TeeZee
2021 studio portrait of TeeZee
Born
Teni Zaccheaus JR.

27 June
Lagos
NationalityNigeria
Other namesTeniola Zaccheaus
Occupations
Years active2007–present
Known forThe NATIVE Networks
TitleRecord executive
PartnerGrace Ladoja
Parents
  • Teni Zaccheaus Sr. (father)
  • Yewande Zaccheaus (mother)
RelativesIretidayo Zaccheaus (Sister)
Musical career
Genres
Instrument(s)Vocals
Labels
Member ofDRB LasGidi (2007–present)

Teni Zaccheaus JR. (born 27 June) better known by his stage name Teezee (stylized as TeeZee) is an English-Nigerian rapper, singer, songwriter, and record executive. He is one-third of the musical group DRB LasGidi with BOJ and Fresh L. He currently serves as the co-president of NATIVE Records, and co-founder of The NATIVE Networks (subsidiaries include: The Native, and NATIVE Records). He is best known as a pioneer of alté,[1][2] and credited for the crossover success of Odumodublvck single "Declan Rice".[3]

Early life and education

Teniola Zaccheaus JR. was born in Lagos,[4] Nigeria, and raised between London, England, and Lagos, Nigeria.[5] In year 9 (JSS 3), Teni began making music while still schooling at Malvern College, in Malvern, Worcestershire, England, with BOJ and Fresh L.[5] In conversation with The Crack Magazine author Rob Dozier on 9 March 2022, he credited his father, Teni Zaccheaus Sr., as he was responsible for his music education while growing up. in the conversation, he said: “His father ran nightclubs in Lagos during his childhood, which meant that he had to be on top of what was hot on the radio”.[6]

Career

Teezee joined the group DRB LasGidi in 2007 with his school friends BOJ and Fresh L.[4] He also went by Teniola Zacchaeus, at the early stage of his career, and he is fondly called the Fresh Prince of LasGidi coined from his debut studio album Fresh Prince of LasGidi[7] in 2013. He is regarded as one of Nigeria's first generations of self-publishing artists, alongside BOJ and Fresh L, to take advantage of the internet services by sharing their music on YouTube, and SoundCloud.[4]

On 3 March 2020, Eventful CEO Yewande Zaccheaus appoints Teezee as Marketing Executive and Creative Consultant for Eventful and Harbour Point Event Centre, both in Lagos.[8] On 30 July 2021, he appeared on Skepta sophomore extended play All In on track 2 "Peace of Mind" with American rapper Kid Cudi.[9] On 11 November 2021, he released "BADI" featuring Davido as the lead single off his debut studio album Arrested by Love, with the accompanying music video inspired by '00s Nollywood classics.[10]

On 17 December 2021, he released "NEW GOVERNMENT"[11] featuring Prettyboy D-O and Kofi Mole, as the second lead single off Arrested by Love. On 4 February 2022, he released "NOK'D"[12] featuring Deto Black, as the third single off Arrested by Love, with the accompanying music video directed by Chukwuka Nwobi and Sanjo Omosa. On 18 February 2022, he released his first solo studio album titled Arrested by Love,[13] with guest appearances from Davido, Prettyboy D-O, Kofi Mole, Midas the Jagaban, DETO BLACK, Pa Salieu, Lancey Foux, BACKROAD GEE, and Teni.[13] On 9 September 2022, Jameson Irish Whiskey unveils a limited edition bottle to celebrate his album Arrested by Love.[14] On 6 October 2023, following the release of Odumodublvck's fifth mixtape studio album EZIOKWU, Teezee served as the co-exclusive producer alongside Odumodu.

Endorsements

In 2017, Teezee signed a brand ambassador deal with Jameson Irish Whiskey in Nigeria.[15]

The NATIVE Networks

The Native

In 2016, NATIVE Networks established The Native, a music magazine with the aim to promote alté craft.[16][17] In a conversation with Patta, a clothing appeal in Amsterdam; Teezee and Seni Saraki said: “We made Native because we wanted to tell the stories about the cool creatives pushing boundaries that everybody outside Nigeria was noticing but weren’t getting covered at home”,[4] pointing at the lack of media attention the music genre alté was getting doing the early stage of the sound.

NATIVE records

On 20 September 2022, Teezee alongside Chubbziano, and Sholz co-founded NATIVE Records,[18] through NATIVE Networks as a joint venture partnership with the multinational label Def Jam Recordings, with the sole aim to sign and develop talents in Africa and its diaspora. On 23 November 2022, he announced the signing of its first recording NATIVE act Odumodublvck. On 8 December 2022, Teezee released his first single under his label, titled "Manhattan"[19] featuring Cruel Santino, with production from GMK.

Personal life

Teezee is the Nigerian fashion entrepreneur Iretidayo Zaccheaus brother. Teezee and British music executive Grace Ladoja are partners, in 2021 they announced the birth of their first child.[20]

Awards and recognition

In 2019, Chude Jideonwo listed Teezee as one of his 150 most interesting people in the culture.[21] In 2021, YNaija listed Teezee as one of the 100 Most Influential People in Media.[22] On 12 April 2023, Teezee was named Executive of the Week by TurnTable, following the crossover success of Odumodublvck into the mainstream, as the first Nigerian rapper to have two top songs on the weekly TurnTable Top Hip-Hop/Rap Songs with "Picanto" and "Declan Rice" breaking into TurnTable Official Nigeria Top 100 chart.[3]

Year Event Prize Result Ref
2023 Scream All Youth Awards Music Executive Nominated [23]

Concerts

References

  1. ↑ Eze, Chinelo (20 February 2022). "Teezee: Man Of Many talent and the Fresh Prince of Lasgidi". The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  2. ↑ Ways, Curious. "5 minutes with Teezee: The artist bringing Nigerian alté subculture to the mainstream". HUNGER TV. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  3. 1 2 Oriowo, Ayomide. "Executive of the Week: TeeZee AKA Teni Zaccheaus JR; Creating An Unconventional Superstar with Odumodublvck". TurnTable. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Get familiar: Meet Teezee, the Fresh prince of Las-gidi". Carmenpolitan. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  5. 1 2 Staff, Notion (27 August 2021). "Fresh Face: Teezee". Notion. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  6. ↑ Dozier, Rob. "Meet TeeZee, a pioneer of Nigeria's Alté movement". Crack Magazine. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  7. ↑ "BN Download: TeeZee (of DRB Lasgidi) – Fresh Prince of Las Gidi". BellaNaija. 17 June 2013. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  8. ↑ "Let's welcome Teezee, the New Marketing Executive for Eventful ??". BellaNaija. 3 March 2020. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  9. ↑ Afeez, Ademoye (30 July 2021). "Skepta Features Teezee, Kid Cudi & J Balvin In New EP 'All In' | LISTEN". NotjustOk. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  10. ↑ Renshaw, David. "TeeZee and Davido's "Badi" video is a non-stop party". The FADER. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  11. ↑ "Teehee releases new single "New Government"". P.M. News. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  12. ↑ Peter, Dennis Ade (4 February 2022). "NATIVE PREMIERE: Teezee taps DETO BLACK for technicolour new single, "NOK'D"". The NATIVE. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  13. 1 2 Native, The (17 February 2022). "EXCLUSIVE: What To Expect on Teezee's 'Arrested By Love'". The NATIVE. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  14. ↑ Adeleye, Idris (9 September 2022). "Jameson Irish Whiskey unveils a limited edition bottle to celebrate Teezee's latest body of work, the 'Arrested by Love' album". NotjustOk. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  15. ↑ "Meet Teni Zaccheaus JR, Jameson Brand Ambassador for Nigeria as He Discusses His Work With the Famous Brand and What to Expect at this Year's Edition of Jameson Connects". BellaNaija. 22 February 2017. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  16. ↑ Mclaughlin, Aimee (28 May 2021). "The Native on the rise of Nigerian youth culture". Creative Review. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  17. ↑ "The NATIVE Magazine launches its website". The Culture Custodian (Est. 2014.). 19 January 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  18. ↑ "Def Jam inks exclusive worldwide JV with Nigeria and UK-based NATIVE Records". Music Business Worldwide. 20 September 2022.
  19. ↑ "Teezee & Cruel Santino combine for new single, 'Manhattan'". Pulse Nigeria. 9 December 2022. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  20. ↑ Okonofua, Odion (6 May 2021). "Music executive Grace Ladoja welcomes baby with rapper Teezee". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  21. ↑ "Chude Jideonwo's list of the 150 most interesting people in the culture [2019] » YNaija". YNaija. 1 January 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  22. ↑ Okafor, Chinedu (3 August 2021). "#YNaijaMedia100: Ebuka, Funke Akindele, Erica, Ikorodu Bois | See 100 Most Influential People in Media » Page 10 of 11 » YNaija". YNaija. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  23. ↑ Agbana, Rotimi (18 April 2023). "Scream All Youth Awards '23: 10th Edition Nominees List". Independent Newspaper Nigeria. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  24. ↑ Idowu, Tomi (28 December 2016). "NATIVELAND Festival 2016 in pictures". The Culture Custodian (Est. 2014.). Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  25. ↑ West Africa, In-house (28 February 2018). "MI Abaga, Somi to headline Afropolitan Vibes Fest". Music in Africa. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  26. ↑ Afeez, Ademoye (14 December 2021). "Show Dem Camp Announces Ladipoe, Lojay, Oxlade and Others For Lagos Concert | SEE LINE-UP". NotjustOk. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  27. ↑ Adeleye, Idris (11 April 2022). "'Homecoming' Festival Returns to Lagos this April 15th – 18th | See Full Line-up of Performances and Pop-Up Brands Announced". NotjustOk. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  28. ↑ Kent-Smith, Jasmine (28 October 2021). "First names announced for Places+Faces Lisbon Weekender 2022". Crack Magazine. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
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