Humblesmith
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Short description|Nigerian musician}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Humblesmith
| image = Humblesmith.jpg
| image_size =
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| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name = Ekenedirichukwu Ijemba
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| alias =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|05|14}}
| birth_place = Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
| origin = Imo State, Nigeria
| death_date =
| death_place =
| genre = R&B, afropop, highlife
| occupation = singer-songwriter, vocalist
| instrument = Vocals
| years_active = 2011–present
| label = Show Bobo Music
| associated_acts = {{flatlist|
| website =
}}
Ekenedirichukwu Ijemba (born May 14, 1991), better known by his stage name Humblesmith, is a Nigerian afropop recording artist who achieved recognition upon the release of his hit single titled "Osinachi" in 2015 which later won a nomination spot at the 2016 Nigeria Entertainment Awards. {{cite news|url=http://pulse.ng/celebrities/humblesmith-i-want-to-give-2000-to-my-fans-singer-says-id5298860.html|title=Humblesmith: 'I want to give $2000 to my fans', singer says|work=Pulse Nigeria|author=Ayodele Johnson|date=July 23, 2016|accessdate=July 24, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160724154038/http://pulse.ng/celebrities/humblesmith-i-want-to-give-2000-to-my-fans-singer-says-id5298860.html|archive-date=July 24, 2016|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.naij.com/787769-used-hawk-moi-moi-traffic-popular-singer-reveals.html|title=Humblesmith speaks on background|work=Naij|date=April 4, 2016|accessdate=July 24, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820221902/https://www.naij.com/787769-used-hawk-moi-moi-traffic-popular-singer-reveals.html|archive-date=August 20, 2016|url-status=live}} He first ventured into the entertainment business as an actor, starring in a number of films including Hypertension (2010) with Sam Loco Efe. Currently signed to Show Bobo Music Limited,{{cite news|title=Music: Humblesmith – “Kosi”|url=https://www.djitunez.com/humblesmith-kosi-download-kosi-www-djitunez-com/|work=DJiTunez|author=Eazibeatz|date=December 16, 2020|accessdate=January 7, 2021}} he made the list of "10 Artists To Watch in 2016" by notJustOk.{{cite news|url=http://notjustok.com/2016/02/22/10-artists-to-watch-in-2016/2/|title=10 Artists To Watch in 2016|work=notJustOk|author=Don Boye|date=February 22, 2016|accessdate=July 24, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160629050459/http://notjustok.com/2016/02/22/10-artists-to-watch-in-2016/2/|archive-date=June 29, 2016|url-status=live}}
Early life
Originally from Uruala, a town in Ideato North local government area of Imo State, southeastern Nigeria, Ekene Ijemba was born on May 14, 1991, into a Catholic family in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.{{cite news|url=http://citypeopleng.com/how-my-osinachi-song-made-me-blow-in-2015-fast-rising-act-humblesmith/|title=Humblesmith Reveals His Grass-To-Grace Story – How He Sold Moin-Moin in Abakaliki|work=City People Magazine|last1=Ago|first1=Arinze|last2=Emmanuel|first2=Dan|last3=Kehinde|first3=Seye|date=February 15, 2016|accessdate=July 24, 2016|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160502005832/http://citypeopleng.com/how-my-osinachi-song-made-me-blow-in-2015-fast-rising-act-humblesmith/|archivedate=May 2, 2016}} While in secondary school, he started dancing and was part of a group called American Boys before he left Ebonyi State for Asaba City, the capital of Delta State, South-Southern Nigeria in order to pursue a career in music.{{cite news|url=http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/06/stole-sold-moms-gold-pay-first-studio-session-humblesmith/|title=I stole and sold my mom's gold to pay for my first studio session – Humblesmith|work=Vanguard News|last1=Ademola|first1=Adeleke|last2=Agbana|first2=Rotimi|date=June 18, 2016|accessdate=July 24, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160723070550/http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/06/stole-sold-moms-gold-pay-first-studio-session-humblesmith/|archive-date=July 23, 2016|url-status=live}}
Career
=2014–2017: Beginnings and rise to fame=
Upon arriving in Asaba City, Humblesmith had to take up menial jobs in order to earn a living. He later ventured into entertainment as an actor and appeared in various films including Hypertension with Sam Loco Efe. He returned to Ebonyi State at some point and then back to Delta State again to focus on a career in music. Determined to succeed, he started scouting for shows and performed for free until he was signed by DG Records who were impressed with one of his several performances.{{cite news|url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Xocrb6KQ-JU|title=EN: Osinachi Crooner, Humblesmith Opens Up About Life & New Found Fame|publisher=Channels TV|via=YouTube|date=February 25, 2016|accessdate=July 24, 2016}} In 2012, he left Asaba City for Lagos State where he recorded his debut single "Chairmoo" in 2014. In 2015, he released "Osinachi, a chart-topping single that featured Phyno; and Davido in the remix version.{{cite news|url=http://punchng.com/i-dont-regret-featuring-davido-in-osinachi-humblesmith/|title=I don't regret featuring Davido in Osinachi –Humblesmith|work=The Punch|date=6 February 2016|accessdate=24 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160711151139/http://punchng.com/i-dont-regret-featuring-davido-in-osinachi-humblesmith/|archive-date=11 July 2016|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} The song earned him a nomination spot in the "Best New Act" category at the 2016 edition of the Nigeria Entertainment Awards and was also nominated in the "Hottest Single" category at the same event.{{cite news|url=https://thenet.ng/full-nominee-list-for-2016-nigerian-entertainment-awards-nea/|title=FULL nominee list for 2016 Nigerian Entertainment Awards (NEA)|work=Nigerian Entertainment Today|author=Adedayo Showemimo|date=June 17, 2016|access-date=July 24, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170102011347/http://thenet.ng/2016/06/full-nominee-list-for-2016-nigerian-entertainment-awards-nea/|archive-date=January 2, 2017|url-status=live}} In April 2016, he featured Flavour N'abania in a song titled "Jukwese" which enjoyed rotational airplay around the country. He later announced an Instagram competition tagged the "#JukweseContest" in reference to the song, with a $2,000 prize money for the winner.{{cite news|url=http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/07/humblesmith-unveils-competition-new-single-jukwese/|title=Humblesmith unveils competition for new single, jukwese|work=Vanguard News|author=Rotimi Agbana|date=July 4, 2016|accessdate=July 24, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160710110623/http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/07/humblesmith-unveils-competition-new-single-jukwese/|archive-date=July 10, 2016|url-status=live}}
=2018–present: Release of ''Osinachi'', hiatus, and other singles=
Following the success of his singles "Osinachi" and Jukwuese", Humblesmith released his debut album Osinachi, which featured guest vocals from Davido, Patoranking, Phyno, Harrysong, Olamide, and Tiwa Savage.{{cite web|url=https://guardian.ng/life/music/humblesmith-debuts-osinachi-album/|title=Humblesmith Debuts "Osinachi" Album|last=Agbo|first=Njideka|date=June 23, 2018|website=The Guardian|access-date=July 16, 2021}} In December 2020, after a brief hiatus, he released a new single, Kosi, loosely translated as "God's will", a song of gratitude to God for his achievements.{{cite news|url=https://guardian.ng/life/humblesmith-makes-a-comeback-with-new-single-kosi/|title=Humblesmith Makes A Comeback With New Single "Kosi"|work=Guardian News|author=|date=December 11, 2020|accessdate=January 6, 2021}}
=Artistry=
Humblesmith cites Bright Chimezie as his music influence.{{cite news|url=http://sunnewsonline.com/i-wept-fasted-before-god-gave-me-osinachi-humble-smith/|title=I wept, fasted before God gave me Osinachi –Humble Smith|work=The Sun Newspaper|last1=Ifeoma Ogbonna|first1=Genevieve|last2=Jide|first2=Molokwu Theophilus|last3=Christopher|first3=Emuekpere|date=July 1, 2016|accessdate=July 24, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160703002509/http://sunnewsonline.com/i-wept-fasted-before-god-gave-me-osinachi-humble-smith/|archive-date=July 3, 2016|url-status=live}} He usually sings the afropop genre of music with a little fusion of highlife.
=Endorsement deal=
In June 2016, Humblesmith signed an endorsement deal with noodles manufacturing company Tummy-Tummy Food Industry.{{cite news|url=http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/06/humblesmith-bags-multi-million-naira-endorsement-deal/|title=Humblesmith bags multi-million naira endorsement deal|work=Vanguard News|last=Agbana|first=Rotimi|date=June 29, 2016|accessdate=July 24, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160802080605/http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/06/humblesmith-bags-multi-million-naira-endorsement-deal/|archive-date=August 2, 2016|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |last=BellaNaija.com |date=2016-07-01 |title=Tummy-Tummy Noodles Unveils “Osinachi” Crooner HumbleSmith As Brand Ambassador |url=https://www.bellanaija.com/2016/07/tummy-tummy-noodles-unveils-osinachi-crooner-humblesmith-as-brand-ambassador/ |access-date=2023-11-08 |website=BellaNaija |language=en-US}}
Selected discography
{{Expand list|date=July 2016}}
| class="wikitable sortable" | |
| Year
!Song !Album | |
|---|---|
| rowspan="3"|2014
|"Chairmoo" | rowspan="24" |Non-album singles | |
| "Bogati" | |
| "Shoki" | |
| rowspan="2"|2015
|"Love Me" | |
| "Osinachi" (featuring Phyno) | |
| rowspan="3"|2016
|"Osinachi (Remix)" (featuring Davido) | |
| "Jukwese" (featuring Flavour N'abania) | |
| "Na U" (featuring Harrysong) | |
| rowspan="4"|2017
|"Attracta" | |
| "Focus" | |
| "Abakaliki to Lasgidi (featuring Olamide) | |
| "Sugar"{{cite news|url=https://www.view.ng/humble-smith-sugar-song-download/|title=Humble Smith Sugar song download|work=View Nigeria|date=October 27, 2017|accessdate=October 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107023156/https://www.view.ng/humble-smith-sugar-song-download/|archive-date=November 7, 2017|url-status=dead}} | |
| rowspan="2"|2019
|"Uju Mina" | |
| "Report My Case" | |
| 2020 | "Kosi" |
| 2021
|"Dance" | |
| rowspan="3" |2022
|"Omalicha" | |
| "Born Champion" | |
| "Ogaba" | |
| rowspan="2" |2023
|"Jidenna" | |
| "With My Love" | |
| rowspan="3" |2024
|"Twis & Wain" | |
| "Mmadu" | |
| "Sochi" |