From the evidence of the many resounding wins he’s enjoying at the moment, it’s a good time to be Majeeed. Since releasing his hit song and breakout single in March 2022, his career has accelerated, and the floodgates of mainstream recognition have opened. In addition to interviews from several Nigerian media houses, Audiomack recognized him as one of the 10 African Artists You Should Know in April 2022. Apple Music spotlighted him in July 2022 by featuring him as their “Up Next” Artist in Nigeria. Days after that, Majeed sold out an international concert in far away Mauritius, where he has a massive following. It’s all very impressive from an artist just over two years into his career, and there’s definitely a lot more to come. The proof is in his music, and it goes deeper than “Yawa No Dey,” the track that sped things up.
Ekeh Chiaka Joseph, better known by his artistic pseudonym Majeeed, is as well-rounded as they come. He’s an exciting artist who has proven himself as a songwriter, is delighting millions with his ability as a singer, and is showing a lot of promise as a producer. In addition to being the sole songwriter on all his releases, he has also put his pen to good use for veteran artists Seyi Shay and Tiwa Savage. In fact, the former was very outspoken about his contributions to her 2021 album, “Big Girl,” during the project’s listening party. His songwriting style consists of intelligent use of vivid and relatable metaphors complete with a smoothly flowing arrangement, and it’s fast becoming his trademark. “Time” is the only song from his discography on which he has production credits, but his effort on that record show he will make a very capable producer in the future. And as a singer, he has given us enough examples to clear any doubts one might have. From “Smile For Me” to “Gee For Life,” to “No Room for Love,” his vocal range and mastery of melodies are crystal clear. But it has taken time, practice, and dedication for him to get here.
According to Majeeed, his interest in recording and performing music dates back to his junior secondary school days. He recalls scrapping cash together to pay for studio sessions and sharing the songs with friends and classmates. Even then, he knew he wanted to be an artist. He faced significant opposition from his parents, of course, but his mind was made up already. So he invested a lot of time in the studio, writing and recording relentlessly. But unlike other artists, he resisted the urge to flood the market with music and opted to find his sound instead. His reasoning was sound; to beat the crazy competition in the music industry, he couldn’t afford to sound like an upcoming artist. Before going to market, he had to have a fully developed sound and style. Hence, he bid his time, working on his craft in the shadows. Getting gigs as a songwriter also served as a great way for him to polish his skills, and he sure took advantage of that opportunity. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that Majeeed sounds closer to a finished product than most of his peers or that he’s leaving most of them behind.
Millions of streams on Apple Music, YouTube, and other digital streaming platforms later, the question is now what next for Majeeed. With the increased exposure he’s enjoying and his label Dream Empire Music working overtime, the future seems bright for the Afropop star. Perhaps we’ll be getting a debut album or another EP soon. Or maybe it’ll just be more singles. Whatever the plan, you sense Majeeed won’t be fading from consciousness any time soon. He has done enough to demonstrate that he’s here to stay, and we’re here for the promising journey he has ahead of him.
