Nana Richard Abiona, known as Fuse ODG, a Ghanaian Afrobeats artiste located in the United Kingdom, has been in the music business for 10 years.
“Exactly today marks my 10 years in the industry. Grateful for all of the support,” he posted on his social media handles on October 28, 2021.
It was in 2011 that Fuse ODG had an awakening. He wanted to go to Ghana, his native country, after becoming dissatisfied with his experiences growing up in south London.
“I saw a whole new Africa that I had never seen on TV. You’re just a human here, you don’t feel like a minority. It feels like home. That’s the energy I got from coming back: peace of mind,” he said.
That trip served as a trigger for what followed: a succession of Afrobeats recordings that fused traditional African highlife rhythms with western rap and R&B melodies.
Following his tour, Fuse chose to prioritize Ghana in his music, bringing the indigenous Azonto dance to a worldwide audience. He packed the dance, which includes a rhythmic thrusting and jerking of arms, ankles, and hips, into a viral hit track of the same name.
Subsequent songs, ‘Million Pound Girl’ and ‘Dangerous Love,’ also charted in the UK’s Top 5.
“I love myself more now. Africa has done that for me. And if you love yourself, you’ll be able to love other people; you value them how you value yourself [sic],” he added.
On June 2, 2013, Fuse ODG released his first song ‘Antenna.’
The song reached number seven on the UK Singles Chart. It also reached number 85 on the Irish Singles Chart.
On September 29, 2013, he released the song “Azonto,” which peaked at number 30 on the UK Singles Chart.
On October 19, the same year, he was named ‘Best African Act’ at the MOBO Awards’ 18th anniversary.
At the 2013 Urban Music Awards, he received four awards: Best Music Video, Best Single, Best Artiste, and Best Collaboration.
On December 29, 2013, Fuse ODG released the track ‘Million Pound Girl (Badder Than Bad).’ The song peaked at No. 5 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 65 on the Irish Singles Chart. On May 18, 2014, Fuse ODG released ‘Dangerous Love,’ which featured Sean Paul and peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart.
On October 19, 2014, his following song, ‘T.I.N.A.,’ featuring British R&B singer Angel, was released. T.I.N.A., an abbreviation for ‘This Is New Africa,’ his first album, was released on November 3, 2014, and features all five songs. The album charted at number 25 in the United Kingdom and number 63 in Scotland.
Fuse ODG declined an opportunity to perform on the Band-Aid 30 project because he was offended by how the song’s lyrics depicted victims of the current Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa, and Africa in general.
He appeared on Tinchy Stryder’s track ‘Imperfection’ in April 2015. He released the song ‘Only’ in July 2015.
He appeared on Angel’s song “Leyla.” On July 17, 2015, the song was released. He released the single ‘Top of My Charts’ on September 4, 2015.
In 2016, he teamed with Zack Knight, a British Asian musician, and Badshah, an Indian rapper. They collaborated to create Bombae, an African/Indian soundtrack.
He now manages Ghanaian diva Feli Nuna with his record company Off Da Ground Record. Winning, On a Million, and Jekka are his most recent releases.
Fuse ODG has also collaborated with Ed Sheeran, a British artist. He released ‘Boa Me,’ which featured Ed Sheeran and R2Bees, in 2017.
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