P-Square

P-Square
Birth name Peter Okoye
Paul Okoye
Also known as Paul & Peter
Born (1981-11-18) 18 November 1981
Jos, Nigeria
Origin Ifite Dunu, Anambra State, Nigeria
Genres R&B, African hip hop
Occupation(s) Recording artist, singer-songwriter, performer, dancer
Instruments vocals
Years active 2003–present
Labels Square records, Konvict Muzik, Universal Music Group (SA)
Associated acts Jude Engees Okoye, Akon, J Martins, Waje, 2 Face Idibia, Matt Houston, Tiwa Savage, Naeto C, LKT, Bracket, Lagbaja, Rick Ross, T.I., Dave Scott
Website P-Square

P-Square are a Nigerian R&B duo of identical twin brothers Peter Okoye and Paul Okoye.[1] They produce and release their albums through Square Records. In December 2011, they signed a record deal with Akon's Konvict Muzik label.[2] In May 2012, they signed a record distribution deal with Universal Music South Africa.[3]

History

P-Square began in St. Murumba secondary school, a small Catholic school in Jos, Nigeria. Peter and Paul joined their school music and drama club where they began singing, dancing, and mimicking songs by MC Hammer, Bobby Brown and Michael Jackson.

They later formed an acappella quartet called "MMMPP" (M Clef a.k.a. Itemoh, Michael, Melvin, Peter and Paul). Drawing inspiration from their music idol Michael Jackson, they began break dancing, formed the group called "Smooth Criminals" in 1997.[4] They dropped M Clef from the group "MMMPP" which later was changed to "MMPP". Their artistic talent and precise dance routine soon made them household names in the city of Jos, where they performed at school functions and other occasions.[4]

Later in 1999, Peter and Paul returned to music school to develop their skills on the keyboard, drums, bass and rhythm guitar. Their work includes the soundtracks for a number of films like Tobi, Mama Sunday, Moment of Bitterness and Evas River.

Later in 1999, they applied to the University of Abuja to study Business Administration. The Smooth Criminals disbanded when its members left to various other universities. Subsequently Peter and Paul formed their own group, variously called "Double P", "P&P", and "Da Pees", until they eventually settled on "P Square". They are managed by Bayo Odusami aka Howie T, a seasoned concert promoter and the CEO of Adrot Nigeria Limited.

In 2001, "P-Square" won the "Grab Da Mic" competition, and hence Benson & Hedges sponsored their debut album, titled Last Nite, which was released under Timbuk2 music label. P-Square was also nominated as "Most Promising African Group" in the Kora Awards three months after the release of their debut album. They eventually won the 2003 Amen Award for "Best R&B Group".[4]

In 2005, they released their second album, Get Squared under their own label, Square Records. This album was marketed nationwide by TJoe Enterprises, although they were still managed by Howie T of Adrot Nigeria Limited. The video for the second album held the #1 position on the MTV Base chart for four straight weeks.

The group has performed with artists like Ginuwine and Sean Paul, Akon. P Square are now located in Lagos.[4]

Late in 2007, they released their best selling album so far, Game Over. It has sold 8 million copies worldwide.[4]

In 2009, P-Square released their fourth studio album, Danger. The album features collaborations with 2 Face Idibia, J Martins and Frenzy. The first single called "Danger" is a hip hop song with cutting synths and a frog bass baseline similar to an Eminem song. The video affirms this with the presence of clowns and staggered movements in front of the camera reminiscent of comical videos by Eminem. They are also known for the close resemblance which the twins have to American R&B singer, Usher Raymond.

On 4 April 2010, P-Square was named the Artist of the Year[5] at the Kora Awards in Ouagadougou, Burkina-Faso while they were in London for a concert at the Troxy, and they will receive a sum of $1 Million Dollars as the award winners, in Ebebiyin City.

On August 29, 2014, P-Square released a single track featuring a top America Artist T.I. which P-Square titled EjeAjo,[6] EjeAjo official video featuring T.I. [7] was also released 29 August 2014 on both TV stations, Radio Stations and Web blogs.

On September 14, 2014 P-Square released their 6th studio album titled Double Trouble .[8]

On October 8, 2015 P-Square were given Range Rover SUVs from Globacom as Glo Ambasaadors for their sponsorship of the #DanceWithPeter TV Radio entertainment programme. The programme brings dancers from around the world to showcase their talents for prizes.

Controversy

The duo are reported to handle most of their production/beat making in house. The band has been faced with many controversies for their habit of sampling western songs and popular hits in their records. They have addressed the issue many times in interviews as well as in the lyrics of their songs. Technically speaking, P Square does more in the line of reconstructing the drum patterns, chord progressions or lyrics of the sampled songs as against actually cutting parts of the song and directly sampling into their production. This accounts for the largely electronic feel of their sound.

Some of the songs which have been called up on this account include "Get Squared", "Game Over", "Danger" and others.

P-Square attracted headlines because they reportedly turned irate when they were notified by organisers in the middle of their performance at the Guinness Show about some change in plans which would affect the length of their performance, and that of the next act, 2 Face Idibia. As reported by a news site vanguardngr.com, the info apparently stirred up resentment as Peter immediately said "I don’t know why, anytime a foreign artiste comes to Nigeria, they (show organizers) wanna treat us like slaves in our country". Although initially they continued their performance but midway through, they threw their microphones to the ground and angrily stormed out of the stage saying, "We are leaving; they don’t want 2face to come on stage" They were said to have immediately left the premises of the show, but after intervention of the show organisers, they came on stage later with 2face for a performance, but later on were apologised to.

Paul Okoye, one half of the musical duo, P-Square, was involved in a paternity scandal with a lady named Elshamah Igbanoi. The lady claimed Paul impregnated her; Paul denied the pregnancy and went for a paternity test.[9]

The duo had a difference in opinion regarding what Peter perceived as a lopsidedness in individual input of songs which was getting featured on their joint albums with Paul getting a lion share of his songs selected. This led to Peter refusing to do anything P square for weeks. Peter relocated taking his wife and kids from the mansion they both lived years and accommodated their extended family in. A lawyer was also involved to help split their fortune as they were both involved in joint ventures over the years.[10]

Personal life

After dating for seven years, Peter Okoye got engaged to his longtime girlfriend, Titilola Loretta Omotayo.[11] Omotayo is a marketing representative. The couple are already parents to son Cameron and daughter Aliona.[12][13][14] On 17 November 2013, the two held their traditional wedding at The Ark in Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria. Public figures who attended the wedding include Aliko Dangote, Emmanuel Adebayor, Kate Henshaw, Genevieve Nnaji, Rukky Sanda, Folorunsho Alakija, May D, Toke Makinwa, Dr SID, Don Jazzy, and Karen Igho among others.[15][16]

Paul Okoye met Anita Isama in 2004 while attending the University of Abuja.[17][18] Their son Andre was born 11 April 2013 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States.[19][20][21] The couple married on Saturday, 22 March 2014 at the Aztech Arcum Events Centre in Port Harcourt.[21][22]

In January 2014, the Okoye brothers bought mansions next door to one another in Atlanta.[23]

Discography

Main article: P-Square discography

Studio albums

Compilation albums

International singles

Title Year Album
"E No Easy" (P-Square featuring J. Martins) 2009 Danger
"Positif" (Matt Houston feat. P-Square) 2012 Racines
"Chop My Money" (P-Square featuring Akon & May D) The Invasion
"Beautiful Onyinye" (P-Square featuring Rick Ross)
"Personally" (P-Square) 2013 Double Trouble
"Ejeajo" (P-Square featuring T.I) 2014
"Bring It On" (P-Square featuring Dave Scott) 2015
"Getting Down" (Mokobé featuring P-Square) 2015

Awards and nominations

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by expanding it with reliably sourced entries.
P-Square awards and nominations
Awards and nominations
Award Wins Nominations
The Headies
 5 0
City Mag 9th Awards Show
 1 0
Nigerian Music Awards (NMA)
 2 0
Channel O Music Video Awards
 5 1
MTV Africa Music Awards
 4 9
KORA Awards
 1 1
Lil Perry Productions
 1 0
BET Awards
 0 1
MOBO Awards
 0 4
Ghana Music Awards
 0 2
MTV Europe Music Awards
 0 1
Soul Train Music Awards
 0 1
Totals
Awards won 17
Nominations 18
MTV Europe Music Awards
Year Recipient/Nominated work Award Result
2013 P-Square "Best African Act" Nominated [24]
2015 P-Square "Artist of the Decade" Nominated
2015 P-Square "Best Group" Nominated
Soul Train Music Awards
Year Recipient/Nominated work Award Result
2013 "Personally" "Best International Performance" Nominated [25]
The Headies
Year Recipient/Nominated work Award Result
2006 Get Squared "Best R&B/Pop Album" Won [26]
"Album of the Year" Won[26]
"Get Squared" "Best Music Video" Won[26]
"Bizzy Body" "Song of the Year" Won[26]
P-Square "Artiste of the Year" Won[26]
City Mag 9th Awards Show
Year Recipient/Nominated work Award Result
2006 P-Square "Best Hip Hop Group" Won [27]
Nigerian Music Awards (NMA)
Year Recipient/Nominated work Award Result
2006 Get Squared "Album of the Year" Won [28]
"Get Squared" "Music Video of the Year" Won[28]
Channel O Music Video Awards
Year Recipient/Nominated work Award Result
2007 P-Square "Best Duo or Group" Won [28]
2008 P-Square "Best Duo or Group" Won [28]
"Do Me" "Video of the Year" Won [28]
2012 P-Square "Most Gifted Group of the Year" Won[29]
2013 "Alingo" "Most Gifted African (West) Video" Won[30]
"Most Gifted Video of the Year" Nominated[31]
MTV Africa Music Awards
Year Recipient/Nominated work Award Result
2008 P-Square "Best Group" Won[32]
P-Square "Artist of the Year" Nominated[33]
P-Square "Best R&B" Nominated[33]
"Roll It" "Best Video" Nominated[33]
2009 P-Square "Best Group" Won[34]
P-Square "Best Live Performer" Nominated[33]
2014 P-Square Best Group Nominated[35]
Artist of the Year Nominated[35]
"Personally" Song of the Year Nominated[35]
KORA Awards
Year Recipient/Nominated work Award Result
2003 P-Square "Most Promising African Group" Nominated[33]
2010 P-Square "Artiste of the Year" Won[36]
Lil Perry Productions
Year Recipient/Nominated work Award Result
2010 P-Square "Producer of the Year" Won
MOBO Awards
Year Recipient/Nominated work Award Result
2006 P-Square "Best African Act" Nominated[33]
2008 P-Square "Best African Act" Nominated[33]
2010 P-Square "Best African Act" Nominated[37]
2012 P-Square "Best African Act" Nominated[38]
BET Awards
Year Recipient/Nominated work Award Result
2010 P-Square "Best International Act" Nominated[39]
Ghana Music Awards
Year Recipient/Nominated work Award Result
2014 P-Square "African Artiste of the Year" Nominated[40]
2013 Nominated[41]

References

  1. ↑ Aliyu, Adekunle (9 May 2008). "P-Square crowned King of Africa in Ghana". paragraph 14: Vanguard Media Limited. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
  2. ↑ "Akon’s label, Konvict signs Wizkid Psquare, Tuface!". Vanguard. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  3. ↑ "Psquare signs distribution deal with Universal Music South Africa". The Net Nigeria. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Bio". PSquareOfficial. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  5. ↑ "P-Square pockets $1m at Kora Awards". www.africanews.com. 5 April 2010. Retrieved 6 March 2012.
  6. ↑ "PSquare Ft. T.I – EjeAjo .Mp3 DOWNLOAD". View Nigeria. 29 August 2014. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
  7. ↑ "PSquare Ft. T.I – EjeAjo Official Video". View Nigeria. 29 August 2014. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
  8. ↑ "P-Square Discography". AFROBIOS. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  9. ↑ Alonge, Osagie (6 May 2013). "Psquare’s Paul Okoye in monumental scandal – allegedly fathers, and abandons baby from 19 yr-old". Nigerian Entertainment Today. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
  10. ↑ "The Unbelievable Seperation In SquareVille. Full Details Of The Psquare Split". 360 nobs. April 2014.
  11. ↑ Mgbolu, Charles (7 August 2013). "PSquare’s Peter Okoye, Lola Omotayo engaged!". Vanguard. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
  12. ↑ http://www.bellanaija.com/2012/09/24/bn-bytes-four-hearty-cheers-for-cameron-music-star-peter-okoye-lola-omotayo-celebrate-sons-birthday-with-j-martins/
  13. ↑ BellaNaija (2014). "Aliona Okoye Turns 1". Bella Naija. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  14. ↑ http://instagram.com/p/jfKJg4ysLu/
  15. ↑ "Lola Omotayo weds Peter Okoye of P-Square! First Photos From the Traditional Engagement". Bellanaija. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
  16. ↑ "P-Square’s Peter Okoye speaks on spectacular N150m wedding (4)". Encomium. 29 November 2013. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
  17. ↑ Filani, Omotola (2014-03-24). "D’banj, Omotola, Funke Akindele, others storm Port Harcourt for Paul Okoye’s wedding [PHOTOS] - DailyPost Nigeria". Dailypost.ng. Retrieved 2014-03-28.
  18. ↑ http://www.nigeriafilms.com/news/9370/3/p-squares-dad-visits-sons-in-lagos-for-the-first-t.html
  19. ↑ http://www.mjemagazine.com/photos-psquare-paul-wife-anita-okoye-mark-sons-1st-birthday/
  20. ↑ ""Love’s Testimony!" BellaNaija Weddings presents Paul Okoye of P-Square & Anita Isama’s Traditional Wedding". Bella Naija. 2014-03-24. Retrieved 2014-03-28.
  21. 1 2 "P-square's Paul Okoye weds his longtime love (PHOTOS)". The Sowetan. 25 March 2014. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
  22. ↑ ""Love’s Testimony!" BellaNaija Weddings presents Paul Okoye of P-Square & Anita Isama’s Traditional Wedding". Bella Naija. 2014-03-24. Retrieved 2014-03-28.
  23. ↑ 20 January 2014 (2014-01-20). "PSquare buys 2 homes in Atlanta Georgia - Vanguard News". Vanguardngr.com. Retrieved 2014-03-28.
  24. ↑ "Psquare, Wizkid nominated for 2013 MTV Europe Music Awards". The Net Nigeria. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
  25. ↑ "2013 Soul Train Awards Nominees: Kendrick Lamar Leads The Pack, Miguel & Justin Timberlake Follow". Centric. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
  26. 1 2 3 4 5 "Past Winners of the Headies". Hip-Hop World Magazine. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  27. ↑ "City Mag 9th Awards Show". Naijarules. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  28. 1 2 3 4 5 "Marriage now? Count us out! – P Square". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  29. ↑ "Full list of winners at the 2012 Channel O Music Video Awards". NigeriaFilms. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  30. ↑ "Channel O Music Video Awards 2013: Full List Of Winners". 360nobs. 20 November 2013. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
  31. ↑ "Channel O Music Video Awards 2013+ Complete List of Nominees". Naijanews. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
  32. ↑ "MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMAs) 2008: Winners & Photos". BellaNaija. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  33. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Awards". Official PSquare Website. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  34. ↑ "Mtv Africa Music Award Winners". NotJustOk. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  35. 1 2 3 "Mafikizolo, Uhuru, Davido lead nominations for MTV Africa Music Awards". Sowetan LIVE. Retrieved 2014-04-17.
  36. ↑ "KORA AWARDS 2010: AND THE WINNER IS …". Lepetitnegre. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  37. ↑ "Nominations Announced for the MOBO Awards 2010!". MOBO Awards. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
  38. ↑ "MOBO Awards 2012 - all the nominees". musicweek. Retrieved 4 September 2013.
  39. ↑ "BET Awards 2010 Nominations". thatgrapejuice. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  40. ↑ "2014 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards Nomination". Ghana Fame. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  41. ↑ "Vodafone Ghana Music Awards 2013 Nominations List Finally Out". The Chronicle. Retrieved 25 July 2013.

External links

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