Brymo

Ọlawale Ọlọfọrọ (born Olawale Ibrahim Ashimi; 9 May 1986), who is better known as Brymo, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, sonic artist, actor and author who was born and raised in Okokomaiko.

Brymo started recording music in 1999 while in secondary school.

In 1999, while in secondary school, Ashimi recorded his first song and titled it "Future".

In 2002, Ashimi and some of his friends formed a group called The Aliens; they were active between 2004 and 2005, and disbanded in 2005.

Ashimi was inspired to create music after listening to his mother singing fuji songs.

Ashimi gained admission to Lagos State University (LASU), where he studied zoology, but after his second year he left to pursue a career in music.

Brymo released his debut studio album Brymstone in 2007.

Brymo released his debut studio album Brymstone in 2007; its lead single "Shawty" was accompanied by a music video.

He told Damiete Braide of The Sun, he chose Rhythm and Blues (R&B) after being influenced by the work of R. Kelly and the Backstreet Boys.

He also told Braide he sold more than 2,000 copies of the album within six months of its release.

He signed a recording contract with music label Chocolate City in 2010 but was accused of breaching his contract in 2013.

In 2010, Denrele Edun, whom Brymo met a few years earlier, asked Brymo if he knew the rapper M.I, who was interested in talking with him.

In 2010, Brymo signed to the label Chocolate City after talking with M.I. Prior to his record deal with Chocolate City, Brymo worked with rapper Jesse Jagz on the song "Love You", which appeared on Jagz's debut studio album Jag of All Tradez (2011).

Brymo appeared on the hit single "Oleku", which was released as the lead single from Ice Prince's debut studio album Everybody Loves Ice Prince (2011).

Brymo told Tony Erhariefe of The Sun his inspiration for recording the hook of "Oleku" came from the passion and energy around him, and from hunger and desperation.

He also said the song did not generate money but gave him exposure.

His second studio album The Son of a Kapenta was released in 2012, and was supported by the singles "Ara", "Good Morning" and "Go Hard".

On 15 November 2012, Brymo released his second studio album The Son of a Kapenta, which includes guest appearances from Jesse Jagz, Pryse, M.I, Ice Prince and Efya.

The album was recorded in English and Yoruba.

His third studio album Merchants, Dealers & Slaves, which was released on 20 October 2013, received positive reviews from music critics and was supported by the singles "Down" and "Eko".

In a 2013 interview with The Sun, Brymo said management problems prevented him from getting a marketing deal for the album and that he had a one-million naira offer that failed because of technical issues.

Brymo also said Brymstone is his worst body of work but credits it with helping him enter the music business.

In October 2014, Brymo released his fourth studio album Tabula Rasa; its lead single "Fe Mi" was described as a "soft traditional ballad".

His eight-track compilation album Trance was released on 8 December 2015.

It was primarily targeted at audiences in the U.S., and includes songs from Merchants, Dealers & Slaves and Tabula Rasa.

Brymo released his fifth studio album Klĭtôrĭs on 9 May 2016; it was nominated for Best R&B/Pop Album at The Headies 2016 and for Album of the Year at The Headies 2018.

In March 2018, Brymo released his critically acclaimed sixth studio album Oṣó, which includes a mixture of alternative folk and Yoruba music, and was supported by the singles "Heya!"

and "Bá’núsọ".

He has released books Oriri's Plight (2018), Verses (2020) and The Bad Tooth (2022), and starred in the films Price of Admission (2021) and Elesin Oba, The King's Horseman (2022).

Olawale Ashimi was born and raised in Okokomaiko, Ojo, Lagos State, Nigeria; his father is an Awori carpenter and his mother is an Egun petty trader; he is his parents' only child.

Ashimi grew up in a multi-faith household and learned to recite the entire Qur'an after being enrolled into an Islamic School.

Ashimi attended Aganju Aka Primary School and later enrolled at Japual Primary School.

Ashimi was initially interested in a career playing football after graduating from secondary school.

Brymo teamed up with three members of Skata Vibration to form A.A.A, an alternative rock band whose eponymous debut Extended Play (EP) was released in August 2019.

Brymo's seventh studio album Yellow was released on 1 April 2020; it was nominated for Best Alternative Album and Album of the Year at The Headies 2020.

Brymo released his debut EP Libel on 5 November 2020.

The five-track EP was produced by Bigfoot and includes guest vocals from Deborah Prest.

In September 2021, Brymo simultaneously released 9: Èsan and 9: Harmattan & Winter as his eighth and ninth studio albums, respectively.

His tenth studio album Theta was released on 27 May 2022; it has 10 tracks and is sung entirely in Nigerian Pidgin.

Brymo exhibited Mansa, his eleventh studio album and debut as a sonic artist, at KAP Hub in March 2023.