P-Square

P-Square
P-Square on stage performing in Canada, 2010
P-Square on stage performing in Canada, 2010
Background information
Birth namePeter Okoye
Paul Okoye
Also known asPeter & Paul
Born (1981-11-18) 18 November 1981 (age 43)
Jos, Nigeria
OriginIfite Dunu, Anambra State, Nigeria
Genres
OccupationsRecording artist, performer, dancer, Producer.
Years active1997–2017;[2] 2021–2023
LabelsSquare records,[3] Konvict Muzik, Universal Music SA, Square Root Entertainment

P-Square are a Nigerian music duo composed of the twin brothers Peter Okoye and Paul Okoye, who co-write and co-produce most of their songs.[4][5][6] Noted for their artistic reinvention, musical versatility, and visual presentation, they are widely regarded as one of the most influential African acts of all time and one of the most successful music groups from Africa.[7][8] They were integral to the evolution of the 2000s and 2010s African popular music.[9] The duo was launched into the mainstream recognition following the release of the song “Senorita” in 2003,[10] and later gain recognition after releasing their sophomore album Get Squared in 2005. The success of the album earned them a nomination at the MTV Europe Music Award for Best African Act in 2006. A prominent figure in the Africa popular culture of the 21st Century, P-Square was awarded Artistes of the Decade at the MTV Africa Music Awards 2015.[11][12][13]

After the disbandment of the dancing and singing group they formed in the late 1990s, Peter and Paul subsequently founded 'P-Square'. In 2001, they won a talent show and signed a record deal with Timbuk2 Label where they released their debut album in 2003. They later founded their own label and released the following albums: Get Squared, Gameover, Danger, Invasion and Double Trouble.[4] "Gameover" album which explored multiple societal themes such as Love, Regret, Assurance and Political Criticism, reportedly sold over 8 Million copies worldwide.[14][15] It is the only 2000s project from Nigeria to have surpassed 30M streams on Spotify, and has been considered a timeless body of work by music critics.[16][17] Some of P-Square songs include "Personally," "Chop My Money," "Beautiful Onyinye," "Alingo," “E no easy“ "Shekini," "Do Me," “Temptation,” "Bring it On," “Testimony,” "Bizzy Body," and "Gimme Dat."

In 2011, they signed a record deal with Akon’s Konvict Music. P-Square has allegedly sold more than 40M Album records as of 2011.[14][18] The duo was nominated for BET Awards, Soul Train Awards, MTV Europe Music Award, MOBO Awards and they have won KORA Awards, MTV Africa Music Awards, and Channel O Music Video Awards . They were also the first Nigerian to peak at top 5 on SNEP - French official chart and top 10 on Ultratop - Belgium official chart in 2012 with the French Version of “E no easy” featuring Matt Houston. The song was the First Afrobeats Summer hit in France.

They have been referred to as the “Best African Group” by Forbes Africa consecutively. They have appeared on the Forbes Lists of the 40 most powerful celebrities in Africa.[19] In 2021, the duo reunited after their disbandment in 2017. They returned with the single 'Jaiye' and have announced their Reunion Tour and their forthcoming album.[20]

  1. ^ "P-Square Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic.
  2. ^ "A few things you probably didn't know about PSquare". 18 March 2016.
  3. ^ "Square Records Expands! – P-Square Signs Singer, MayD, to Label". 13 May 2011.
  4. ^ a b Akan, Joey (7 June 2022). "Paul Okoye: Family, Legacy, Rudeboy". Afrobeats Intelligence. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  5. ^ Tayo, Ayomide O. (28 September 2017). "The ranking of Psquare's 6 albums". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  6. ^ Haliwud (13 April 2015). "Paul Okoye Claims He Singlehandedly Wrote And Produced Most Of The P-Square's Hit Songs". Information Nigeria. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  7. ^ "P-Square, 29, Nigerian, Musicians". Forbes. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  8. ^ Overo, Naomi (22 July 2022). "Africa's Biggest Pop Duo P-Square Return With "Jaiye (Ihe Geme)"". The Culture Custodian (Est. 2014.). Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  9. ^ Native, The (2 April 2020). "A look at P-Square's impact on Afropop over the years". The NATIVE. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  10. ^ P-Square – Senorita, retrieved 9 January 2024
  11. ^ "MAMA 2015 - 2015 MTV Africa Music Awards Winners!". 21 July 2015. Archived from the original on 21 July 2015. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  12. ^ Ade-Unuigbe, Adesola (18 July 2015). "#MTVMAMA2015! P-Square, Yemi Alade, Davido, D'banj & More Emerge Winners at 2015 MAMA | Full List of Winners". BellaNaija. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  13. ^ African, New (25 November 2013). "100 Most Influential Africans - Arts & Culture". New African Magazine. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  14. ^ a b Native, The (23 May 2017). "The Shuffle: Revisit the title track from P-Square's platinum-selling album, 'Game Over'". The NATIVE. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  15. ^ "I am not gonna get married – Paul of PSquare | Nigeria News and Views". Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  16. ^ Martins, T. J. (20 October 2022). "Asa's 'Asha' Is An Introspective Odyssey of Humanity | Retro Series". Album Talks. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  17. ^ ".@psquare's "Game Over (Deluxe)" surpasses 30 MILLION streams on Spotify". Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  18. ^ Slim, Sheyi (4 September 2013). "Don Jazzy, P-Square and D'banj are Nigeria's Richest Music Stars – Forbes". Connectnigeria Articles. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  19. ^ Aiki, Damilare (2 September 2013). "Meet Forbes Africa & Channel O's Top 10 Most Bankable African Urban Music Artistes – Akon, Don Jazzy, Wizkid, D'banj & More". BellaNaija. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  20. ^ "P-Square reunite in Jaiye, Find Somebody". guardian.ng. 23 July 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2024.