Abdulrasheed Bello (born 4 April 1977, Kano) known professionally as Skillz or JJC Skillz is a Nigerian songwriter, rapper, record and television producer. JJC Skillz earned recognition in Nigeria after the release of his single We Are Africans, an

afrobeats Afrobeats (not to be confused with Afrobeat or Afroswing), or Afro-pop or Afro-fusion (or Afropop or Afrofusion), is an umbrella term to describe popular music from West Africa and the diaspora that initially developed in Nigeria, Ghana, and ...

anthem. Prior to the success of We are Africans, Skillz was producer for the British hip-hop record company and musical group

Big Brovaz Big Brovaz (pronounced as "brothers") are an R&B and hip hop music group from London, England. In their seven-year career they released two studio albums and eight singles. There were three line-up changes with two of the original members le ...

. In December 2002, he released his debut album, Atide, an experimental album with lyrics in English and Nigerian languages and influenced by hip hop, African and salsa musical styles. He co-produced with his wife, Funke Akindele,

Industreet Industreet is a Nigerian TV drama and entertainment series that premiered on May 26, 2017, written by JJC Skillz and produced by Funke Akindele Bello. The project is focused on the African music and entertainment industry, and showcased the life ...

a television show about the Nigerian music industry.

Career

Bello was born in Kano and left Nigeria for U.K. when he was fourteen years old. He developed interest and appreciation of music listening to his father's country music records and juju music. In U.K., he was drawn to hip-hop music and soon formed a musical group with a friend, thereafter they began performing at talent shows. His stage name, JJC means Johnny just come, a term used by Nigerians to describe naive new arrivals to the city. Bello's first major producing project was co-founding Big Brovas records and Big Brovas collective. In 2004, he released Atide, his debut album with 419 squad. His producing credits include

Weird MC Weird MC (born Adesola Adesimbo Idowu on 9 July 1970) is a Nigerian-British rapper, songwriter, and producer. Known for her English/ Yoruba lyrics, Weird MC, who is also known as Shola Idowu and The Rappatainer, is one of Africa’s most popul ...

's Ijoya, Pu Yanga by Tillaman, and Morile by Buoqui. He also came to the African music scene creating projects like Afropean (Afro-European fusion) and Afrobeats. In 2013, he won the best international artist at the Nigerian entertainment award. He created an African super group called the JJC and the 419 squad. This group won the Kora All African music award in 2014.

Personal life

Prior to his marriage to Akindele, Bello fathered three children from three different mothers. He married Funke Akindele in 2016. In 2018,the couple gave birth to a set of twins.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Skillz, JJC 1977 births Nigerian songwriters Musicians from Kano Nigerian rappers Nigerian record producers Nigerian television producers Living people Nigerian film directors Nigerian entertainment industry businesspeople