Kheengz
{{Short description|Nigerian rapper and actor (born 1992)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Kheengz
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| birth_name = King Bawa
| alias = YFK
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1992|07|08}}{{cite web|last=Onos|url=https://www.bellanaija.com/2012/02/another-northern-star-on-the-horizon-kheengz-aka-yfk/amp/|title=Who Is…Kheengz aka YFK|date=February 19, 2012|website=BellaNaija|access-date=April 15, 2021|archive-date=April 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418110100/https://www.bellanaija.com/2012/02/another-northern-star-on-the-horizon-kheengz-aka-yfk/amp/|url-status=dead }}
| birth_place = Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria
| origin = Bida, Niger State, Nigeria
| genre = Hip hop
| occupation = {{flatlist|
- Rapper
- singer
- actor
}}
| years_active = 2010–present
| label = YFK Entertainment
| associated_acts = {{flatlist|
| website =
}}
King Bawa (born 8 July 1992), better known by his stage name as Kheengz, is a Nigerian rapper and actor, born in the Northern part of Nigeria. He currently works under his own independent record label called YFK Entertainment. His debut album Voice of Arewa was released 25 December 2019 was a huge success up north. His single I Am North made waves in the music scene as it is about stereotyping arewa.{{cite news|last=Ibrahim|first=Abubakar Adam |url=https://dailytrust.com/why-kheengz-is-going-to-be-the-breakout-artiste-of-2018|title=Why Kheengz Is Going To Be The Breakout Artiste Of 2018|date=February 17, 2018|newspaper=Daily Trust|access-date=May 13, 2021 }}{{cite web|title=The Biography of Kheengz (YFK)|url=https://alieyouabokie.blogspot.com/2017/02/the-biography-of-kheengz-yfk-age-life.html?m=1/|last=Abokie|first=Alieyou|date=February 9, 2017|access-date=April 15, 2021 }}{{cite web|url=https://gistblogbase.com/kheengz-net-worth-biography/|title=Kheengz Net Worth & Biography (Updated 2025)|last=Bala|first=MD|date=10 December 2024|website=GistBlogBase.com|access-date=30 July 2024 }}{{cite web|url=https://360hausa.com/kheengz-net-worth-and-biography-updated/|title=Kheengz Net Worth & Biography (Updated 2024)|last=360hausa|first=Team|date=30 July 2024|website=360Hausa.com|access-date=30 July 2024 }}
Early life
Kheengz was born in Zaria, Kaduna and was raised in Bida, Niger. He is of Kadara ethnicity and the third of six children. He earned a bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.{{cite web|title=Exclusive interview with KHEENGZ (THE VOICE OF AREWA)|url=https://dotmagazineonline.wordpress.com/2016/10/22/exclusive-interview-with-kheengz-the-voice-of-arewa/amp/|publisher=dotmagazine|access-date=15 April 2021 }}
Career
Kheengz began writing rap songs while in secondary school in 2006. He started recording in 2010 at university. He released a cover of Sarkodie's hit song You Go Kill Me (Azonto){{cite web|title=Kheengz – My Malo Shortie (MMS)|date=August 2012 |url=https://notjustok.com/song/kheengz-my-malo-shortie-mms/|publisher=notjustok|access-date=15 April 2021 }} and later freestyled Ice Prince's hit song Aboki, which got him the attention from M.I Abaga.{{cite web|title=Kheengz – Aboki (Freestyle)|date=30 November 2012 |url=https://tooxclusive.com/kheengz-aboki-freestyle-eponbe-ft-soul-flavour/|publisher=tooxclusive|access-date=15 April 2021 }}
= 2013–2014: ''College Kid m''ixtape =
On 30 August 2013, Kheengz released his first project College Kid Mixtape which features rap artistes M.I Abaga, Erigga, Snowflake, Soul Flavour and G'rell. The lead single on the popular mixtape is "Jealousy". He later released a video titled I believe{{cite web|title=Video: Kheengz – I Believe|url=https://jaguda.com/music-mp3/video-kheengz-believe/|last=Ayo|first=Jaguda|date=23 November 2013|website=jaguda.com|access-date=15 April 2021 }} that was dedicated to the students killed in College of Agriculture, Yobe State.{{cite news |url=https://dailytrust.com/50-yobe-college-students-shot-dead/|title=50 Yobe College Students Shot Dead|date=30 September 2013|newspaper=Daily Trust|access-date=15 April 2021 }}
= 2015–2017: ''VOA (Voice of Arewa)'' EP and Pedestal EP =
His sophomore project was EP VOA (voice of arewa), which he released 21 November 2015. He went on to release the Pedestal EP on 21 December 2017. He later released a song with a movement "I Am North" to address the popular stereotypical views of Northerners in Nigeria.{{cite web|url=https://www.vibe.ng/every-non-hausa-nigerian-should-watch-kheengz-i-am-north-music-video/|title=Every Non Hausa Nigerian Should Watch Kheengz "I AM NORTH"|date=14 December 2017|website=Vibe.ng|access-date=15 April 2021 }}
= 2019–2021: ''Voice of Arewa'' Album and ''The Four Horsemen'' EP =
Kheengz debut album Voice of Arewa (also tagged Voice of the North) was released on 25 December 2019. The album has features from Erigga, DJ AB, DJ Steev and Ijaya. He also featured Ice Prince in the remix of "Alhamdulillah" which was released in 2019.{{Cite web|date=30 March 2018|title=Kheengz "Alhamdulillah" ft. Ice Prince|url=https://www.okayafrica.com/nigerian-songs-best-march-wizkid-olamide/?rebelltitem=6#rebelltitem6?rebelltitem=6|access-date=6 July 2021|website=OkayAfrica }} On 26 December 2020, Kheengz teamed up with other northern rappers DJ AB, Deezell and BOC Madaki on a joint EP The Four Horsemen, containing four tracks.{{cite web|url=https://www.arewahitsmusic.com.ng/album-dj-ab-x-kheengz-x-deezell-x-b-o-c-madaki-the-four-horsemen/|title=ALBUM: DJ AB x Kheengz x Deezell x B.O.C Madaki – The Four Horsemen|last=Umar|first=Faruq|date=27 December 2020|website=ArewaHitsMusic.com.ng|access-date=15 April 2021 }}{{cite web|url=https://justnaija.com/album-download/voa-voice-of-arewa/#:~:text=Nigerian%20Hip%20Hop%20recording%20star,Written%3A%20Dec%2026%2C%202019/|title=Kheengz VOA (Voice Of Arewa) Album|date=26 December 2019|website=JustNaija.com|access-date=15 April 2021 }}
On 4 June 2021, Kheengz released a single Who be This Guy featuring Falz and M.I Abaga.{{cite web|url=https://tooxclusive.com/music-kheengz-who-be-this-guy-ft-falz-m-i/|title=[Music] Kheengz – Who Be This Guy ft. Falz & M.I|last=Yhusuff|first=aL|date=4 June 2021|website=Tooxclusive.com|access-date=4 June 2021 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.ghgossip.com/music-kheengz-ft-falz-x-m-i-abaga-who-be-this-guy/|title=MUSIC: Kheengz ft Falz X M.I Abaga – Who Be This Guy|author=SAMMY SKRATCH|date=5 June 2021 |website=Ghgossip.com|access-date=6 July 2021 }}{{Cite web|date=4 June 2021|title=DOWNLOAD: Kheengz taps Falz, MI Abaga for 'Who Be This Guy'|url=http://lifestyle.thecable.ng/download-kheengz-falz-mi-abaga-who-be-this-guy/|access-date=6 July 2021|website=TheCable Lifestyle }} Since the announcement of the music collaboration in July 2020, media space has been creating many buzz on the collaboration before it was released.{{cite web|title=Kheengz ft. Falz & M.I Abaga – Who Be This Guy|url=https://donemmynaija.com/download-music/kheengz-ft-falz-m-i-abaga-who-be-this-guy/|publisher=donemmynaija.com|access-date=4 June 2021 }} The video was released on 2 July 2021, directed by Bash'em.{{Cite web|date=2 July 2021|title=Kheengz – Who Be This Guy Ft. Falz And M.I Abaga (VIDEO) MP4 Download {{!}} MusicVibes|url=https://musicvibes.net/kheengz-who-be-this-guy-ft-falz-and-m-i-abaga-video/|access-date=6 July 2021|website=MusicVibes.net }}
Kheengz explored another aspect of his creativity by starring in Nigerian television series Crazy, Lovely, Cool on Netflix.{{cite web|title=Crazy, Lovely, Cool|url=https://www.netflix.com/ng/title/81213155?preventintent=true/|publisher=Netflix|access-date=15 April 2021 }}{{cite web |url=https://m.guardian.ng/life/nigerian-drama-series-crazy-lovely-cool-clc-debuts-on-netflix/|title=Nigerian Drama Series: "Crazy, Lovely, Cool (CLC)" Debuts on Netflix|last=Modupeoluwa|first=Adekanye|date=17 December 2019|website=The Guardian|access-date=15 April 2021 }}
Discography
= Studio album =
= EPs =
- Voice of Arewa the EP (2015)
- Pedestal EP (2017)
- The Four Horsemen EP (2020)
= Mixtapes =
- College Kid Mixtape (2013)
Filmography
= Film and television =
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;"
! colspan="5" style="background: LightSteelBlue;" | Television |
| Year
!width="200"| Title !width="200"| Role !width="200"| Notes !Ref |
|---|
| rowspan="1"|2018
|Hassan |Supporting role |{{cite web|title=Nigerian TV series 'Crazy, Lovely, Cool' debuts on Netflix|url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/entertainment/nollywood/368563-nigerian-tv-series-crazy-lovely-cool-debuts-on-netflix.html/|last=admin|date=17 December 2019|website=Premium Times|access-date=16 April 2021 }} |
| rowspan="1"|2019
|Heart & Soul |Bad Boy |Supporting role |{{cite web|url=https://www.bellanaija.com/2019/05/heart-soul-obi-emelonye/|title=Get the Scoop on 'Heart & Soul' – Nollywood's New Medico-Spiritual TV Series by Obi Emelonye|date=24 May 2019|website=BellaNaija|access-date=25 July 2021 }} |
| rowspan="1"|2024
|Don (by Deezell TV |Doctor |Supporting role | |
|}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Cite web|title=Kheengz Biography, Age, Songs & Albums|url=https://amdb.co/artist/kheengz|access-date=2021-06-11 |author=Ndabagi|website=AMDb}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:21st-century Nigerian musicians
Category:Nigerian male rappers
Category:People from Niger State
Category:21st-century Nigerian male musicians
Category:21st-century Nigerian male actors
Category:Nigerian male film actors
Category:Nigerian hip-hop musicians