CAINE'S Memoirs

 R&B artiste Banky W, famous for his hit-single titled “Ebutte Meta” (a lyrically-retuned version of Rihanna’s “Umbrella”) has recently released his album in Nigeria, titled “Mr. Capable”. The 14-track album was released under his co-owned record label “Empire Mates Entertainment”.

 “Mr. Capable”, being his first album in Nigeria, sees Banky fuse a blend of urban rhythm and blues, with hip-hop, reggae and afrobeat, all sublimed in a combination of English language, pidgin and his native tongue – Yoruba.

 Born, Bankole Wellington to Nigerian parents in New York (USA), Banky moved to Nigeria at age 5. His musical abilities first manifested at a national gospel concert in 1991, where he substituted for a young soloist singer who lost her nerve and bowed out at the last minute. An untried Banky Wellington, (after persuasion from peers) rises to the occasion, and at the tender age of 10, a star is born. At 17, he moved back to the States to earn a degree in Engineering, but he had developed a flair for music.   

 Establishing his own record label (with two others) in 2002, he had initially released his debut album titled “back in the building” in the United States, which featured award-winning songs like “My Regret” and “Don’t wanna”.

 His shot to limelight in Nigeria was in 2007 when his version of Rihanna’s “Umbrella” of the same year began to circulate on airwaves across the country. By late 2007, the award-winning singer decided to return to Nigeria to capitalize on the thrill his songs had created in the Nigerian music scene. He was immediately conferred with several awards which placed him on par with the likes of Wande coal, 9ice, and M.I, who had been prominent in the Nigerian music industry, and in the minds of music lovers.

 Blessed with a smooth voice, excellent writing skills, and crowd pleasing dance ability, Banky is poised to take on the music industry.

 Banky W’s latest album features artistes such as Fuji icon Adewale Ayuba, Sauce Kid, El Dee and a host of others. The album which was produced by Muzik Men and ID Cabasa, is being marketed and distributed by T. Joe Distribution Limited.