E Kelly

E Kelly is a Nigerian music and record producer, song-writer, sound engineer, and A&R to Banku Music and emPawa Africa.

He was born in Jos and has been an active record producer since 2001. He has produced songs for well-known artists such as Mr Eazi, Major Laser, Patoranking, Vanessa Mdee, Tekno, Ycee, and Waje.

Emmanuel started his music career playing the drums at United Baptist Church in his early teen years. While he was in high school, at the age of 14, he learned how to play the drums and at the age of 16, he began producing music using a Yamaha PSS 795 module. Growing up, Emmanuel was strongly influenced by Boys II Men, Dark Child, Timbaland, and 90's R&B/Hip-Hop Music. In 2009, he started his professional career as a producer after relocating from Jos to Lagos[3] at the heels of his childhood friend, M.I Abaga.
Emmanuel started out his formal education at the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi where he began a diplomacy in Accounting. After two years, he transferred to the University of Jos to complete his Accounting degree. While he was at the Federal Polytechnic, E Kelly dedicated part of his study time into perfecting the art of putting music together; he would arrive at choir rehearsals an hour early so he could fiddle with multi-tracks[4] and create unique beats that caught the ear of his church's music director. It was during his final two years at the University of Jos that E Kelly realised how passionate he was about music and becoming a full-time music producer.

His earliest hits include "Say my Name" and "Wiz Party" by Wizkid, "So Inspired" by singer Waje; and Lowkey by Flowssick. Emmanuel's affiliation with Mr Eazi has opened him up to being one of the most sought-out Afro-Beat producers; he currently serves as Artist and Repertoire to Banku Music and emPawa Africa.

Emmanuel's big break came when Yung El[5] freestyled over a beat he produced in 2011. Shortly after the freestyle went viral, E Kelly moved to Lagos and worked on a project with Kenny Saint Brown and Ice Prince, "Alaye[6]"

In 2013, E Kelly connected with his childhood and highschool friend, M.I Abaga. M.I moved back to Nigeria, from the United States, to work on a project he had began while he was attending Baptist Model High School, Jos. E.Kelly credits M.I for playing an instrumental role in his foray into being a record producer in Lagos. E Kelly also helped M.I and Jesse Jags - M.I's brother - navigate the music industry and scene in Lagos. Although they were old friends and colleagues in the music industry, M.I and E Kelly didn't officially collaborate on a project until 2014 when M.I released "The Chairman[7]." Prior to the public launch of "The Chairman" album, E Kelly received co-production credit on M.I’s major record, “Number One.” M.I and E Kelly officially collaborated on "Chairman", the first single on "The Chairman" album.

After a brief stint doing A&R for Nigerian reggae-dancehall singer, Patoranking, E Kelly decided to take a short break from producing music to find a new challenge. During his time with Patoranking's team, he produced two records on the God Over Everything album: "Hale Hale" and "Killing Me." While he was on the hunt for a new challenge, E.Kelly came across Mr Eazi who was making easy, but great music that was blowing up the airwaves in Nigeria and Ghana. When Mr Eazi arrived in Lagos in 2016, the singer reached out to E Kelly, who at the time was enjoying the success of the song he produced for Ycee, "Omo Alhaji", and the two began making music together. Their first record, "Leg Over", was released in December, 2016. After the success of Leg Over, E Kelly and Mr Eazi have collaborated on several music and non-music projects around the world.