A New High: Adekunle Gold Joins American Label, Def Jam

Nigerian Afrobeats singer, Adekunle Gold, has reached a new level in his music career after signing with popular American record company Def Jam Recordings.

Tunji Balogun, the company’s Chief Executive Officer/Chairman, made the announcement on Tuesday, according to Billboard.

Def Jam’s CEO Praises Adekunle Gold’s Artistry

Def Jam’s CEO, Tunji Balogun, hailed Adekunle Gold for his artistry in the music industry, noting how distinctive the artist is. “I’ve been following Adekunle Gold since I first heard his record ‘Sade’ in 2016,” he said.

“Over the years, everything in AG’s world has elevated — his songwriting has refined, the scope of his artistry has widened, and his vocals have strengthened. His approach to fashion is more distinct, and his showmanship and performance ability has grown exponentially.

“He’s stepped into stardom on his own terms and is completely comfortable being his true self.”

Adekunle Gold’s Fit for Def Jam’s Niche Market

Balogun revealed how he had planned to bring the Def Jam label into the Afrobeats space as soon as he started working at the label in 2022.

He said: “Adekunle felt like the perfect fit – he’d already done so much work on his own to build a base, but I knew that we could scale his audience to an even bigger level if we combined our energies and worked together,” he continued.

Adekunle agreed, stating that Def Jam has a track record of breaking artists and has unique niche artists like him, making it the right move for him.

“He understands it,” Gold said. “So signing to Tunji makes sense. He’s like my studio buddy that just comes everywhere I go. The day he doesn’t have time to be there, I know he must’ve been like stupidly busy. He’s great.

“The track record is there. The history is there. They break artists, and they have niche, unique artists like me, so I think it’s the right move for me. All of the things that I’ve done for myself already, they know already, and that’s why they’re on board.”

Def Jam Recordings’ Impressive Roster of Superstars

Def Jam Recordings, owned by Universal Music Group, has an impressive roster of superstars alumni like Jay Z, Rihanna, and Kanye West. Adekunle Gold is poised to join the rank of these superstars, having risen to fame in 2015 with his debut hit, “Sade.” He signed his first record label deal with YBNL Nation before releasing his debut album, “Gold,” in 2017. Two years later, he launched his label, Afro Urban Records, putting out two albums: “About 30” in 2018 and “Catch Me If You Can” in 2022. He released his 2020 album, Afro Pop, Vol. 1, under EMI. He is, however, set to release a new album under Def Jam in June 2023.

The signing of Adekunle Gold by Def Jam Recordings is a remarkable feat that has taken the Nigerian Afrobeats music genre to new heights. With this move, Adekunle Gold is poised to become one of the biggest music stars in the world, and it is a testament to his talent and hard work. Fans eagerly await his new album, which promises to be another hit.