T.I BLAZE

Nigerian Afrobeats star T.I. Blaze makes catchy street pop with relatable lyrical themes and engaging melodic hooks. One of his early singles, 2021's "Sometimes," became a major hit when a remix featuring Olamide was released a year later. Its success propelled Blaze into the spotlight and he responded with popular releases like 2022's El Major and the 2023 EP Dangerous Wavy Baby. His sophomore album, Shakur, arrived in late 2024. Born Akintunde Abiodun Timileyin in Ogun State, Nigeria, T.I. Blaze rose among the country's vibrant Afrobeats scene of the late-2010s. Early singles like 2020's "Tomiwa" and 2021's "Dupe" failed to make an impact, but when a remix of his song "Sometimes" featuring the influential Olamide appeared in 2022, Blaze's career took off. The remixed version went double platinum and reached number three on the Nigerian chart. Both versions were included on Blaze's debut EP, The Fresh Prince of Lagos, which was followed in November by the full-length El Major. Among his other popular singles of this era were "My Life" and "Kilo" featuring Skiibii. Blaze's rise continued with 2023's Dangerous Wavy Baby EP and its hit single "Wire." He kicked off the cycle for his next album with 2024's "Beamer," then released the full-length Shakur in November. It featured guest spots from fellow stars Tml Vibez and BhadBoi OML. ~ Timothy Monger, Rovi