Kheengz
Birth nameKing Bawa
Also known asYFK
Born (1992-07-08) 8 July 1992[1]
Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria
OriginBida, Niger State, Nigeria
GenresHip hop
Occupation(s)
  • Rapper
  • singer
  • actor
Years active2010–present
LabelsYFK Entertainment

King Bawa (born 8 July 1992), better known by his stage name as Kheengz, is a Nigerian rapper and actor, born in the Northern part of Nigeria. He currently works under his own independent record label called YFK Entertainment. His debut album Voice of Arewa was released 25 December 2019 was a huge success up north. His single I Am North made wave in the music scene as it is about stereotyping arewa.[2][3][4]

Early life

Kheengz was born in Zaria, Kaduna and was raised in Bida, Niger. He is of Kadara ethnicity. He was the third of six children. He earned a bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.[5]

Career

Kheengz began writing rap songs while in secondary school in 2006. He started recording in 2010 at university. He released a cover of Sarkodie's hit song You Go Kill Me (Azonto)[6] and later freestyled Ice Prince's hit song Aboki, which got him the attention from M.I Abaga.[7]

2013–2014: College Kid mixtape

On 30 August 2013, Kheengz released his first project College Kid Mixtape which features rap artistes M.I Abaga, Erigga, Snowflake, Soul Flavour and G'rell. The lead single on the popular mixtape is "Jealousy". He later released a video titled I believe[8] that was dedicated to the students killed in College of Agriculture, Yobe State.[9]

2015–2017: VOA (Voice of Arewa) EP and Pedestal EP

His sophomore project was EP VOA (voice of arewa), which he released 21 November 2015. He went on to release the Pedestal EP on 21 December 2017. He later released a song with a movement "I Am North" to address the popular stereotypical views of Northerners in Nigeria.[10]

2019–2021: Voice of Arewa Album and The Four Horsemen EP

Kheengz debut album Voice of Arewa (also tagged Voice of the North) was released on 25 December 2019. The album has features from Erigga, DJ AB, DJ Steev and Ijaya. He also featured Ice Prince in the remix of "Alhamdulillah" which was released in 2019.[11] On 26 December 2020, Kheengz teamed up with other northern rappers DJ AB, Deezell and BOC Madaki on a joint EP The Four Horsemen, containing four tracks.[12][13]

On 4 June 2021, Kheengz released a single Who be This Guy featuring Falz and M.I Abaga.[14][15][16] Since the announcement of the music collaboration in July 2020, media space has been creating many buzz on the collaboration before it was released.[17] The video was released on 2 July 2021, directed by Bash'em.[18]

Kheengz explored another aspect of his creativity by starring in Nigerian television series Crazy, Lovely, Cool on Netflix.[19][20]

Discography

Studio album

  • Voice of Arewa - VOA (2019)[21]

EPs

  • Voice of Arewa the EP (2015)
  • Pedestal EP (2017)
  • The Four Horsemen EP (2020)

Mixtapes

  • College Kid Mixtape (2013)

Filmography

Film and television

Television
Year Title Role Notes Ref
2018 Crazy, Lovely, Cool Hassan Supporting role [22]
2019 Heart & Soul Bad Boy Supporting role [23]

References

  1. ↑ admin (19 February 2012). "Is…Kheengz aka YFK". BellaNaija. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  2. ↑ "Kheengz Is Going To Be The Breakout Artiste Of 2018". Daily Trust. 17 February 2018. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  3. ↑ "The Biography of Kheengz (YFK)". Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  4. ↑ Bala, MD (17 July 2023). "Kheengz Net Worth & Biography (Updated 2023)". TechBlogBase.com. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  5. ↑ "Exclusive interview with KHEENGZ (THE VOICE OF AREWA)". dotmagazine. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  6. ↑ "Kheengz – My Malo Shortie (MMS)". notjustok. August 2012. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  7. ↑ "Kheengz – Aboki (Freestyle)". tooxclusive. 30 November 2012. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  8. ↑ Ayo, Jaguda (23 November 2013). "Video: Kheengz – I Believe". jaguda.com. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  9. ↑ admin (30 September 2013). "50 Yobe College Students Shot Dead". Daily Trust. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  10. ↑ admin (14 December 2017). "Every Non Hausa Nigerian Should Watch Kheengz "I AM NORTH"". vibe.ng. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  11. ↑ "Kheengz "Alhamdulillah" ft. Ice Prince". OkayAfrica. 30 March 2018. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  12. ↑ Umar, Faruq (27 December 2020). "ALBUM: DJ AB x Kheengz x Deezell x B.O.C Madaki – The Four Horsemen". arewahitsmusic.com.ng. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  13. ↑ admin (26 December 2019). "Kheengz VOA (Voice Of Arewa) Album". justnaija.com. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  14. ↑ Yhusuff, aL (4 June 2021). "[Music] Kheengz – Who Be This Guy ft. Falz & M.I". Tooxclusive.com. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  15. ↑ SAMMY SKRATCH (5 June 2021). "MUSIC: Kheengz ft Falz X M.I Abaga – Who Be This Guy". Ghgossip.com. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  16. ↑ "DOWNLOAD: Kheengz taps Falz, MI Abaga for 'Who Be This Guy'". TheCable Lifestyle. 4 June 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  17. ↑ "Kheengz ft. Falz & M.I Abaga – Who Be This Guy". donemmynaija.com. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  18. ↑ "Kheengz – Who Be This Guy Ft. Falz And M.I Abaga (VIDEO) MP4 Download | MusicVibes". musicvibes.net. 2 July 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  19. ↑ "Crazy, Lovely, Cool". Netflix. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  20. ↑ Modupeoluwa, Adekanye (17 December 2019). "Nigerian Drama Series: "Crazy, Lovely, Cool (CLC)" Debuts on Netflix". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  21. ↑ "African Music Library | Release: VOA (Voice Of Arewa)". africanmusiclibrary.org. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  22. ↑ admin (17 December 2019). "Nigerian TV series 'Crazy, Lovely, Cool' debuts on Netflix". Premium Times. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  23. ↑ "Get the Scoop on 'Heart & Soul' – Nollywood's New Medico-Spiritual TV Series by Obi Emelonye". BellaNaija. 24 May 2019. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
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