Tobi (musician)

Oluwatobi Ajibolade (known professionally as Tobi; stylized as TOBi) is a Nigerian-Canadian rapper and singer who is currently signed to the Sony Music imprint Same Plate Entertainment. He released his debut studio album, STILL, in May 2019.

TOBi
Birth nameOluwatobi Feyisara Ajibolade
BornLagos, Nigeria
OriginToronto, Canada
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • rapper
Years active2015–present
Labels
  • Same Plate Entertainment
  • Sony

Early life and education

Oluwatobi Feyisara Ajibolade[1] was born in 1993 in Lagos, Nigeria and moved to Ottawa, Canada with his father when he was 8 or 9 years old. He first began writing lyrics and poetry around that time.[2][3] Ajibolade grew up largely in Brampton, Ontario, a suburb of Toronto.[1] As a teenager, he engaged in rap battles, including one with a pre-fame Tory Lanez.[4] He later attended Wilfrid Laurier University where he studied biology and psychology.[2]

Career

In around 2015, Ajibolade began releasing music using the stage name, "Tobi Aji".[5] In 2016, he began using the moniker, "TOBi", and independently released an EP entitled, FYi.[6] The collection featured the songs, "iNDECiSiONS" and "Deeper".[7] A music video for the latter song was released in November 2016.[8] The following month, TOBi released the single, "LiBRA".[9]

In September 2017, he released the song, "Hidden Fences", which appeared on an episode of the HBO series, Insecure.[10] Another song, "January December", was released in January 2018.[11] Beginning in 2019, TOBi began releasing several new tracks, including "City Blues",[12] "Sweet Poison",[13] and "Werking".[14] Those three songs served as the singles for TOBi's debut studio album, STILL, released in May 2019 on the Sony Music imprint, Same Plate Entertainment. The album also featured a guest appearance from VanJess on the track, "Come Back Home".[15]

Artistry

In an interview with AFROPUNK, TOBi cited the work of Gil Scott-Heron, Frank Ocean, Marvin Gaye, Eartha Kitt, Florence and the Machine, and Andre 3000 as inspirations for his own work, particularly his lyrics. [16]

Discography

Studio albums
List of studio albums, with year released and selected details
Title Album details
STILL

EPs
List of EPs, with year released and selected details
Title Album details
FYi

Singles
List of singles with selected details
Title Year Album
"Deeper" 2016 FYi
"iNDECiSiONS"
"Hidden Fences" 2017 Non-album single
"City Blues" 2019 STILL
"Sweet Poison"
"Werking"
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References
  1. Ryan, Patrick B. (6 May 2019). "TOBi - Still". Exclaim!. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  2. Gracie, Bianca (3 May 2019). "TOBi's Debut Album 'STILL' Journeys Through the Joy (And Sharp Pains) Of Black Male Vulnerability". Billboard. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  3. McNeilly, Claudia (1 May 2019). "Interview: TOBi's search for home". Now Toronto. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  4. Conteh, Mankaprr (2 May 2019). "tobi's debut album is a message to his teen self". i-D. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  5. Smith, Trevor (16 May 2015). "TOBi - The 6ick Side". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  6. Tanners, Jon (14 July 2016). "Get Familiar With Ontario Rapper TOBi on His New "FYi" EP". Pigeons & Planes. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  7. Buck, Courtney (22 July 2016). "TOBi shares his FYi EP". The 405. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  8. Witmer, Phil (24 November 2016). "Brampton's TOBi Dances Through the Ferns in His "Deeper" Video". Noisey. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  9. Darville, Jordan (1 December 2016). "TOBi's "LiBRA" Is Soul That Counts Its Blessings". The Fader. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  10. Goddard, Kevin (8 September 2017). "TOBi Nabs "Insecure" Placement With New Song "Hidden Fences"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  11. Smith, Trevor (20 January 2018). "TOBi Shares New Track "January December"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  12. Tambini, Kam (18 January 2019). "Dive Into TOBi's New Music Video For 'City Blues'". OkayAfrica. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  13. da Costa, Beatriz (4 March 2019). "TOBi Gets Sweet In New Video For "Sweet Poison"". Vibe. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  14. Espinoza, Joshua (27 March 2019). "Premiere: TOBi Shares New Single "Werking"". Complex. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  15. Higgins, Keenan (3 May 2019). "Meet TOBi: Your Next International Hip-Hop Soul Music Sensation". The Source. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  16. Erin White. (5 February 2019). Interview: TOBi Talks Poetry, Hypocrisy & Self-ReflectionAFROPUNK. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
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