Adé and Ebenezer Obey.
Oxlade started singing in church choirs, where he learned how to sing and write songs. After two years of studying at the Lagos State University, he dropped out to pursue a career in music. He is now renowned for his Afro-fusion sounds, which often carry his emotions and real-life experiences.
Oxlade’s Discography
Oxlade is signed to Troniq Music, and he also has partnerships with Epic Records in France and Columbia Records in the UK. His sound typically blends Afro-fusion and R&B. He made his debut with the EP Oxygene, released in 2020, which includes the hit single Away. The track had peaked at number 23 on the Nigerian TurnTable Top 50 chart by the end of that year.
In 2021, Oxlade released the EP Eclipse, which featured the track Ojuju, a strong performer on Nigeria’s TurnTable Top 50 weekly chart and his second entry on the UK Afrobeats Singles Chart. You can listen to the full album on Spotify. He has also released popular singles, including Ku Lo Sa, DKT, and Want You.
In September 2024, Oxlade released his first studio album, OFA (Oxlade From Africa), featuring tracks like IFA, Ovami, and Intoxycated. He collaborated with artists such as Flavour, Dave, Fally Ipupa, and Wande Coal.
Then, in April 2025, Oxlade followed up with the OFA: Deluxe Edition, which expanded the tracklist to 20 songs and included four new tracks: Doingz, Omalicha, Sho Mi, and Vaniti. You can listen to the full album on Spotify.
Awards and Achievements
Oxlade gained international recognition with his hit song Away, which was featured in Rolling Stone’s 50 Best Songs of 2020. Additionally, his single Ku Lo Sa became a global sensation, amassing over a billion streams and earning him a nomination for Song of the Year at the Soundcity MVP Awards.
Furthermore, Oxlade was named the first Pandora Africa’s Next Artist in 2022. He also recently won the award for Best Music Video/Film West Africa for ‘IFA‘ featuring Fally Ipupa at the AAEA 2025.
Controversy
In 2022, Oxlade faced a scandal when a private video was leaked online. This incident affected his career, leading to the loss of endorsement deals. However, he apologized publicly and worked to rebuild his reputation.
