# Chike (singer)

Chike Ezekpeazu Osebuka (born 28 January 1993), better known as Chike, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter and actor. He gained prominence as a contestant on Project Fame West Africa. Additionally, he showcased his talents on The Voice Nigeria, where he achieved the second position during Season 1. Chike ventured into acting by making his debut as Mayowa Badmus on the Africa Magic Showcase telenovela Battleground. He also appeared in the film Gang of Lagos, portraying the character Ify.
Chike released his debut studio album, Boo of the Booless, on 14 February 2020. His second studio album, The Brother's Keeper, was released in 2022.
Chike is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, and actor. His music style is a fusion of R&B, soul, and Afro-pop. Chike gained popularity with his hit single "Amen" and has since released several successful songs and albums.
Chike's music is known for its soulful and emotive sound, and he has been praised for his vocal range and songwriting skills. He has also been nominated for several music awards, including the Headies and the Nigerian Entertainment Awards.
As an actor, Chike has appeared in several Nigerian movies and TV shows, including the popular TV series "BattleGround".

## Early life and education

Chike is a native of Onitsha, Anambra State in the south-eastern region of Nigeria and is one of four children. Chike's decision to pursue a career in music was influenced by his family. He is a graduate of Covenant University with a bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering.

## Career
### Project Fame and The Voice Nigeria

Chike was featured as a contestant on Project Fame West Africa. However, he was eliminated after reaching the Top 10.
Chike auditioned for The Voice Nigeria with a cover of James Arthur's "Roses" and he opted to join Team Patoranking. In the battle round, he performed Mario's "Let Me Love You" with another Team Patoranking contestant and was chosen to move to the next round. In the first week of live shows, he performed "Not the Girl" by co-coach Dare Art Alade and earned a 'save' from his coach. In the second week of live shows, he performed The Weeknd's "Earned It" and was saved by public votes. He also performed a rendition of "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" by The Proclaimers and earned his coach's final save of the season. For the semi-finals, he performed "Pullover" by Kcee and Wizkid. In the finale, Chike performed covers of Bob Marley and the Wailers's "No Woman No Cry" and Kiss Daniel's "Mama". He finished as the runner-up of The Voice Nigeria' season, with A'rese from Team Waje coming in first place.

#### 2016–2024

After The Voice Nigeria, Chike was signed to Universal Republic along with the other top four contestants on the show. He released his debut single Fancy U in December 2016 under Universal Republic, with its music video being released in early 2017. Chike was also made an ambassador for Airtel Nigeria along with the other seven finalists of The Voice Nigeria.
In April 2017, Chike had been cast by Africa Magic to play the role of Mayowa Badmus in a television drama named Battleground. Chike departed from Universal Republic in November 2017 to become an independent artist. He released his next single, titled "Beautiful People," in February 2018. Chike released his 14-track debut studio album, Boo of the Booless, during a performance at the 2020 Big Brother Lockdown TV show. In September 2023, Chike was announced as a brand ambassador for Glo telecommunication alongside Asake, Kizz Daniel.
Chike announced that his third studio album, Son of Chike, would be released on July 19, 2024. The album includes tracks such as "Unto You", "Lifetime Love", and "Ego Oyibo". It features collaborations with Nigerian artists like Olamide, Ladipoe, and Qing Madi. Chike has described the album as a deeply personal project that reflects his cultural heritage and experiences, aiming to connect with listeners on an emotional level.
In 2024, Chike earns his biggest streaming day on Spotify Nigeria, following the release of " Funds".

## Discography
### Albums

* Boo of the Booless
* The Brother's Keeper
* Son of Chike

### Soundtracks

* "On Fire (Pana Time)" for Gangs of Lagos

## Filmography

* Gangs of Lagos (2023) as Ify
* Knee Down (2022) as Chima
* Life as It Is (2019 TV Mini Series) as Junior
* AMCOP: Clandestine (2019) as George
* Battle Ground: Africa Magic (2017 TV Series) as Mayowa Bhadmus

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Recipient | Result | Ref |
| 2020 | City People Music Awards | Album of the Year | "Boo of the Booless" | Won | |
| 2020 | The Headies 2020 | Best Vocal Performance (Male) | "Chike – "Forgive" | Nominated | |
| 2020 | The Headies 2020 | Best R&B Album | Boo of the Booless – Chike | Nominated | |
| 2020 | The Headies 2020 | Album of the Year | Boo of the Booless – Chike | Nominated | |
| 2021 | Net Honours | Most Played RnB Song | "Running to You" (featuring Simi) | Nominated | |
| 2022 | The Headies 2022 | Best R&B Single | "Running (To You)" – Chike feat. Simi | Nominated | |
| 2022 | The Headies 2022 | Best Music Video | "Roju" – (Chike) – Directed by Pink | Nominated | |
| 2022 | The Headies 2022 | Best Collaboration | "Running (To You)" – Chike feat. Simi | Nominated | |
| 2022 | The Headies 2022 | Best Rap Single | "Breathe" – A-Q feat Chike | Nominated | [25] [26] |
| 2023 | The Headies 2023 | Best R&B Single | "Hard to Find" – Chike | Nominated | |
| 2023 | The Headies 2023 | Best Vocal Performance (Male) | "Spell (remix)" – Chike | Nominated | |
| 2023 | The Headies 2023 | Best Music Video | "Spell" – (Chike) – Directed by Pink | Nominated | |
| 2023 | The Headies 2023 | Best R&B Album | "The Brother’s Keeper" – Chike | Won | |
| 2025 | The Headies 2024 | Best Collaboration | "Egwu" – Chike & MohBad | Nominated | |
| 2025 | The Headies 2024 | Afrobeats Single Of The Year | "Egwu" – Chike & MohBad | Nominated | |
| 2025 | The Headies 2024 | Headies’ Viewers’ Choice | "Egwu" – Chike & MohBad | Nominated | |
| 2025 | The Headies 2024 | Song Of The Year | "Egwu" – Chike & MohBad | Nominated | |
| 2025 | The Headies 2024 | Best Music Video | "Egwu" – Chike & MohBad – Directed by Pink | Nominated | |
| 2025 | Trace Awards & Festival | Best Artist (Western Africa Anglophone) | Chike | Nominated | |