• Artist in waiting.
• Origin story and claim to fame.
• Identity and Artistry.
• The breakout single.
• The message behind “Miniskirt”.
• A video to inspire the philosophy.
• The Era of ‘Raebellion’.

Everyone is keeping an eye on Ademuyiwa Oluwatobi Christiana, aka Raebel. As time seems to move faster and faster, every year heralds the arrival of a new star. Africa, with its bottomless trove of talent, barely catches a breath with its annual breakthroughs. Raebel, however, has struck a chord with listeners and club goers. Her debut single “Miniskirt “shifted culture in a big way. In a magical confluence of timing, talent and transcendence, her song became a radio anthem and dance floor filler, one of a handful of Nigerian trending songs which have also become social media hits. No surprise, the tastemakers loved it. Already noted for channelling multiple offerings into a cohesive whole, we eagerly anticipate the release of several collaborations, an EP and a full album. Meanwhile the WIRE takes you into the age of the “Raebellion” (also the name of her global fan base) and why she is the artist in waiting!

Origin story and claim to fame.

Ademuyiwa Oluwatobi Christiana casts herself as “Raebel” and a Nigerian Afro dancehall artiste. She was born in the Ikorodu local government area of Lagos state, on November 13, 2003, into a family of four. Ijebu North, would be her stomping ground, serving as a creative incubator whilst she discovered music and signing.

As a GenZ, in the digital era, Raebel’s legacy begins with her becoming an internet sensation doing covers of popular songs, notably “Mapariwo” by Zinoleesky, “Betty Butter” by Mayorkun and “Hold On” by Oxlade. After popular Instagram Influencer Tunde Ednut (Nigerian blogger, comedian, entertainer and musician noted for his blog and songs, “Jingle Bell” and “Catching Cold”) posted her free style videos, interest in the young Raebel exploded. The viral effect rippled, amassing 1000s of views and earning her rave reviews across the internet. The result was the undivided attention from of a host of record labels trying to land the next best thing, which turned into a vigorous bidding war.  By November 2020, the then 17-year-old teen sensation was signed by Konvest Music.

Identity and Artistry.

Describing herself, Raebel says: “I am an Afro dancehall artist. I call my music #Raebellious. With my sound, my goal is to inspire my fans to be proud of who they are regardless of what everyone else is saying. I have been called a rebel, weird, and no good. Some even said I would never amount to anything good, but God has the final say. I am not afraid of being seen as different. My music will inspire generations”.

Her artistic expression is an infectious fusion of sound elements that amplify dancehall and Afro-beat into a captivating modern beat. This serves as the perfect springboard for Raebels’ powerful and distinct vocal style to take flight.

The style is distinguishably far-reaching and beautifully bold. Her vocals are richly intoxicating and her music danceable, catchy and memorable.

The breakout single.

“Miniskirt” arrived as a product from Raebel’s original freestyles. Producer Timbun, took the proto- snippets and transformed them into a smash hit. The risk-taking and invigorating musical style of Afrobeat, reggae, pop and dancehall proved to be a huge anthem, and much appreciated for its sonic layers.

The message behind “Miniskirt”.

Raebel articulates her meaning behind the prose of “Miniskirt” as: “A song about accepting who you are and not allowing society to pick what you ought to be. It’s there to make you stand out and be who you are truly happy with. It’s not just about a skimpy skirt. It’s a symbol that means different things to different people.”

The artist also wants her music to be known for having a sense of self-belief: “I want my music to let people know we all go through stuff and can be better versions of ourselves. I used to be the kid everyone called weird, odd. I was written off, and many thought I’d never amount to anything, but my God is the greatest.”

“Miniskirt”, a video to inspire the philosophy.

Leveraging the success of the song, Raebel worked with one of Africa’s best video directors, TG Omori, now also her Creative Director, to create a visual aesthetic to match the energy of the song. Also known as “Boy Director”, the Nigerian music video director & cinematographer has directed music videos for recording artists across various genres of the new generation, including Olamide, Wizkid, Burna Boy, Tekno, Kiss Daniel, Fireboy DML, Falz, Timaya, Naira Marley, Asake and many others. The video immediately upped Raebels’s stake in the music game, declaring her as a serious player.

The Era of ‘Raebellion’.

Any day now Raebel will release her EP. With “Miniskirt” paving the way to success, even crossing borders into the diaspora, her goals are lofty. Raebel wants to perform in London at the O2 Arena and it is well within the realms of possibility. Not reasting on the laurels of one single, Raebel’s aware of the fickle nature of the music industry and her shot at making it: “The industry is very competitive; you’ve got to be at 1000 per cent every time. The demand is so high, and the stakes are even higher. So, every day is a challenge, a big challenge if you want to be at the top, but with purpose and clarity, I know what I want to achieve as an artist.”