Singer almost lost his chance to drop his debut album

Patoranking is a big Nigerian act, who wears dancehall as his primary genre, but has enjoyed continued growth via fusing his sound with other genres. ‘His debut album which has finally become reality was truthfully long overdue, with the singer missing chances to drop the album.

Patoranking first broke through with his 2013 ‘Alubarika’ single featuring Timaya. A dancehall single, he made the step up with the successful ‘Girlie Oh’ follow-up hit. Tiwa Savage became a blessing to him, as she hopped on the remix to provide him with the needed amplification to help drive his brand through the ceiling. Other songs ‘Gravity’ and ‘Sex tape’ rolled by with no effect. In-between, he dropped the sleeper hit, ‘Daniella Whine’, before slamming through again with the Wande Coal-assisted ‘My woman my everything’ in 2015.

That was when his album would have made the entrance. Patoranking had the world at his feet. His brand had found the right mix, and had grown. Throw that in with his humble beginnings and how that resonated with fans, and you have a man sitting on a goldmine.

Patoranking was born on May 27, 1990 to Mr. and Mrs. Okorie. He grew up in Ijegun Egba Satellite Town and later relocated to Ebute Metta. He attended Citizen Comprehensive College Epe, and later attended Jibril Martin Memorial Grammar School in Iponri. Without the means to get his career on the right track, the man took the long route, selling rat poison to get by. Patoranking started his performing arts career as a street jam and carnival dancer. In a 2012 interview with Entertainment Express, he revealed that his stage name was given to him by a Jamaican artist whom he met at Alpha Beach in Lagos.

But the album never came in 2015. Power moves for the star was not lacking. In February 2015, he signed a deal with a deal with VP Records’ distribution arm VPAL Music to release his debut album. He is the first African dancehall artist to partner with the world’s largest reggae company. VP Records has been home to Jamaican dancehall superstars like Sean Paul, Beenie Man, Elephant Man, Lady Saw, Mavado, Busy Signal and many more.

Jay Jules, the territory manager at VP Records Music Group Africa, expressed his enthusiasm. “VP Records’ team and I are proud and excited about Patoranking joining our renowned home of internationally recognizable reggae and dancehall superstars. African dancehall is at an exciting place. This deal is simply the next step to break our first African dancehall artist in the global music arena. VP records is undoubtedly in the best position to facilitate this,” he said.

Instead of getting that album, we got ‘Make am’, another single which showed a new dimension to Patoranking’s craft. Teaming up with the Ebonyi State Band, he layered his verses and dancehall delivery over highlife instrumentation. That song became another hit.

2016 has seen him prep for the album release, with two singles, ‘Another level’, and the more recent ‘No kissing baby’featuring Ghanaian powerhouse rapper, Sarkodie.

Today, the album is out, with Nigeria ready to listen to what has been a revolutionary success story. Get GOE album in your online stores now.