Azeez Adeshina Fashola, known professionally as Naira Marley, is a Nigerian-British singer, songwriter, and rapper. His fans are fondly called Marlians.
Naira Marley is one of the biggest recording artists in Nigeria and he owns his own record label. He has gotten to a point in his career where he is well experienced to teach other people. And so by starting his own record label, Marlian Records, he is able to sign upcoming artists and train them.
Mohbad Calls Out Naira Marley, Marlian Records In New Single | SEE VIDEO
The Genesis of Marlian Records
At the “Marlian Fest” in December 2019, he launched his record label, Marlian Records, signing acts including CBlvck, Zinoleesky, and Fabian Blu. During the first set of his performance, he announced his new record label, Marlian Records.
He said, “I want to use the platform to announce my new record label called Marlian Records and it’s for you all (points to his fans, the Marlians).
After that announcement, he then gave the platform to his new new acts, Zinoleesky, MohBad, Fabian Blu and C-Blvck. His label became home to names like MOHBAD, Zinoleesky, Vusic amongst others.
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The Artists of Marlian Records
Five artists currently training under Naira Marley includes Zinoleesky, Lyta, Mohbad, C black, and Fabian Blu.
- Zinoleesky: Oniyide Azeez, popularly known as Zinoleesky is a super talented artiste loved by many and all. He was born in Lagos. In 2019, Naira Marley signed Zinoleesky into his Marlian music record label and since then the young star has been making waves for himself. He recently purchased a 2019 Chevrolet Camaro worth 22 million Naira for himself.
- Mohbad: Ireoluwa Adedimeji, professionally known as Mohbad is a Nigerian music artist, songwriter, singer, and entertainer. Naira Marley is currently training Mohbad under his Marlian music record label.
- Lyta: Opeyemi Babatunde Rahim, professionally known as Lyta, was formerly signed to Olamide' s YBNL Nation but left after they had a clash. Naira Marley then welcomed Lyta to his own music label and since then Lyta has been training under him.
- Fabian Blu: Fabian Blu whose real name is Inim Fabian is a fast rising Nigerian singer, entertainer and recording artist. He has been making efforts to get noticed in the music industry but to no avail. Not until Naira Marley noticed him and signed him into his music label. Since then he has been doing good and earning well under Naira Marley.
- C Black: His real name is Olamilekan Kazeem Kudus and he is one of the fast- rising street singers in Nigeria. C blacks' s success in the Nigerian music industry came as a surprise to everyone because he literally went from zero to something.
Naira Marley's Musical Journey
Born on May 10, 1991, Azeez Adeshina Fashola moved to Peckham, South London, England, at the age of 11. He completed his studies at Peckham Academy in 2010 with a distinction in business and later studied business law at Crossways College (now Christ the King Sixth Form College).
While growing up, Fashola had plans of becoming an MC and a voice-over artist. He began rapping in 2013 after discovering his passion for music and was encouraged by close-knit friends from the Queens Roads area in Peckham to pursue his music career.
He released the Max Twigz-assisted track “Marry Juana” before debuting his EP Gotta Dance in 2014. In December 2017, he released the single “Issa Goal,” featuring Olamide and Lil Kesh, which became the Super Eagles’ anthem for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Naira Marley performs in English, Pidgin, and Yoruba, blending Afrobeats, street pop, and hip-hop. He took his stage name as a tribute to Jamaican singer Bob Marley, mirrored by his dreadlocks.
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Controversies and Legal Issues
On May 3, 2019, he released “Am I A Yahoo Boy” featuring Zlatan and was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission the same day. He dropped the track “Soapy” shortly after his release, which won Viewers’ Choice at the 2020 Soundcity MVP Awards.
On 10 May 2021, the EFCC arrested Marley and his friends Zlatan, Tiamiu Kayode, Adewunmi Adeyanju Moses, Micheal "Taqueesh" Adenuga, and Abubakar Musa. The arrest was made a day after Marley released the video for the controversial single "Am I A Yahoo Boy". Five days later, the EFCC released Zlatan and three others but kept Marley in custody due to the evidence against him.
On 16 May 2019, the EFCC charged him with 11 counts of fraud before a federal high court in Ikoyi, Lagos. In May 2019, Marley was arraigned and pleaded not guilty; a bail hearing was set for 30 May 2019.
Recent Events
On Saturday 13 February 2021, a report surfaced online that the Marley Valentine's Concert in Cameroon had been canceled by Cameroon government authorities. The concert had already been postponed twice by the organizer and moved to different venues but was later cancelled entirely.
On 5 October 2022, Marley was accused of assault by his signee MohBad in a series of statements on MohBad's social media.
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Naira Marley's Independence and Future Plans
Naira Marley is not signed to any record label. He is an independent artiste. In his interview with Complex UK, Naira Marley opened up more about that, explaining why he isn't signed to any record label and why he keeps rejecting their offers to sign him.
Naira Marley said that he thinks he has enough money now to promote himself and do his own videos. He added that he just needs to know what a label could do for him that he can’t do for himself.
He said he works when he wants, records when he wants, and does interviews when he wants. He does music for fun and doesn't want to be controlled.
Naira Marley also stated that he feels like he’s made it and doesn’t have anything to prove to anyone. He revealed that he has a lot of big business deals coming up and that making money is something he’s good at.
In June 2021, Naira Marley announced his album God’s Timing Is The Best, set for release following the video for his single “COMING.” Naira Marley is doing amazing, and he also just dropped his studio album God's Timing's The Best.
Naira Marley said that people should look forward to him being the President of Nigeria and to all the Marley Music artists. He also said that he will be at the top and that people should just look up and he will be there.
Discography
Here's a list of some of Naira Marley's popular songs:
- "Issa Goal"
- "Soapy"
- "Tesumole"
- "As E Dey Go"
- "Idi Oremi (Opotoyi 2)"
- "Chi Chi"
- "Koleyewon"
- "Coming"
- "Drug Test"
- "First Time In America"
- "Pxy Drip"
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