L.A.X

Lagos-raised Afropop artist Damilola Afolabi keeps the focus on delivering a soulful, danceable groove while blending aspects of reggae, R&B, and rap with the Western Nigerian sound of Fuji. He was born in 1993, the son of Taiwo Afolabi, a famous lawyer and entrepreneur, and was expected to go on to manage one of his father's companies. However, in 2007, age 14, he accompanied a friend to a recording studio and was inspired by a producer's response to his freestyling. Next, he formed a rap trio called Flyboiz at Nigerian Turkish International College, and released a single with them before traveling to the U.K. to study. In 2012, he released a handful of solo singles as L.A.X. -- including "Jaye" (with Ice Prince) and "Looking for Me" -- which ultimately caught the attention of Wizkid. The established Afrobeat icon immediately signed L.A.X. to his Starboy Entertainment imprint, and collaborated with him on "Caro," an August 2013 song which represented Afolabi's first big breakthrough. The song was given an extra push after being nominated as a Track of the Year at 2014's Nigeria Entertainment Awards, a ceremony at which L.A.X. was named Artist of the Year. His star rose further with the release of another Wizkid collaboration, April 2014's "Ginger." Afolabi was still finishing his masters' degree in Manchester, England. When it was completed, he returned home to capitalize on his initial success before touring across Kenya, Ghana, and Uganda later in the year alongside his label boss. By 2016, he'd amassed a repertoire of 60 songs and issued a prolific string of singles over the next few years while working with artists like Dremo & Ycee, Bizzouch, and Jay Moore, many of whom were on his Rasaki Music imprint. September 2018 brought Rasaking, L.A.X.'s debut album, featuring contributions from Yemi Alade, Duncan Mighty, and Davido before a second full-length -- ZaZa Vibes -- appeared in November 2020. ~ James Wilkinson