Grafton Entertainment, sometimes referred to as Grafton Records, is an artist management company and record label, with dual-headquarters in both

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

and

Nigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...

History

Grafton Entertainment was formed in 2004 by Tonye Ibiama, who created the company with the intention to bring the vast talent pool in Port Harcourt into the national and global spotlight. The first artists to join the label's roster were De Indispensables, a hip hop duo consisting of members Lenny B and Tick Lips. They were signed to the company in 2004 following their impressive performance on the Grafton Entertainment Music Hunt. The competition, which was organized by the record label in collaboration with Rhythm 93.7 launched not only De Indispensables but demonstrated the company's professionalism and efficiency.

M Trill Teria Yarhere is a Nigerian rapper from Delta State who performs under the name M Trill (stylised as M-Trill or M.Trill). He released his debut studio album ''Number One'' in 2008 along with a follow-up mixtape entitled ''Ladies and Gentlemen'' ...

became the second artist to be signed to Grafton Entertainment, after De Indispensables. Grafton endorsed the release of three hugely popular singles by Lenny B and Tick Lips – "Sweet Mama", "Cinderella" (in Nigeria) and "I Love You" (in the United Kingdom via

HMV Sunrise Records and Entertainment, trading as HMV (for His Master's Voice), is a British music and entertainment retailer, currently operating exclusively in the United Kingdom. The first HMV-branded store was opened by the Gramophone Company ...

stores). Throughout 2005, "Sweet Mama" topped various mainstream charts in Nigeria. In the UK, it charted at number 16 on the UK DMC Urban chart. The other single titled "I Love You" debuted at number-three on the R&B charts and at number thirty-seven on the UK Top 40. In 2007, De Indispensables won Best West African Act at the

Channel O Music Video Awards Channel O Africa Music Video Awards, once known as Spirit of Africa Music Video Awards, are Pan-African music awards organised by South Africa -based Channel O television channel. The awards were first held in 2003 under the name Reel Music Video A ...

after "I Love You" entered the

Channel O Channel O is a South African-based music channel which first started transmission in 1997. Its main concept is African music in Africa and the diaspora. Channel O can be accessed via DStv, a satellite pay TV service for pan-African households. ...

Chart at number one and stayed at the top for three weeks. "Peace Song" which was recorded alongside M Trill also managed to clinch the number-one spot on the

MTV Base MTV Base was a British pay television music channel from Paramount Networks UK & Australia that focused primarily on hip hop, R&B, grime, garage, reggae, funk, soul and dance music. It was launched as part of MTV's digital boutique of music cha ...

Africa Chart for four weeks.

Artists and producers

Current

Former

References

External links

Grafton Entertainment website
{{Authority control Record labels based in Port Harcourt Pop record labels Hip hop record labels Record labels established in 2004 World music record labels Port Harcourt hip hop Companies based in Port Harcourt 2000s establishments in Rivers State Nigerian companies established in 2004