Sasha P
Birth nameAnthonia Yetunde Alabi
Also known asFirst Lady of Nigerian Hip Hop[1]
Born (1983-06-21) 21 June 1983[2]
Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
OriginLagos, Nigeria
GenresHip hop
Occupation(s)
  • Recording artist
  • entertainer
  • fashion designer
  • lawyer
Years active1993–2014

Sasha P (born Anthonia Yetunde Alabi on 21 May 1983),[2] also known as the "First Lady of Nigerian Hip Hop", is a Nigerian rapper, musician, businesswoman, lawyer, and motivational speaker.

Early life and education

The last of eight children, she was raised by her single mother, an educator, whom she fondly called Sisi Fadekemi, after her father died.[3] She began her musical career as a child in Ibadan.[4] She attended the International School Ibadan and the University of Lagos earning a bachelor's degree in Law.[5][6]

Music career

"I believe as an individual, I have a social responsibility to make a difference any way I can" "

-Sasha speaking about giving back to the community

Sasha P gained success at a time when there were very few Nigerian women in Hip Hop music. Subsequently, her success helped pave the way for other female rappers and musicians in Nigerian hip hop.[7] She began musical collaborations and was signed on to eLDee's Trybe records.[8][9] Sasha P has remained one of the most prominent female artists in Nigeria since 2001, especially after the successful release of her debut album First Lady under her record label STORM. She has been nominated for various awards in Nigeria and abroad. She won the 2009 "Best Female Artist" award in the UK at the Women in Entertainment Awards for her first single titled "Adara". She was also nominated in dual categories (Best Female Video and Best Cinematography) by the SoundCity Video Music Awards for her second single Only One in 2009.

She was the first ever Nigerian female artist to perform at the 20th anniversary of the World Music Awards in October 2008. She was also the first Nigerian female artiste to win the Best Female Award at MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMA).[10] Besides Adara, She released Gidi Babe on her birthday in 2009.[11] She released a single in 2012 titled Bad Girl P.[12]

In 2013, Sasha P revealed that she was taking a break from the music scene to focus on her fashion business.[13][14]

Endorsements

Sasha P was endorse as a brand ambassador for Etisalat. She is also a cultural ambassador for her home state, Ekiti.[15][4]

Fashion business

Sasha P pursued fashion as a bespoke designer in 2004. She created Nigerian high street fashion in December 2011 at L'Espace. In August 2012 she launched her own clothing label, Eclectic by Sasha, designed by herself.[16][17][18][19]

Humanitarian work

In regard to community service, Sasha P said, "I believe as an individual, I have a social responsibility to make a difference any way I can", and this she has done consistently over the years. She was part of the "Save a street child" campaign in Lagos (January 2009) and the "Maternal Mortality" project (May 2009)[20] which aims to educate and help cater to the needs of young mothers who seek adequate medical care. She is also a motivational speaker[21][22] and has worked with a campaign to end violence against women.[23] In 2012, Sasha P was the Olympic torch bearer for Nigeria.[24]

Discography

  • First Lady (2006)
  • Gidi Babe (2009)

Singles

  • Oya (2002)
  • Work it (2002)
  • Emi Le Gan (2003)
  • Adara (2008)
  • Only One (2009)
  • Bad Girl P (2012)
  • Falling in Love (2014)

Awards and nominations

Amen Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref
2004 Sasha for "Emi Le Gan" Best Upcoming Artiste Nominated [25]
Women in Entertainment Video Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref
2009 Sasha for "Adara" Best Female Artiste Won [26]
Channel O Music Video Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref
2009 "Only One' Best Female Video Won [11]
Kora Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref
2010 Herself Best Hip Hop Act in Africa Nominated [26]
MTV Africa Music Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref
2010 Herself Best Female Artiste Won [11]
Sound City Music Video Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref
2009 "Only One" Best Female Video Nominated [11][26]
Best Cinematography Nominated

References

  1. ↑ Demola Adeshina (13 December 2011). "Sasha: First Lady of Hip Hop". YNaija. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  2. 1 2 Patience Bambalele (14 August 2012). "Nelson, Sasha join forces to fuse jazz and rap sounds". South Africa: Sowetan Live. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  3. ↑ "Sasha P Remembers Her Dad 25 Years After". Information Nigeria. 19 August 2014. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  4. 1 2 "I wrote my first song at 10 – Sasha". Newswatch Times. 1 December 2013. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  5. ↑ "Young, Talented, Very Nigerian". Sahara Reporters. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  6. ↑ "I have always encouraged the growth of women in music, says Sasha P". Encomium. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  7. ↑ Kehinde Ajose. "Nigeria: Survival Tales of Top Music Divas". Allafrica. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  8. ↑ "Saturday Celebrity Interview: The Rapper, The Fashionista, The Advocate – It's the 'First Lady of Nigerian Hip Hop', Sasha P!". Bella Naija. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  9. ↑ Samond Biobaku. "Sasha opens up on secret formula, journey so far". Newswatch Times. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  10. ↑ "Sasha P". Women of West Africa. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  11. 1 2 3 4 Charles Mgbolu (17 September 2011). "Hip Hop or not, I'm a woman – Sasha". The Vanguard. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  12. ↑ "Sasha P drops new single: Bad Girl P". Information Nigeria. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  13. ↑ "Sasha P: I Studied Law Because I Have Always Been Very Opinionated". Aprokocity. 2 September 2013. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  14. ↑ Olabanke Banjo (6 September 2016). "Where Are They Now? 3 Nigerian Female Rappers We will Love to See Make a Comeback". olisatv.
  15. ↑ "Check out Sasha P when she was 22 years old". Pulse Nigeria. 19 February 2015. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  16. ↑ Christabel Abiodun (21 August 2012). "Sasha debuts fashion line". Premium Times. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  17. ↑ "BN Exclusive: Nigerian Rap Star, Sasha P presents Eclectic By Sasha's "Inception" Lookbok". Bella Naija. 10 May 2012. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  18. ↑ "Interview: First Lady Of Storm Records Sasha P Branches Into Fashion- Talks About Her Label "Eclectic by Sasha" & New Collection "Inception"". Onobello. Onobello. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  19. ↑ "Advertisement Nigerian Music Star Sasha debuts Eclectic by Sasha – The "Inception" Collection at L'Espace This Sunday: Exclusive Details Only on BN". Bella Naija. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  20. ↑ "Hopelessly Romantic -Sasha says". The Nigerian Voice. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  21. ↑ Batholomew Maduke (31 May 2013). "Sasha P turns motivational speaker". The Vanguard. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  22. ↑ Kemi Omololu-Olunloyo (23 August 2014). "First lady of calm, Sasha P: Musicians provide therapy with music". Nigerian Tribune. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  23. ↑ "Violence Against Women and the 16-Day Campaign". Thisday. 3 December 2013. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  24. ↑ "Sasha joins Funke Akindele, Yaw, others as 2012 Olympic torch bearer". Nigerian Entertainment Today. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  25. ↑ "Sasha". My rhythm. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  26. 1 2 3 "SASHA". MTV Base. 9 July 2009. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
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