According to him, his stage name Skales stands for “Seek Knowledge Acquire Large Entrepreneurial Skills”. Skales is one of the prominent Nigerian rapper, singer, and songwriter.
Early Life/Education
Born April 1, 1991 in Kaduna state, Nigeria, Skales is the only child of his family and hails from Edo State. Skales grew up in Kaduna which was where he had his Primary and Secondary Education. He attended Lead City University where he graduated with a degree in Office Management and Technology prior to this though, he was a student of the University of Jos.
Raised by a single mother, his interest in music became honed while managing his mother’s cassette store when he was younger.
Career
Skales met producers Jeremiah Gyang and Jesse Jagz while attending the University of Jos. Skales left the University of Jos his junior year and attended Lead City University, where he graduated with a degree in Office Management and Technology.
While at the University of Jos, he partook in the Zain Tru Search Competition and won the competition’s North Central region. His debut single, “Must Shine”, was released to critical acclaim.
In 2000, he started writing rap songs in Kaduna. Between 2007 and 2008, he travelled to Jos to work with Jesse Jagz and Jeremiah Gyang. In 2008, he entered the Zain Tru Search competition and won the competition’s North Central region. His debut single, “Must Shine”, received numerous spin on the Rhythm FM stations in Lagos, Jos and Abuja. He later relocated to Lagos and signed a record deal with Empire Mates Entertainment in 2009.
In a 2013 interview with This Day newspaper, he described himself as an entertainer whose music is influenced by his surroundings. His 2009 release, “Heading for a Grammy”, was inspired by Kanye West’s “Jesus Walks”. The experiences he was going through at the time helped shape the scope of the song, which is an ode to self-empowerment.
Skales has recorded over 200 songs and collaborated with numerous artists, including eLDee, Jeremiah Gyang, Banky W. and Knighthouse. His well-known songs include “Shake Body”, “Mukulu”, “Keresimesi”, “Komole”, “My Baby”, “Take Care of Me” and “Denge Pose”. Skales established his record label, OHK Music, after departing from Empire Mates Entertainment in May 2014. Skales’ debut album, Man of the Year, was released in 2015.
In May 2014, Skales established his own record label, OHK music. The label is home to producer Drey Beatz and has affiliations with other music personnel within Nigeria. On 6 May 2014, Skales released the Jay Pizzle-produced “Shake Body” as the lead single from his debut album Man of the Year.
The accompanying music video for the song was uploaded on 22 July 2014 onto YouTube. Skales promoted the song by announcing the Shake Body video competition. It was reported that Skales signed a record deal with Timaya’s Dem Mama Records following his departure from E.M.E. In February 2014, Skales debunked the reports and said he didn’t sign with Dem Mama Records.
Breakout songs
- Must Shine
- Bo Se Se Mi
- Goosebumps
- Ori Mi
- Be Mine
- Thank God It’s Christmas
- God’s Love
- Meet Me at the Top
- Move Your Body
- Laba Laba
- Blackberry
- Mary Jane
- Fall Back
- Eguono (Remix)
- Superstar Remix
- My Money (Remix)
- J’amalo
- Oju Kan (Remix)
- Shake Body
- Always
- Jogodo
- Ajaga
- Nobody’s Busines
- Agolo
- For You
- Fire Waist
- Feposi
- Fast Whyne
Album
- Man of the Year (2015)
- The Never Say Never Guy (2017)
- Mr Love (2018)
- Afro Dance (2020)
- Healing Process, EP (2020)
- This your body EP (2021)
Compilation album
- Empire Mates State of Mind (2012)
Awards
- Best Upcoming artiste (Male) at the Nigerian Teens Choice awards 2013
- Best Collaboration at the Headies awards
Controversies
Skales and Wizkid’s brawl
Skales and Wizkid’s fight made major headlines in 2015, blasting each other on social media. It all started when Skales asked his fans on Twitter, to name the musician they would love to see on his new track – and one of them mentioned Wizkid…But Skales said that won’t be possible as Wizkid doesn’t have his time – Well, according to a source who spoke to Punch on the matter but pleaded anonymity.
According to the source:
“They are not friends and they do not talk. Even the party they both attended recently, they did not talk to each other. Skales had been asking Wizkid for favours since they were both in EME and even after they left the record label but Wizkid always puts Skales on hold and keeps procrastinating. Whenever he tries to reach him on phone, he does not pick his calls and when he does, he acts ‘somehow.’
“Before Skales released his hit single, they were meant to have a joint project together, a Skales/Wizkid project but they could not reach a conclusion. Whenever Skales goes to meet him (Wizkid), he normally acts as if Skales is disturbing him. But the truth is that when Skales tweeted that Wizkid doesn’t have his time, he was only joking even though it is the truth. Skales got upset when Wizkid said that his home is also Skales’ home. He felt that Wizkid did not need to put up a show on twitter when the exact opposite is what is happening in reality,”
The source further said:
“I think it is just the normal quarrel between two friends and they would settle it. Skales is not taking it personal at all and he is back to work and that is why he released his song, Je Kan MO, which is also trending at the moment.”
And to some of you, who might think that Skales is probably envious of Wizkid’s success, Skales manager, Osagie Osarenkhoe, who also managed Wizkid at a point in his career, said:
“No one is jealous of the other. Both artistes are doing great individually.”
Skales Allegedly Dumped Girlfriend Because Of Wizkid
Skales was said to have dumped his former girlfriend, Sasay, because of her unwavering support for his rival, Wizkid.
Skales announced his separation with Sasay on his Instagram page and now have a new girlfriend, an Ethiopian who now calls herself Mrs Skales.
Skales’ Accident
In December 2011, Skales was involved in a car accident along the Lekki-Epe Expressway. The car he was in ran into a ditch and somersaulted. The accident left one dead and three injured.
Skales and his manager remanded for alleged fraud
Skales and his manager, Osarenkhoe, were accused of allegedly defrauding the record company to the tune of N13.374 million.
According to Guardian, the music label in a press statement titled: ‘Theft of Company Monies Earned by Skales from March — April 2016’ and made public on Thursday June 2, confirmed the arrest of Skales and his manager.
“Osagie (Teresa Osagioduwa Osarenkhoe) was arrested today by the Nigerian Police at the instance of Skales record label, Baseline Records. She was accused of fraudulently diverting N13.3m belonging to the record label for personal purposes,” the statement read.
An insider in the label, who affirmed the news, said the singer and his manager were remanded in Police custody but were released after questioning. The insider noted that at the inception of the contract, Skales was given a fully furnished luxury apartment in Lekki in a gated estate, with a brand new customised SUV, and a multimillion naira sign on fee.
“The label gave him a free hand to select and run his brand, supported by a multimillion naira corporate expense account,” he said.
The label in a petition dated May 19, 2016 and addressed to the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 2 Command, Onikan, Lagos, claimed that Skales introduced Teresa Osagioduwa Osarenkhoe to the label as his manager and stated her duties to include, tour bookings, strategy and promotion.
“By the company’s estimation, from the aforementioned events, Osarenkhoe has fraudulently converted the sum of N7,474,000 from this brief period without accounting to the company or making payments first into the company’s accounts as stipulated in the contract,” the statement read.
The record label noted that though Skales was listed as performing at various concerts, shows, tours and other events, none of the monies received from these events were remitted to the company.
“In this regard, the company invited Skales and his manager, Osarenkhoe, to various meetings seeking account reconciliation. At these meetings, both Skales and his manager insisted that the events in question were not paid events and as such, there were no monies to remit.
“These dubious activities continued for a period of 12 months, wherein the company was fraudulently deprived of its legitimate earnings by the said Osarenkhoe as payments made for performances were paid directly into her account in violation of the procedure set up for payments at the beginning of the Contract,” the statement read.
How the bubble burst
The music label in the statement said that it had in March 2016, decided to catalogue some of the paid shows, performances, concerts and tours wherein Skales performed and the monies were fraudulently converted for personal use by the said Osarenkhoe. It made a list of performances, which only covers the period from March 3 to May 1. This, it stated, is without factoring all the other performances, tours and shows where no remittance was made from the period January 2015 to April 2016.
“In order to properly document this fraud and catch Teresa Osagioduwa Osarenkhoe in the act of theft, the company created an email address, and sent an email to her requesting the performance of Skales at an event in California on the 2nd June, 2016. In the email communication, Teresa Osagioduwa Osarenkhoe requested the sum of $5,000 (five thousand US dollars) for the performance as well as one business class ticket, one economy class ticket and two hotel rooms in a 4-star hotel. Please find enclosed herewith the email communication between Skales and Femi George with respect to the said performance…” the statement read.
The label further explained that on May 18, the first tranche of $2,500, representing 50 per cent of the performance fee demanded by Osarenkhoe was wired into the following account: Bank of America, Name: Teresa Osagioduwa Osarenkhoe; Account Number: 483063945907.
It added that subsequent to the transfer and proof obtained, Samuel Gbemileke Samuel, a staff member of the record label put a call through to Osarenkhoe requesting for an account of all monies received by Skales for performances and tours for the month of May. Osarenkhoe, however, insisted that there had been no paid performances for Skales during the period in question.
In the statement, the company explained that in 2015 it entered into an agreement with Upfront and Personal, for the engagement of Skales to appear in TV commercials, billboards websites and other social media on behalf of MTN Pulse. And as per the terms of the agreement, Upfront and Personal was to pay to Baseline Records the sum of N5,000,000 (five million naira) in two tranches of N2,500,000 each.
“The said Osarenkhoe representing that she was authorised by the company obtained the sum of N5,000,000 (five million naira) due to the company without being so authorised. Teresa Osagioduwa Osarenkhoe has failed after repeated demands to repay the said N5,000,000 (five million naira) fraudulently obtained. Given the above circumstances, the company believes that a fraud had been committed against it by Teresa Osagioduwa Osarenkhoe,” the statement read.
But a source told Weekend Beat that Baseline Music owned by Segun Adebutu, son of popular lotto merchant, Kessington Adebutu has actually not lived up to its contractual agreement. It was gathered that since Howie T and Dipo Abdul left, the label had been enmeshed in some financial mess.
The source said that though the singer and his manager were actually arrested by the Police on Tuesday, May 31, they were released after explaining what transpired between their camp and the new management of the music label.
“Yes, they were arrested on Tuesday, but they were released same day. One thing people don’t know about the whole story is that since Howie T and Dipo Abdul left, the owner of Baseline Music have not been living to their own end of the deal. In March this year, the owner of the label, Segun Adebutu, son of the popular ‘Baba Ijebu’ had a meeting with Skales and Osagie, and he promised to introduce the new management to them, which they are yet to do that as I speak with you,” the source said.
According to the source, in a bid to keep the Skales brand going, the singer had asked his manager keep all monies that come to the brand, pending when the label management will introduce the said new managers.
“Truth is that since Howie and Dipo left, they have not been living to their own bargain of the contract. They don’t remit on time artiste cut of performance fee or any deal the artiste brings by virtue of the contract agreement. Baseline on their part, breached the terms of the contract. It is not that Osagie diverted the money to personal account or used it for personal purpose. Everything she did was on the instruction of Skales; she acted on the directive of Skales,” the source added.
‘We didn’t steal a dime from Baseline’ – Osagie
In a chat with TheNETng, Skales manager insisted she did no wrong. ‘For the avoidance of all doubts, I didn’t steal from Baseline. There has never been, and will never be any basis to conclude that I have been dubious or fraudulent in my dealings with the label. What we have done is to keep our work and lives going on, following inaction from them. Everything I have done, from allowing him sign with the label to date was always in Skales’ interest at the end of the day not for my personal gains.’
Insiders say in February of this year, following a meeting between Skales team and the Baseline team, it was established that the label confirmed the absence of relevant structures and managerial staff, causing delays and miscommunication.
‘The period of dormancy from the label, following the exit of former executives Howie T and Dipo Abdul, gave them cause to worry, and to decide if to continue waiting or to go on building the Skales brand’, one source told us.
‘For over one year, they have been recording and releasing music, shooting videos, pushing PR and seeking engagements without any input – material or financial from Baseline or any of its reps. They were however surprised that in May of 2016, the label suddenly became interested again in financials and engagement details.’
‘We were initially hesitant to supply any information as we were at the time seeking legal advice on what appropriate actions to take. There is an exit clause in Skales’ contract, which we could have considered, but that was definitely not an option’, Osagie who has signed an undertaking to discontinue working with Skales and other Baseline artistes, says.
‘I was made to sign an undertaking that I no longer represent Skales and to refund $2,500 part payment received for a recent booking, which has been made. I hope it all passes and we can all move on with our individual lives. I wish Skales nothing but the best’, Osagie concluded.
Personal Life
Skales tied the knot with Hassanity, his fiancée.
The music star took to his Instagram page to share a video of the traditional marriage which took place on Saturday May 1, 2021.
The event was graced by several celebrities including Harmonize, Tanzanian music star.
Social Media
Instagram: @youngskales
Twitter: @youngskales