Ycee

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = YCee

| image = Ycee's Fltyime interview in 2017.png

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption = Ycee speaking with Flytime Promotions in December 2017

| birth_name = Oludemilade Martin Alejo

| alias = Zaheer

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1993|1|29|df=y}}

| birth_place = Lagos State, Nigeria

| origin =

| death_date =

| death_place =

| genre = {{flat list|

Afropop
hip-hop}}

| occupation = {{hlist|Rapper|singer|songwriter}}

| instrument = {{flat list|

Vocals
rapping}}

| years_active = 2012–present

| label = {{hlist|ANBT (current)|Tinny (former)|Sony (former)}}

| website =

}}

Oludemilade Martin Alejo (born 29 January 1993), known professionally as Ycee (pronounced {{IPAc-en|ˈ|w|aɪ|s|i:}} {{respell|WY|see}}; also stylized as YCee), is a Nigerian rapper, singer and songwriter.{{cite news|url=http://www.bellanaija.com/2015/10/23/olamide-jumps-on-the-remix-to-jagaban-by-ycee/|title=Olamide Jumps on the Remix to ‘Jagaban’ by Ycee|work=BellaNaija|date=23 October 2015|access-date=30 October 2015}} He gained popularity after his single "Condo", which features vocals by Patoranking, earned him two nominations at the 2015 Nigeria Entertainment Awards.{{cite news|url=https://www.naij.com/544827-exclusive-fresh-hot-fast-rising-rapper-releases-new-video.html|title=Fresh: Ycee Releases Jagaban Video|work=Naij|last=Bodunrin|first=Sola|date=8 September 2015|access-date=30 October 2015}} He was also nominated for Best Artist in African Pop at the 2015 All Africa Music Awards{{cite news|url=http://expressng.com/2015/08/olamide-davido-wizkid-sarkodie-dominate-all-africa-music-awards-afrima-categories-full-list/|title=Olamide, Davido, Wizkid, Sarkodie Dominate All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) Categories [FULL LIST]|work=Entertainment Express|last=Shola|first=Ayeotan|date=22 August 2015|access-date=30 October 2015}} and for Next Rated at The Headies 2016.{{cite news|url=http://culturecustodian.com/headies-awards-2016-complete-list-nominees/|title=Headies Awards 2016 : Complete List of Nominees|work=Culture Custodian|author=Tomi|date=19 December 2016|access-date=21 September 2017}} Ycee signed a record deal with Sony Music in October 2016, but terminated his contract with the label in February 2018.{{cite web |author1=Jayne Augoye |title=Tinny Entertainment announces termination of Ycee’s deal with Sony Music |url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/entertainment/music/257546-tinny-entertainment-announces-termination-ycees-deal-sony-music.html |access-date=21 February 2019 |date=5 February 2018}}

Early life and education

Ycee was born in Festac Town, a housing estate in Lagos State, Nigeria. He completed his basic education at Dr. Soyemi Memorial Nursery and Primary School. He attended the Nigerian Navy Secondary School in Ojo for his secondary education. Ycee studied marine biology at the University of Lagos.{{cite news|url=http://www.encomium.ng/im-not-a-womanizer-ycee/|title=‘I’m not a womanizer’ – YCEE|work=Ecomium|author=Ecomium Weekly|date=28 July 2015|access-date=30 October 2015}}

Career

Ycee started his music career in 2012 as an underground rapper. He signed a record deal with Tinny Entertainment. Due to his educational engagements, he took a brief hiatus from music after gaining admission to the University of Lagos.{{cite news|url=http://www.naij.com/598957-exclusive-1-year-2-singles-3-award-nominations-upcoming-artist-shares-winning-secrets.html|title=Exclusive: Ycee The Jagaban Speaks On His Success|work=Naij|last=Bodunrin|first=Sola|access-date=30 October 2015}} Ycee released the critically acclaimed song "Condo" in May 2015; it was nominated for Best Collaboration of the Year and Best Music Video of the Year at the 2015 Nigeria Entertainment Awards.{{cite news|url=https://www.bellanaija.com/2015/06/12/kiss-daniel-korede-bello-falz-wizkid-olamide-davido-more-nominated-for-the-10th-annual-nigerian-entertainment-awards/|title=Kiss Daniel, Korede Bello, Falz, Wizkid, Olamide, Davido & More Nominated for the 10th Annual Nigerian Entertainment Awards|work=BellaNaija|last=Ade-Unuigbe|first=Adesola|date=19 October 2015|access-date=30 October 2015}} On 20 July 2015, he released the hit single "Jagaban". Nigerian rapper Olamide asked him to be featured on the remix.{{cite news|url=http://www.naij.com/609767-exclusive-olamide-teams-jagaban-master.html|title=Exclusive: Olamide Teams Up With Jagaban Master, Ycee|work=Naij|last=Bodunrin|first=Sola|date=19 October 2015|access-date=30 October 2015}} He gained further exposure after receiving a nomination for Revelation of the Year at the 2015 MTV Africa Music Awards. Moreover, he was nominated for Best Artist in African Pop at the 2015 All Africa Music Awards.{{cite news|url=http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/2015/07/ycee-makes-a-come-back-to-the-music-scene-with-condo/|title=Ycee Makes A Come Back To The Music Scene With ‘Condo’|work=The Guardian|last=Anazia|first=Daniel|date=25 July 2015|access-date=30 October 2015}}

On 25 June 2017, "Juice" featuring Maleek Berry became the most popular new music on Nigeria radio, ranked number 1 by Playdata charts.{{cite web |title=Most popular new music on the radio in Nigeria |url=http://www.myplaydatacharts.com/2017/06/25/most-played-songs-in-nigeria-2017-week-26 |website=Playdata charts |publisher=Playdata |access-date=21 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170628080816/http://www.myplaydatacharts.com/2017/06/25/most-played-songs-in-nigeria-2017-week-26 |archive-date=28 June 2017}} Ycee sold out a headline gig at the O2 Academy Islington on 12 January 2018. The gig featured additional performances from his label mates Bella Alubo, Sona, Eugy, Ms. Banks and Flosha.{{cite web |author1=Toyin Owoseje |title=YCEE brings the Afrobeats Juice and plenty of sauce with surprise guests at sold-out London show |url=https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/ycee-brings-afrobeats-juice-plenty-sauce-surprise-guests-sold-out-london-show-1655054 |website=International Business Times |access-date=4 April 2020 |date=13 January 2018}} On 15 January 2019, he announced on Instagram that he left Tinny Entertainment.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bellanaija.com/2019/01/new-year-new-record-label-ycee-parts-ways-with-tinny-entertainment/|title=New Year, New Record Label? YCee parts ways with Tinny Entertainment|last=BellaNaija|date=17 January 2019|website=bellanaija.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-15}} He also announced the launch of his record label ANBT, an acronym for Ain't Nobody Badder Than.{{Cite web|url=https://www.freeinstrumental.com.ng/2019/01/ycee-launches-his-own-label/|title=Ycee Announces His Own Record Label|last=admin|date=17 January 2019|website=Freeinstrumental.com.ng|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-24}}

Ycee released his debut studio album Ycee vs Zaheer on 8 November 2019.{{cite web |author1=Motolani Alake |title=YCee releases debut album, 'YceevsZaheer' |url=https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/music/ycee-ycee-vs-zaheer-new-album-davido-niniola-phyno-ms-banks-feature/x8lvlgj |publisher=Pulse Nigeria |access-date=9 November 2019 |date=8 November 2019}} It is a mixture of hip-hop, trap, Afrobeats, Afro-house, hyphy, R&B and alte. The album serves as the follow-up to his 8-track debut EP First Wave (2017) and his collaborative EP with Bella Alubo, titled Late Night Vibrations (2018). The album was produced by Adey, Jay Bidz, Ballertosh, Fanatix, BeatsbyKarma, Syn X, Krizbeatz, Jay Popping, Buzzin Producer, AP Da Don, Two Seven, Elmore, Willis Give Dem and KO. It features collaborations with Davido, Niniola, Phyno, Ms Banks and Dapo Tuburna.

Over the course of his career and since his rise to prominence, Ycee has featured on notable records to break upcoming artists. He featured on records to break his label mate Dapo Turbuna "Nothing" Remix in 2016,{{Cite web|last=BellaNaija.com|date=7 July 2017|title=New Music: Dapo Tuburna feat. Olamide & Ycee – Nothing (Remix)|url=https://www.bellanaija.com/2017/07/dapo-tuburna-nothing-remix/|access-date=2020-06-11|website=BellaNaija|language=en-US}} Label Mate Bella on Radio in 2017 before going ahead to create a joint EP with her Late Night Vibrations.{{Cite web|date=31 January 2018|title=Essentials: Bella Alubo and YCee get in their feels for 'Late Night Vibrations' EP|url=https://thenativemag.com/music/essentials-bella-alubo-ycee-get-feels-late-night-vibration-ep/|access-date=2020-06-11|website=The Native|language=en-US}} Ycee also featured on Big Man Doingz{{Cite web|date=4 October 2018|title=Arosino – BigMan Doingz ft. Ycee, Dapo Tuburna & Karma « tooXclusive|url=https://tooxclusive.com/arosino-bigman-doingz-ft-ycee-dapo-tuburna-karma/|access-date=2020-06-11|website=tooXclusive|language=en-US}} by Arosino alongside Dapo Tuburna and Karma. Some Say it was his way of giving back to emerging artistes as he was once on the receiving end of such impact through Olamide on his remix to Jagaban, his breakthrough single.

Discography

=Studio albums=

Ycee vs Zaheer (2019)

=EPs=

First Wave (2017)
Late Night Vibrations (with Bella Alubo) (2018)
Love Drunk (2021)

=Selected songs=

Year !Song !Album
class="wikitable sortable"
rowspan="2"\|2012 \|"Smile On Me" \|rowspan="11" {{n/a\|Non-album single}}
"Pass Me"
2014 \|"Shots"
rowspan="4"\|2015 \|"Condo" (featuring Patoranking)
"Jagaban"
"Jagaban" (Remix) (featuring Olamide)
"Omo Alhaji"
rowspan="4"\|2016 \|"Su Mi"
"Panda" (Cover)
"Omo Alhaji" (Remix) (featuring DJ Maphorisa)
"Ahahn" ("Ooouuu" cover)
rowspan="8" \|2017 \|"Link Up" (featuring Reekado Banks) \| rowspan="8" \| First Wave
"Juice" (featuring Maleek Berry)
"Don't Need Bae"
"Wavy"
"Kill Nobody" (featuring Calibrii)
"Bubbly" (featuring Falz)
"Need To Know" (featuring Seyi Shay)
"N.O.U.N" (featuring KLY)
rowspan="4" \|2018 \|"Say Bye Bye" (featuring Eugy) \| rowspan="5" {{n/a\|Non-album single}}
"Your Love"
\|"Juice" (Remix) (featuring Joyner Lucas)
"My Side"
rowspan="4" \|2019 \|"Balance"
"Dakun" \| rowspan="12" \|
"Mo Salah"
"Wahala Dey"
rowspan="2" \|2020 \|"Secreto"
Summa Nights
"It's Amazing"
"Man" (featuring Phyno)
"Bossing" (featuring Ms Banks)
"Baseline" (featuring Davido & BOJ)
"Cheque"
"Vacancy"
"Dada" (featuring Dapo Tuburna)

Awards and nominations

class ="wikitable"
Year !Award ceremony !Award description !Recipient !Result
rowspan="4"\|2015 \|rowspan="2"\|2015 Nigeria Entertainment Awards \|Best Collaboration of The Year \|rowspan="2"\|"Condo" \|{{nom}}
Best Music Video of The Year \|{{nom}}
2015 MTV Africa Music Awards \|Revelation of the Year \|rowspan="3"\|Himself \|{{nom}}
2015 All Africa Music Awards \|Best Artist in African Pop \|{{nom}}
rowspan="2"\|2016 \|The Headies 2015 \|Rookie of The Year \|{{won}}
The Headies 2016 \|Next Rated \| rowspan="4" \|Himself \|{{nom}}
rowspan="2" \|2017 \|AFRIMA 2017 \|Best African hip-hop \|{{won}}
Soundcity MVP Awards Festival \|Best Collaboration \|{{nom}}
2019 \|The Headies 2019 \|Lyricist on the Roll \|{{nom}}

class ="wikitable"

Year

!Award ceremony

!Award description

!Recipient

!Result

rowspan="4"|2015

|rowspan="2"|2015 Nigeria Entertainment Awards

|Best Collaboration of The Year

|rowspan="2"|"Condo"

|{{nom}}

Best Music Video of The Year