Sound Sultan
{{short description|Nigerian singer-songwriter (1976 - 2021)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{more citations needed|date=July 2021}}
{{Infobox musical artist|
| name = Sound Sultan
| image = Sound Sultan (cropped).png
| image_size =
| birth_name = Olanrewaju Abdul-Ganiu Fasasi
| alias = Sound Sultan
| birth_date = {{birth date|1976|11|27}}
| birth_place = Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria
| death_date = {{death date and age|2021|7|11|1976|11|27}}
| death_place = New Jersey, United States of America
| origin = Yoruba
| instruments =
| genre = R&B, hip hop, reggae, Afrobeat
| occupations = Singer-songwriter, rapper, comedian, actor, musician, record producer, executive producer, basketball club co -owner.
| years_active = 1996–2021
| label = {{unbulleted list
|Kennis Music (1997–2008)
|Naija Ninjas (2008–2021)
}}
| associated_acts = 2face Idibia, Wyclef Jean, WizKid, Sarkodie, Banky W, M.I, Faze, Plantashun Boyz, BlackFace Naija
}}
Sound Sultan (born Olanrewaju Abdul-Ganiu Fasasi; November 27, 1976 – July 11, 2021){{Cite web|date=August 1, 2018|title=Who Is Sound Sultan? Here's Everything You Need To Know About Him|url=https://buzznigeria.com/sound-sultan/|access-date=March 27, 2021|website=BuzzNigeria - Famous People, Celebrity Bios, Updates and Trendy News|language=en-US}} was a Nigerian rapper, singer, songwriter, actor, comedian, and recording artist. He was regarded as one of the pacesetters of modern hip hop music in Nigeria. He was notable for using his music to speak against poverty, corruption, bad governance and societal ills in Nigeria.
Early life
In 1991, he took interest in music and miming at school parties and writing his own lyrics. He attributed his early influence to his elder brother Baba Dee{{Cite web|date=2021-07-13|title=Baba Dee to Sound Sultan: Even in death, you're a symbol of grace|url=http://lifestyle.thecable.ng/baba-dee-to-sound-sultan-even-in-death-youre-a-symbol-of-grace/|access-date=2021-11-01|website=TheCable Lifestyle|language=en-US}} who studied theatre arts, and received most of his early stage experience through Baba Dee.{{citation needed |date=July 2020}}
He started learning how to play the guitar after his secondary school education and was in a band by 1999.
Career
Sound Sultan's career in show business started in the 1990s, when he hosted shows to raise money for studio sessions.
By 1999, he had won numerous local talent-hunt shows. He released his first single - Mathematics "Jagbajantis" in 2000,{{Cite news|url=http://amdb.co/music/lyrics/sound-sultan/mathematics-jagbajantis/|title=Mathematics (Jagbajantis) {{!}} AMDB Music|work=AMDB Music|access-date=December 22, 2017|language=en-US}} which was a hit in Nigeria.
After independently releasing other singles and featuring in hit songs of other artists, he was signed by Kennis Music.{{cite web |url=http://www.punchng.com/entertainment/e-punch/kennisyesterday-today-and-kelly-hansome/ |title=Kennis:Yesterday, today and Kelly Hansome |publisher=Punchng.com |date=June 15, 2012 |access-date=April 7, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402104329/http://www.punchng.com/entertainment/e-punch/kennisyesterday-today-and-kelly-hansome/ |archive-date=April 2, 2015}}
Under Kennis Music, he released four albums. By 2007, his contract with the label expired{{Cite web |url=http://www.naijarules.com/vb/all-music/29737-i-am-not-big-boy-sound-sultan.html |title = I am not a big boy –Sound Sultan |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130129165743/http://www.naijarules.com/vb/all-music/29737-i-am-not-big-boy-sound-sultan.html |archive-date=29 January 2013 |url-status=dead}} and he partnered with Baba Dee to start Naija Ninjas, a parent organization for a record label, production outfit and clothing line.
After starting as a rapper, he worked in different musical genres from R&B to Afrobeat, soul and Nigerian Fuji music. He said that artists shouldn't be judged on the genre in which they performed, that the important thing is the message conveyed in the music.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}
Under Naija Ninjas, he released Back From The Future (2011) and signed artists such as Karma Da Rapper,{{Cite web |last=L |first=Jibola |date=2010-09-02 |title=Who is… Karma |url=https://www.bellanaija.com/2010/09/who-is-karma/ |access-date=2022-03-28 |website=BellaNaija |language=en-US}} Young GreyC, Shawn (Sean Tizzle) and Blacka.
Naija Ninjas released their debut EP titled The Rebirth{{Cite web |date=2012-10-06 |title=Sound Sultan presents Naija Ninja with 'The Rebirth Mixtape' |url=https://thenet.ng/sound-sultan-presents-naija-ninja-with-the-rebirth-mixtape/ |access-date=2022-03-28 |website=Nigerian Entertainment Today |language=en-US}} in 2012 and it featured the hit single Aropin which was produced by music producer Prodizzle featuring Sound Sultan, Karma & Sean Tizzle.{{Cite web |date=2014-07-02 |title=VIDEO Premiere: Karma - Aropin Feat. Sean Tizzle , Sound Sultan |url=https://h-wing.net/video-premiere-karma-aropin-feat-sean-tizzle-sound-sultan/ |access-date=2022-03-28 |website=HWING |language=en-GB}}
Sound Sultan began a working relationship with Wyclef Jean when he featured alongside 2face Idibia and Faze on "Proud to be African" from Wyclef's Welcome to Haiti: Creole 101 album. They collaborated on two other projects: "King of My Country" (2009) and "People Bad" (2012).{{cite web|author=Nkechi Opurum |url=http://dailytimes.com.ng/article/sound-sultan-features-wyclef-track |title=Sound Sultan features Wyclef on track | Daily Times Nigeria |publisher=Dailytimes.com.ng |date=August 26, 2012 |access-date=April 7, 2014}}
In 2012, it was announced that Sound Sultan was made a UN Ambassador for Peace for his exemplary lifestyle and career.{{cite web |url=http://nigeriafilms.com/news/16431/27/sound-sultangoldie-made-un-ambassadors.html |title=Sound Sultan, Goldie Made Un Ambassadors |publisher=nigeriafilms.com |date=March 24, 2012 |access-date=April 7, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408040129/http://www.nigeriafilms.com/news/16431/27/sound-sultangoldie-made-un-ambassadors.html |archive-date=April 8, 2014}}{{better source needed|date=March 2019}}
In 2015, Sound Sultan released the rap single "Remember"{{Cite web|url=http://www.exclusivelynaija.com/fresh-music-sound-sultan-remember/|title=Fresh Music: Sound Sultan – Remember|date=July 25, 2015|website=ExclusivelyNaija|publisher=Ifode Concepts|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926133222/http://www.exclusivelynaija.com/fresh-music-sound-sultan-remember/|archive-date=September 26, 2015|url-status=dead|access-date=December 22, 2017}} after a long absence from the music scene.
After the fallout of the African Basketball League, Sound Sultan joined forces with the organizers of the Continental Basketball League to become a team owner of Lagos City Stars (the 2017 champions) and a facilitator of the league entertainment.{{Cite web|url=https://guardian.ng/sport/jordin-is-mvp-as-lagos-city-stars-win-cbls-may-madness/|title=Jordin is MVP as Lagos City Stars win CBL's May Madness|date=June 6, 2017}}
Sound Sultan featured on Honorebel's 2019 single "Bridal" with Joe El.{{Cite web|title=Music News: Bridal {{!}} The Indie Music Press Release Board {{!}} Honorebel - Upcoming Releases (Reggae)|url=https://musicnews.skunkradiolive.com/2019/01/Music-News-Reggae-Upcoming-Releases-2019-January-06-Honorebel.html|access-date=June 23, 2020|language=en-GB}}
Personal life and death
In 2009, Sound Sultan married his long-term girlfriend Chichi Morah, now known as Farida Fasasi.{{cite web|url=http://www.bellanaija.com/2009/10/08/celebrity-wedding-update-sound-sultan-tosin-sido-sokleva-hughes-of-rooftop-mcs/ |title=Celebrity Wedding Update: Sound Sultan | Tosin Sido | Sokleva Hughes of Rooftop MCs |publisher=Bella Naija |date=October 8, 2009 |access-date=April 7, 2014}} They had three children.{{cite web |url=http://www.akpraise.com/2015/03/26/meet-sound-sultans-beautiful-wife-and-children-you-all-didnt-know-photos/ |title=Meet Sound Sultan's Beautiful Wife And Children You All Didn't Know (PHOTOS) |publisher=AKPRAISE'S BLOG |date=March 26, 2015 |access-date=August 14, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925121104/http://akpraise.com/2015/03/26/meet-sound-sultans-beautiful-wife-and-children-you-all-didnt-know-photos/ |archive-date=September 25, 2015 }}
On May 12, 2021, it was reported that Sound Sultan was somewhere in the USA receiving chemotherapy as he was reportedly diagnosed with Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma. He died on July 11, 2021, at the age of 44 as a result of complications from the illness.{{Cite web|date=2021-07-11|title=Veteran Singer Sound Sultan Dies At Age 44|url=https://editor.guardian.ng/life/veteran-singer-sound-sultan-dies-after-battle-with-cancer/|access-date=2021-07-11|website=The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News|language=en-US}}
Sound Sultan was the younger brother of Nigerian musical artiste, Baba Dee.
Discography
- Kpsshew (2001)
- Textbook (2004)
- Naija 007 (2007)
- SS4 (2008)
- Back to The future (2010)
- Me, My Mouth and Eye (2013)
- Out of The Box (2016)
- 8th Wondah (2020)
- Reality Chq (2022)