Mode 9
{{Short description|Nigerian rapper (born 1975)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Modenine
| image = Modenine performing on stage.jpg
| landscape =
| alt =
| caption = Modenine performing in 2010
| birth_name = Babatunde Olusegun Adewale
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| alias = Nigel Benn
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1975|06|14}}
| birth_place = Paddington, England
| origin = Osun State, Nigeria
| death_date =
| death_place =
| occupation = Rapper, lyricist
| instrument =
| years_active = 1999–present
| label = Redeye Muzik
| website = {{URL|officialmodenine.com}}
}}
Babatunde Olusegun Adewale{{cite web | url=http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/08/mode-9-goes-emotional-i-released-an-album-no-one-cared/ | title=MODE 9 goes emotional: I released an album, no one cared! | date=16 August 2013 | website =Vanguard News | access-date=26 September 2014}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/music/bio-mode-nine/yv2ysnp|title=Mode Nine|date=April 9, 2014|website=Pulse Nigeria}} (born June 14, 1975), popularly known by his stage name Modenine, is an English-born Nigerian rapper.{{cite web | url=http://hiphopworldmagazine.com/2013/05/23/m-i-is-a-better-rapper-than-ice-prince-mode-9/ | title=MI is a better Rapper than Iceprince -- Mode 9 | publisher=hiphopworldmagazine.com | access-date=26 September 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202004256/http://hiphopworldmagazine.com/2013/05/23/m-i-is-a-better-rapper-than-ice-prince-mode-9/ | archive-date=2 February 2014 | url-status=dead }}{{cite web | url=http://www.punchng.com/entertainment/life-beat/mode9-to-quit-rap-music/ | title=Mode9 to quit rap music | publisher=punchng.com | access-date=26 September 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924110028/http://www.punchng.com/entertainment/life-beat/mode9-to-quit-rap-music/ | archive-date=24 September 2015 | url-status=dead }} He is a seven times Headies lyricist on the roll winner and he is widely regarded by industry heads as one of the greatest African lyricists of all time.[https://hiphopafrican.com/we-could-have-saved-modes-9/] [https://www.legit.ng/entertainment/music/1561498-olamide-odumodu-blvck-lists-top-nigerian-rappers-times/] [https://randr.ng/ice-prince-praises-mi-modenine/]
In 2014, he released "Super Human" with Jamaican-American rapper, Canibus.{{cite web | url=http://notjustok.com/2014/01/09/modenine-canibus-super-human/ | title=Modenine & Canibus – Super Human (Prod. Teck-Zilla) | work=notjustOk | date=9 January 2014 | publisher=notjustok.com | access-date=26 September 2014}}{{Cite web|url=https://famousdigital.wordpress.com/2012/03/22/mode-9-signs-new-record-deal/|title=MODE 9 SIGNS NEW RECORD DEAL|date=March 22, 2012}}
Early life and education
Babatunde was born in London on June 14, 1975, and his family relocated to Lagos during his preteen years.{{cite web |last1=Kpade |first1=Sabo |title=Modenine: "The Ones That Are Against Me Tend to Overlook My Skill & What I Can Do" |url=https://www.okayafrica.com/modenine-monument-album-interview/ |website=Okayafrica |access-date=10 April 2025}} He is the third child of his parents who are from Osun State.{{cite web|url=http://www.nigerianentertainment.com/NEDec05/mode9.htm | title=INTERVIEW WITH MODE 9 By Chiaka Opara | publisher=nigerianentertainment.com | access-date=26 September 2014}} He has credited Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five for inspiring his love for hip-hop.{{Cite web|url=http://nigerianentertainment.com/NEDec05/mode9.htm|title=Nigerian Entertainment Online Magazine|website=nigerianentertainment.com|access-date=2018-08-30}} He attended Agboju secondary school. He earned a degree in Building Technology at Federal Polytechnic Bida, Niger State, Nigeria.
Career
He worked with Rhythm 84.7fm in Abuja, Nigeria as a radio presenter.
In 2004, Babatunde released his debut project, Malcolm IX.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/music/modenine-10-essential-songs-by-the-mathematical-sege/qzndb1y|title=10 essential songs by the Mathematical Sege|date=June 14, 2018|website=Pulse Nigeria}}{{cite web |title=Modenine's "Malcolm IX" Album Review |url=http://www.traedays.com/2004/10/modenine-ix-album-review.html |website=Trae Days |date=4 October 2004}} In 2006 "Pentium IX" was released . {{cite web |last1=Selbo |first1=Jordan |title=Mode 9 (Modenine) :: Pentium IX |url=https://www.rapreviews.com/2006/11/mode-9-modenine-pentium-ix/ |website=Rap Reviews |date=21 November 2006}} In 2007, he released another album called É Pluribus Unum. The album's main single, 'Cry', won three awards at the Channel O Music Video Awards in 2006.{{cite web |title=Channel O Music Video Awards |url=https://www.bellanaija.com/2006/10/channel-o-music-video-awards/ |website=Bella Naija |access-date=23 October 2006}} It also won the award for "Best Rap Single" at The Headies.{{cite web |title=2007 Winners |url=https://theheadies.com/2007-winners/ |website=The Headies |access-date=13 April 2025}} Modenine has eight studio albums.
In 2018, Babatunde released a new album titled "Hence4th" which was produced by Black Intelligence.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/music/modenine-rapper-releases-new-album-titled-hence4th/7q2e81h|title=Rapper releases new album titled, 'Hence4th'|date=June 2, 2018|website=Pulse Nigeria}} In 2019, he released an album titled The Monument{{Cite web|url=https://www.bellanaija.com/2019/01/modenine-returns-the-monument/|title=Modenine returns with new album "The Monument"|date=January 23, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.musicinafrica.net/magazine/nigerian-rappers-mode-9-and-eva-set-album-release|title=Nigerian rappers Mode 9 and Eva set for album release|date=August 5, 2016|website=Music In Africa}}
Accolades
- 2006: "Cry" won awards at the Channel O Music Video Awards
- 2007: Won 'Best Rap Single' for "Cry" at The Headies.{{cite web |title=2007 Winners |url=https://theheadies.com/2007-winners/ |website=The Headies |access-date=13 April 2025}}
Discography
Single Albums
- Malcolm IX -2004
- Pentium IX - 2006
- E' Pluribus Unum "One Amongst Many" -2007
- The Paradigm Shift -2008
- Da Vinci Mode -2010
- Above Ground Level - 2014
- Insulin - 2016
- The Monument (By Stormatique) - 2019
Featured Albums
- Modenine & Alias - Pay At-10-Shun - 2010
- Modenine & Mills The Producer - Golden Era Guevara New Era Mandela - 2011
- Modenine & XYZ - Alphabetical Order - 2013
- Modenine and DJ Papercutt - Look What I Found EP - 2016
- Modenine & Black Intelligence - Hence4th - 2018
Mixtapes
- Malcolm IX - The Lost Sessions - 2004
- Pentium IX - The Mixtape - 2005
- Nigel Benn's KraftWork (Modenine and Kraft) - The Soul Edition - 2007
- 09.09.09 The Mix Tape - 2009
- Occupy The Throne - 2012
References
{{reflist}}
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Category:Nigerian male rappers
Category:English people of Nigerian descent
Category:Musicians from Osun State