P-Square

A hugely successful Nigerian sibling pop duo, P-Square gained widespread fame for their high-energy R&B, hip-hop, and dance-oriented sound. Emerging in the early 2000s, P-Square attracted fans with albums like 2005′s Get Squared, 2007′s Game Over, and 2009′s Danger, all of which went platinum and spawned such hits as “Bizzy Body,” “No One Like You,” and “E No Easy.” In 2014 they paired with rapper T.I. for the song “”Ejeajo,” off 2014′s Double Trouble. They also appeared as personalities on the reality TV competition show Dance with Peter before going their separate ways in 2016.
Hailing from Ifite Dunu, Anambra State, Nigeria, identical twin brothers Peter Okoye and Paul Okoye became interested in performing while attending the St. Murumba secondary school, a Catholic school in Jos, Plateau State Nigeria. While there, they became involved in the school music and drama club and began singing and dancing, drawing inspiration from artists like Bobby Brown, Michael Jackson, and MC Hammer. Also while in school, they formed an a cappella quartet that eventually morphed into a more pop-oriented dance crew in which they developed choreographed routines and performed at school functions. By the late ’90s, they had added keyboards, bass, drum, and guitar to their skills. Upon graduating high school, the brothers launched themselves as a duo under the name P-Square and quickly signed with a management team. Around the same time, they won a Nigerian talent competition, picking up backing from Benson & Hedges to record and release their 2001 debut album, Last Nite. Produced by their older brother Jude Engees Okoye, the album performed well, buoyed by the singles “Senorita” and “Igbedu.” It also garnered the duo a nomination for Most Promising African Group at the Kora awards.
In 2005, the duo returned with their sophomore album, Get Squared, released on their own Square Records label. A breakthrough success, the album spawned several hit singles, including the title track, “Bizzy Body,” and “Oga Police.” Two years later, they fared even better with their third full-length, Game Over. Buoyed by the hit single “No One Like You,” the album went platinum, selling over eight million copies globally. Danger arrived in September 2009 and also went platinum, spawning the singles “E No Easy” with J. Martins and “Possibility” with 2 Face Idibia. It also earned the duo accolades, including being named Artist of the Year at the Kora Awards.
The full-length Invasion was released in 2011 and included guest spots by Tiwa Savage, Eva Alordiah, Muna, Akon, Rick Ross, and others. Another platinum success, the album also found them winning Album of the Year and Best R&B/Pop Album at the Nigerian Headies Awards. In August 2014, P-Square paired with rapper T.I. for the song ” EjeAjo.” That September they returned with their sixth album, Double Trouble. Along with “EjeAjo,” the album included the tracks “Shekini” and “Personally.” Also featured were guest appearances by Don Jazzy, Awilo Longomba, and Jermaine Jackson. Around the same time, P-Square signed on with the Nigerian telecommunications company Globacom, appearing as “Glo Ambassadors” and promoting the reality TV dance competition show Dance with Peter. They left the show after one season and in 2016 disbanded to work on solo projects, with Peter Okoye adopting the stage name Mr. P and Paul Okoye performing as Rudeboy. ~ Matt Collar