New Wave Nigerian: Idris King Is The Definition of Chill Vibes

The first time I heard Idris King’s Squad – I fell in love with it, but for a time I wasn’t sure who he was or where the song came from. There was some REALLY deep Insta-stalkage (which coincidentally ended up with me asking him if we could use his song for our holiday fashion film).

In conversation, the 24-year-old musician is super-chill and quick to admit he does better speaking than writing long essays. He comes across as thoughtful, fun-loving and confident. The French-speaking new artist is bold, but without artifice or affectation (he calls it ‘good arrogance’). The hallmark of someone who knows himself and is very comfortable with what he sees in the mirror, regardless of what the world has to say about it.

Idris King first came to wider public attention when his single, Squad, was used on an NdaniTV show ‘Lagos Big Boy’ and the wordplay in his lyrics (in both French and English) and easy melodies, are high-key mesmeric. The rapper, singer and producer is not only building his musical empire, but a lifestyle brand with merchandise, events and more.

90’sBabyLife is a loose collective of New Wave Nigerian creators, centred on mutual support and building exposure for all the participants, which may or may not necessarily have been possible on their own, building critical mass sorely needed by young up and comers.

This multi-platform approach is further evidence of his future forward approach to music and the business of it, and quite unlike the stifling silos that are par for the course, and have strangled a lot of budding talent on the continent.

You may not have heard of him yet, but you will.

Age: 24

School? Jiggy Institution of Jiggyness [We don’t know what this means either guys, but we are investigating. Lol]