Veteran Nigerian rapper Lord of Ajasa has begun a new chapter outside the country after becoming a citizen of the United States.
The indigenous hip-hop pioneer, whose real name is Olusegun Osaniyi, announced the development on Instagram on Wednesday, sharing photos and videos of himself holding his American citizenship certificate.
The announcement drew congratulatory messages from fans and fellow entertainers, including music producer and Coded Tunes founder ID Cabasa and singer 9ice, who was one of Lord of Ajasa’s contemporaries in the Nigerian music scene.
Born in Akure, Ondo State, Lord of Ajasa developed his identity around Yoruba-language rap and became one of the early artistes to demonstrate the commercial potential of indigenous-language hip-hop in Nigeria.
He reportedly earned the name “Lord of Flavour” while studying Quantity Surveying at a polytechnic in Ondo State before adopting the stage name Lord of Ajasa.
His breakthrough came with the release of “Ma Yi Lo” in 2000, a song that helped establish him as one of the notable voices in Nigeria’s emerging indigenous rap movement.
Throughout the early stages of his career, he worked with several prominent Nigerian artistes, including 9ice, Olamide and the late Dagrin.
His influence predated the wider mainstream success of Yoruba rappers such as Dagrin, Olamide and Reminisce, placing him among the artistes credited with helping lay the foundation for the indigenous hip-hop movement.
Lord of Ajasa later stepped away from the music spotlight following a health challenge he identified as peptic ulcer. He also explained that his involvement in other businesses had contributed to his reduced presence in the entertainment industry.
Despite his absence from the mainstream music scene, his contribution to Nigerian hip-hop has remained part of the genre’s history, particularly in the development of Yoruba rap.
His acquisition of US citizenship now marks another significant chapter in the career of an artiste who helped establish indigenous-language rap as an important part of Nigeria’s popular music culture.
