Crayon

Nigerian singer/songwriter Crayon burst onto the Afro-pop scene in 2019, signing with Don Jazzy’s influential Mavin Records, which issued his debut EP, Cray Cray. He went on to notch hits with popular tracks like “So Fine” and the 2020 Kelvyn Boy collaboration “Tele.”
Born and raised in Iba, Lagos, Crayon took inspiration from both sides of the Atlantic, naming Canadians Drake and Justin Bieber as influences while following in the Afrobeat footsteps of the great Fela Kuti and modern singers like Davido and Wizkid. His name, Crayon, references the colorful musical palette he employs including pop, Latino, and Caribbean as well as regional Afro-oriented styles. After signing with the Mavin imprint Blowtime Entertainment in 2019, he quickly found success with the single “So Fine” and spent much of the following year issuing singles like “Kpano,” “Shima,” and “No Ansa.” Crayon’s first track of 2021 was the Bella Shmurda collaboration “Jackpot.” ~ Timothy Monger