Damilola Afolabi (born April 10, 1993),[1] known professionally as L.A.X is a Nigerian recording artist. L.A.X started out as a rapper and was part of a three-man group called Flyboiz while he was still in high school. On August 20, 2013, L.A.X signed a major-label deal with Starboy Entertainment[2][3] moments after releasing the critically acclaimed song titled "Caro" which won him the "Diaspora Artiste of The Year" at the 2014 edition of the Nigeria Entertainment Awards.[4]
L.A.X | |
|---|---|
 L.A.X Performing At Corporate Elite 2017 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Damilola Abdul Rasak Afolabi |
| Also known as | L.A.X |
| Born | April 10, 1993 Lagos State, Nigeria |
| Origin | London, United Kingdom |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Performer, songwriter, recording artist |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Years active | 2008–present |
| Labels | Rasaki Music Group Starboy (Former) |
| Website | izzlax |
Life and career
editDamilola Afolabi was born in Lagos State, Nigeria. He had his secondary school education at Nigerian Turkish International College, Lagos where he formed a music group called Flyboiz, releasing a single titled "Busy Body".[5] With the view of furthering his education, L.A.X left the group to study in the United Kingdom where he started recording songs and shot few videos.[3]
In 2012, L.A.X released his first major single "Jaye" which featured vocal appearance from Ice Prince. Upon his return to Nigeria, he met Wizkid through his stylist and went on to sign his first professional recording contract with Starboy Entertainment in 2013.[3]
On 20 August 2013, L.A.X teamed up with Wizkid to release his first single under the imprint titled "Caro" which gained massive airplay and further ushered him into the Nigerian music industry.[6] "Caro" gained massive airplay and was critically accepted among music critics. The song was nominated in the "Hottest Single of The Year" category at the 2014 Nigeria Entertainment Awards.[7][8]
Following the success of "Caro", L.A.X featured Wizkid on another song titled "Ginger". The song was nominated in the "Best Collaboration" category at the 2014 edition of BEN Television Awards.[9][10] In August 2014, he completed his master's degree programme from the University of Manchester.[11][12] In an interview with Encomium Magazine, L.A.X revealed that he is working on his debut studio album.[13]
Discography
edit| Year | Song | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | "Jaye" (featuring Ice Prince) | Non-album singles | |
| "Looking For Me" (featuring Shyce, T.I.J & Bolly) | |||
| 2013 | "Y.G.I" | ||
| "Caro" (featuring Wizkid) | |||
| 2014 | "Ginger" (featuring Wizkid) | ||
| 2015 | "Morenike" | ||
| "Fine Boy" (featuring Olamide) | |||
| "Open and Close" | |||
| 2016 | "Ole" (featuring Dremo & YCEE) | ||
| "Gimme Dat" | |||
| "Awon Da" | |||
| 2017 | "Big Daddy" | "Runaway" | |
| 2021 | "Sempe" | ZaZa Vibes |
| As featured artist | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | "Give You Love" (Juls Featuring L.A.X) | Non-Album Single |
| 2017 | "Stay With Me" ( Lekaa Beats Featuring L.A.X) | Non-Album Single |
Videography
edit| Title | Year | Director(s) |
|---|---|---|
| "Jaye" (featuring Ice Prince) |
2012 | Moe Musa[14] |
| "Y.G.I" | 2013 | — |
| "Caro" (featuring Wizkid) |
Moe Musa[15] | |
| "Ginger" (featuring Wizkid) |
— | |
| "Morenikeji" | 2015 | Clarence Peters[16] |
| "Fine Boy" (featuring Olamide) |
Unlimited L.A[17] | |
| "Open and Close" | Alexx Adjei[18] | |
| "Ole" (featuring Dremo & YCEE) |
2016 | Director Q |
| "Big Daddy" | 2017 | Mikes Pro[19] |
| "Run Away" | 2017 | Labi[20] |
| "Sempe" | 2021 | ?[21] |
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Award ceremony | Prize | Recipient/Nominated work | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 2014 Nigeria Entertainment Awards | Hottest Single of The Year | "Caro" | Nominated | [22] |
| Diaspora Artist of the Year | Himself | Won | [22] | ||
| 2014 BEN Television Awards | Best Collaboration | "Ginger" | Nominated | [23] |
References
edit- ^ Tayo, Ayomide O. (10 April 2015). "Celebrity Birthday:Vast of Bracket, Alexx Ekubo, L.A.X are today's birthday boys". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
- ^ Arogundade, Funsho (16 April 2016). "I've proper recording deal with Wizkid, says L.A.X". The News Nigeria. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
- ^ a b c "I am not Wizkid's boy – LAX". The Punch. 6 February 2016. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
- ^ Okoye, Chinenye (1 September 2014). "Oritse Femi, Tiwa Savage, Patoranking win at NEA". The Cable Nigeria. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
- ^ Showemimo, Dayo (12 November 2014). "NET Exclusive: Wizkid's first act, L.A.X is another billionaire's son in music". Nigerian Entertainment Today. Archived from the original on 6 July 2016. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
- ^ "L.A.X DROPS NEW SINGLE, OLE". The Nation Newspaper. 23 April 2016. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
- ^ "Full list of winners for the NEA Awards 2014". The Nigerian Eye. 3 September 2015. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
- ^ Lere, Mohammed (14 September 2015). "Wizkid, Davido, Olamide, others shine at 2015 NEA Awards". Premium Times. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
- ^ "L.A.X – Ginger ft. Wizkid (Prod by Legendury Beatz)". tooXclusive. 25 April 2014. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
- ^ "It's About to Go Down! View the Ben Television Awards Categories for Music, Movies & More". BellaNaija. 2 September 2015. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
- ^ "Starboy act, L.A.X is now a master degree holder". Nigerian Entertainment Today. 12 December 2014. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
- ^ Akan, Joey (26 August 2014). "Star Boy!:Wizkid's Singer, L.A.X Graduates With Masters In UK". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
- ^ "'I love my country and I want to be part of her success', says DAMILOLA AFOLABI (LAX)". Ecomium Magazine. 15 December 2014. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
- ^ "VIDEO: LAX ft Ice Prince - Jaye". Retrieved 6 May 2016.
- ^ qazim. "New Video: Starboy ft Wizkid & LAX - Caro (and Audio Download) - 360Nobs.com". 360Nobs.com. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
- ^ "VIDEO: L.A.X - "Morenike"". Retrieved 6 May 2016.
- ^ "DOWNLOAD:VIDEO Premiere: L.A.X ft. Olamide - Fine Boy (prod. Legendury Beatz) –notjustOk". notjustOk. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
- ^ Oghene Michael. "VIDEO: L.A.X – Open and Close". 360Nobs.com. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
- ^ "VIDEO: L.A.X – Big Daddy–tooXclusive". tooXclusive. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
- ^ "L.A.X – Run Away [New Video]–tooXclusive". tooXclusive. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
- ^ "L.A.X – Sempe – YouTube". Retrieved 21 February 2024.
- ^ a b "First Photos & Winners from the 2014 Nigeria Entertainment Awards in NYC! Tiwa Savage, Cuppy, Funke Akindele & More". BellaNaija. 2 September 2014. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
- ^ Wana, Mayowa George (1 October 2014). "Nominees Announced For Ben TV Awards". 360Nobs. Retrieved 6 May 2016.