2nd February, 2024
By Taiwo Okanlawon
Nigerian Afrobeats sensation Joseph Akinfenwa Donus, popularly known as Joeboy, has parted ways with Empawa Music, a label owned by Mr Eazi.
The singer has now signed a dual deal with global music giant, Warner Music, and launched his record label called “Young Legend” record label.
He also adjusted his profile names on social media to reflect the new label.
This move sees Joeboy exit Empawa after 5 successful years where he released 2 EPs (Love & Light and Body, Soul & Spirit) , 2 albums (Somewhere Between Beauty & Magic and Body & Soul) and a plethora of hit singles & features amassing over 2 Billion streams across major DSPs.
Under the new Young Legend label, Joeboy will act as the CEO while Deola Jaiyesimi will serve as the Head of label with the task of churning out the next set of Afrobeats superstars on a global stage.
Sharing a ritual-themed clip announcing the launch of his record label via X, Joeboy wrote: “Dawn of a new era. Young Legend is alive.”
Dawn of a new era
Young Legend is alive. 🤍 pic.twitter.com/Jnpjra0HbJ
— LAVIDA BOY (@Joeboy) February 2, 2024
In 2017, Joeboy (unsigned) released a cover of Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You.” A friend tagged Eazi in Joeboys video on Instagram.
Eazi called for online demo music submissions from artists across Africa using the hashtag #empawa100. Out of 10,000 entries received from 14 countries, 100 were handpicked and their videos funded at $3,000 apiece.
Joeboy joined Empawa Music In 2019. In March, he released the easy-listening love song “Baby,” which reached the top 10 of Apple Music’s charts in Nigeria, Uganda and Kenya. Follow-up track “Beginning,” hit No. 1 on Apple Music in Nigeria and Uganda.
He was nominated for the Next Rated category at the 2019 Headies Awards but lost to Rema.