Ckay

Special Articles

### Associated acts

M.I, Davido, Amaarae, KiDi, Ayra Starr, Blaqbonez, Dice Ailes, Ice Prince, Pryse, Koker, Kheengz

### Image

CKay Yo Yo.jpg

**Chukwuka Ekweani**, better known by his stage name **Ckay** (Template:Respell), is a Nigerian singer-songwriter and record producer signed to Warner Music South Africa. He was formerly signed to Chocolate City, a member of Warner Music Group independent label services ADA. His international hit single "Love Nwantiti", also known as "Love Nwantiti (Ah Ah Ah)", was released in 2019 by Chocolate City.

## Early life

Chukwuka Ekweani was born in Kaduna, but of Igbo origin particularly Anambra state. His earliest contact with music was at age 7, where he was introduced to the thing he would come to know as his life. 'Music'.

## Career

 File:CKay Yo.jpg
In 2014, he relocated to Lagos, after he got discovered. While signed to Loopy Music, he began working with Chocolate City, early 2015. Following the merger of Loopy Music in 2016, he officially joined Chocolate City artist roster. He is a musician who has made tracks in a variety of genres including Afrobeats, R&B and dancehall. On 11 September 2017, he released his first extended play *Who the Fuck Is CKay?*, through Chocolate City. On 30 August 2019, he released his second extended play *CKay the First* through Chocolate City, and on 11 February 2021, he released his third extended play *Boyfriend* through Warner Music South Africa. On 4 May 2021, he confirmed on Twitter that he is no longer signed to Chocolate City, but signed to Warner Music South Africa.

On 2 March 2018 he released "Container", an Afrobeat record influenced by the South African gwara gwara dance style. The song became a breakthrough record, and earned him substantial airplay in Nigeria. It was released through Chocolate City, and was produced by Tempoe. On 6 July 2018, he released the music video, directed and shot by the Myth in various locations in Lagos.

In 2019, following the release of *CKay the First*, "Love Nwantiti" became a major record in Nigeria. On 14 February 2020, CKay released a remix titled "Love Nwantiti (Ah Ah Ah)" featuring Joeboy and Kuami Eugene. In 2021, it went viral on TikTok and became an international hit, charting across Europe, Africa, Australia and New Zealand, also reaching number 23 in the UK and earned him his first entry on the US *Billboard* Hot 100. A North African remix featuring ElGrande Toto became popular in the Maghreb countries and in Germany. A French remix featured Franglish, a German remix featuring Frizzo, Joeboy and Kuami Eugene, the Spanish version with De La Ghetto, the East African remix featuring Rayvanny and a South African remix featuring Tshego and Gemini Major.

He was featured on the song "La La" from Davido's studio album *A Better Time*, released on 13 November 2020, through Davido Music Worldwide, RCA Records, and Sony Music. and "Beggie Beggie" from Ayra Starr's debut studio album *19 & Dangerous*, released on 6 August 2021, through Mavin Records. On 28 July 2021, he received his first YouTube plaque for reaching 100k subscribers. On 8 October 2021, Ckay became first African artist to hit 20 Million Spotify Listeners, with over 21 million monthly listeners on his Spotify page.

## Artistry

On 4 June 2019, in an interview with Ayo Onikoyi of Vanguard Nigeria, CKay described his style of music as Afro-pop from the future (2056 A.D specifically). On 24 September 2021, Helen Ainsley of the Official Charts Company describes CKay's music as fusing Afrobeats with pop, electronic music, and even interpolating classical music.

## External links

* CKay official YouTube channel
* CKay Facebook page

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Who is CKay? The Emo-Afrobeat artist flying up the charts with Love Nwantiti.
2. ↑ Olorunsola, Michael (2017-06-09). Chocolate City's CKay discusses His New Single, Coming Projects & More on Exclusive Interview with BN Music (en-US).
3. ↑ Ckay Signs To Chocolate City Music.
4. ↑ I'm the future of Afrobeat music – CKay (2019-06-04).
5. ↑ Idowu, Tomi (2017-09-08). Ckay Leverages The Publicity With Release of 'Who The Fuck Is Ckay EP'.
6. ↑ BellaNaija.com (2019-09-06). Ckay Releases new EP "Ckay the First" | Stream on BN (en-US).
7. ↑ Ckay releases new EP, 'Boyfriend'.
8. ↑ Ckay: I'm signed to WMG South Africa NOT Chocolate City.
9. ↑ CKay.
10. ↑ New Music: CKay – Container (2 March 2018).
11. ↑ New Video: CKay – Container (9 July 2018).
12. ↑ CKay's 'Love Nwantinti' Took Over TikTok -- But He's Only Now Getting Full Credit (24 September 2021).
13. ↑ Ckay's 'Love Nwantiti' charts at No. 23 on the official UK top 40 (en) (2021-09-21).
14. ↑ CKay Receives Youtube Plaque for Crossing New Milestone (28 July 2021).
15. ↑ CKay Makes History As First African Artist to Hit 20 Million Spotify Listeners (en) (8 October 2021).
16. ↑ I'm the future of Afrobeat music – CKay (4 June 2019).
17. ↑ Billboard Canadian Albums Chart: October 16, 2021. *Billboard*.
18. ↑ Album Top-40 Uge 41, 2021. Hitlisten.
19. ↑ CKay discography. lescharts.com.
20. ↑ CKay discography. dutchcharts.nl.
21. ↑ Billboard 200 Chart: Week of October 16, 2021.
22. ↑ World Albums Chart: Week of October 9, 2021.
23. ↑ CKay discography. Retrieved on September 25, 2021.
24. ↑ CKay discography. Retrieved on September 25, 2021.
25. ↑ Discographie CKay.
26. ↑ CKay discography. Retrieved on September 25, 2021.
27. ↑ CKay discography. Retrieved on September 25, 2021.
28. ↑ Discography CKay.
29. ↑ CKay discography. Retrieved on September 25, 2021.
30. ↑ CKay discography. Retrieved on September 26, 2021.
31. ↑ CKay | full Official Chart History. Official Charts Company.
32. ↑ The Hot 100 Chart: October 23, 2021. *Billboard*.
33. ↑ New Music: CKay – Container (2018-03-02).
34. ↑ ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart. Australian Recording Industry Association (11 October 2021).
35. ↑ Top Singles (Week 39, 2021). SNEP.
36. ↑ VG-lista – Topp 20 Single 2021-39. VG-lista.
37. ↑ NZ Top 40 Singles Chart. Recorded Music NZ (11 October 2021).
38. ↑ Veckolista Singlar, vecka 39. Sverigetopplistan.
39. ↑ Payal Dev collaborates with international artiste CKay for a romantic track.
40. ↑ #CPMA2018: City People Music Awards Nominees' List Out (17 October 2018).
41. ↑ #CPMA2020: Citypeople releases nominations for 2020 Music Awards (30 November 2020).
42. ↑ FULL LIST: Wizkid earns six AFRIMA 2021 nominations (22 September 2021).