By Chukwuka Oluigbo
May 14, 2025
When, in 2022, THEBB02 released the single ‘Eyes Dey Red’ under his Bigmanity Records label, it was his way of demonstrating that though he may be in the diaspora, he is not impervious to Nigeria’s mounting socio-political and economic problems.
Through that song, a broad brush of Afro-fusion music genre reminiscent of legendary Fela Anikulapo Kuti’s Afrobeat style but laced in rich vocals with hip hop and rap infusions, the Nigerian-American songster drew attention to the many ills bedevilling his country of origin.
It was THEBB02’s hatred for oppression, social injustice, political deception, social vices and more that inspired him to produce and perform the ‘Eye Dey Red’ song, even though one could say he was very well shielded from these ills in his base in Boston, USA. It was him feeling the plight of his fellow countrymen and women, propelled by his Christian values and his charitable works as well as a large number of his family and friends back home.
“We cannot pretend that all is well with us as a nation. The leaders need to address those things making ‘Eyes Dey Red’,” he said in an interview following the song’s release.
“There’s insecurity, widespread poverty, unemployment, inequality, and people are suffering. With all these challenges tormenting Nigeria, I cannot help but keep my social activism alive,” he said.
Born Jesse Adesotu, this great son of the Woghiren Obamedo royal household has always been entranced with and captivated by music and is forever grateful to God that he is able to use his gifted musical calling/platform to address some of these social ills beyond just writing party fun and love-themed hit songs. He was drawn to music and started writing lyrics early in life, greatly influenced by Michael Jackson, New Edition, Sir Victor Uwaifo, Babyface Edmond, Prince, Lionel Richie, Osayomore Joseph, and Rick James, just to mention a few. Back in Benin City, Nigeria, he led a few of his childhood best friends, Eugene Agbaliko, Henry Nwaka and others, to form The New Method, modelled after New Edition.
THEBB02’s music and entertainment business outlook was also shaped by some of his family’s inherent music traits and experiences. His mother used to perform at family events and other gatherings in the United States, to the point that she was recognised by the City of Boston and other Federal Government-level representatives, while his father, the Big Chief Omedo E. O. Woghiren, was also a popular Karétà and Ekaba dancer and singer. Moreover, his grandfather, Woghiren, the very definition of the Obamedo of the great Benin Kingdom, a descendant of King Obanosa, a foresighted hero and legend who started the Woghiren Obamedo Royal Family Worldwide, was a renowned performer, musician, dance lover and performer, and later became the most revered physician of his time. Suffice to say, music pollinated heavily in the environs of his earliest upbringing.
He relocated to the USA alongside his other siblings in his late teenage years, which was quite a stir in the city and state as of that time. He attended Bunker Hill Community College and Northeastern University in Boston, USA, where he studied Music & Business Management/Intellectual Properties Laws.
Through his work at the Library of Congress, THEBB02 is today arguably the Nigerian-American producer/label boss with the most archived intellectual property with the US Federal Government, which is one of the avenues through which he quietly enjoys streams of enviable incomes from placement in movies, films, Netflix, YouTube, etc, all to the glory of God Almighty.
THEBB02 started writing songs and performing early in life with The New Method music group members, wherein they won every competition that crossed their path. After relocating to the United States, he did not give up on music. He was discovered as a prolific producer, composer and songwriter by some major record labels in the USA that wanted to sign him on but he turned down the offers due to the devil that was in the murky details of the terms, although with his kind of hard work ethics, he definitely looked to the future and set his hope on better trajectories encompassing everything to the benefit of his musical group/team members. Those trajectories are now paying off in many great ways that the world is now beginning to witness in a more formidable fashion.
Before founding his Bigmanity Music Records and the label “Collectives” Imprint THE BB02 & THE LEMLINES (aka BIGMANITY ALL STARS) for scouting new talents, he first founded an American-based record label named Beyondspheres Records, which now has an old money wealth catalog groundings that some other industry weights have at one time or another heard of and experienced, from Lil Wayne to Betty Wright, etc. and were excited about. These are prospects or potential projections that are yet to be revisited or exhausted.
Today, he goes by many appellations. He is a producer, rapper, fashion icon/designer, performing/recording entertainer/artist, TV/social media personality, multi business mogul, philanthropist, and a social activist who influences palpable global activities for a better and fairer world.
Over time, apart from his impact on a good number of artists whom he has helped to grow/groom, THEBB02 has many songs to his credit. His rich discography includes hit songs like ‘The New Kid On The Block TNKOTB’, ‘Zinga Zinga Ling’, ‘Eyes Dey Red’, ‘Halleluyah’, ‘Massarati’, ‘Rich African Love’, ‘Benin Man’, ‘Jogodo’, ‘To the Top’, among others – all of which are available on YouTube and other streaming platforms.
Beyond music, THEBB02 is the CEO of BLOTRATFX, an American clothing line in the US which is recently taking shape in Nigeria. The apparel brand is strictly based on special orders, but that may soon change based on what is currently on-going in that regard, even as demand mounts. He is also the CEO of Bigmanity Investments Properties, as well as other chains of businesses.
Yet, it is music that has the most of his attention. He has the vision to educate upcoming artists in the business side of being a musical artist; joining forces with viable personages towards globalizing more the Nigerian music scene as a lucrative entertainment hub and opportunity to invest in, and through which to take the entertainment industry to the next level with his experience and qualifications in the global entertainment arena, and educate the upcoming artists on the structure of the global music industry.
“Everything to do with empowering real talents from my neck of the woods on both sides of the Atlantic to break down barriers and support one another in order for every viable artist or creative to be able to compete, pound for bound, dollar for dollar, and strength for strength with their counterparts from anywhere around the globe,” he said.
In the future, THEBB02 is also looking forward to opening a world-class entertainment institution and taking the Nigerian music industry to the next level beginning from his roots.
It was perhaps on this note that he once hinted at plans to kickstart a major carnival of songs, drumming and dancing.
“Much like my grandpa who left an enduring legacy, I want to build off and on my family grand legacies and hem my own legendary projection that revolves around my musical passion and brands and sets a new tone in a more modern light for the younger generations. To the glory of God Almighty Father, I am currently working on plans for festival of songs release in collaboration with other viable heads on a global scale. That is one inspiring legacy I am looking forward to charting and seeing come to fruition in the not too distant future,” THEBB02 said.
“The truth is, we as Africans should not run away from our heritage. We used to celebrate harvest time with dance and music to the glory of God. It was our way of thanking God for annual robust harvest of agricultural produce and crops. I want to continue this tradition through this music festival and some more,” he said.
By The Nigerian Observer
May 14, 2025
By The Nigerian Observer
May 14, 2025
By The Nigerian Observer
May 14, 2025
May 14, 2025 at 06:53 AM
March 12, 2024 at 09:21 AM
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