Reekado Banks: Biography, career, songs, awards, controversies, net worth

Ayoleyi Hanniel Solomon, also known by the stage name Reekado Banks, is a Nigerian singer-songwriter.

He was signed to Mavin Records in 2014 before leaving in 2018. He was known as Spicy before his deal with Mavin Records.

Reekado Banks was named Rookie of the Year at The Headies in 2014. He took home the controversial Next Rated prize at The Headies in 2015. His debut studio album Spotlight was released on September 1, 2016, and it reached number 10 on the Billboard World Albums chart.

Table of Content hide 1Reekado Banks Biography 2Career 3Reekado Banks songs 4Awards 5Controversies 6Reekado Banks net worth 7Family 8Conclusion

Reekado Banks Biography

Reekado Banks was born on December 6, 1993, in Lagos, Nigeria. He is an Ondo native. He is the last child of his family, and his mother and father are pastors.

He started his music career after his secondary education in 2008. He earned a degree in History and Strategic Studies from the University of Lagos.

His main musical influences include DJ Jimmy Jatt, Olamide, Don Jazzy, 2face Idibia, and M.I.

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Career

Reekado Banks grew up listening to various music genres and later developed a fondness for rhythm and blues. He began writing songs in a book at the age of 15. Temi, his older brother, became interested in him after reading his songs. Temi, an artist manager, started mentoring and teaching him the craft of songwriting, singing, and song production. Reekado Banks launched his career when he realized his full potential and received encouragement from his loved ones.

He got his opportunity in the industry after Temi submitted some of his songs to Mavin Records in an online talent search in 2013.

Don Jazzy, Mavin Records’ founder, selected Reekado Banks out of over 5,000 entries for the competition. He was signed onto the label in 2014 along with Korede Bello and Di’ja.

In February 2014, he debuted his first track with Mavin Records, Turn it Up, which featured Tiwa Savage. A few months later, he performed together with Korede Bello, Dr. SID, Tiwa Savage, Di’ja, D’Prince, and Don Jazzy on Dorobucci, Adaobi, Arise, and Looku Looku.

He released the Don Jazzy-produced song Katapot on February 13, 2015. It was rumoured to be a diss tune directed against Wande Coal and D’banj. Don Jazzy refuted the accusations in a string of tweets in February 2015. Reekado Banks claimed in a newspaper interview that he wrote Katapot for his followers. 

Globacom, a Nigerian telecommunications firm, signed Reekado Banks to an endorsement agreement in July 2015. After five years, he announced his departure from Mavin Records on December 7, 2018.

Until he departed from the label in 2018, he released some songs under the same imprint, including Sugar Baby, Easy Jeje, Blessings on Me, and others. 

Reekado Banks announced the launch of his record label, Banks Music, in December 2018 after leaving Mavin Records. Despite the public outcry over his decision to leave the record company that launched his career, Reekado Banks clarified the situation on his Instagram page by claiming that leaving Mavin Records was a brave move that would provide him access to more prospects.

On August 31, 2016, Reekado Banks issued his first studio album, Spotlight, via Mavin Records. Don Jazzy, Babyfresh, and Altims produced the album. Sarkodie, D’Prince, Vanessa Mdee, Falz the Bahd Guy, and Patoranking were also involved in the collaborations. 

Less than 24 hours after its release, the 21-track album topped the iTunes charts and got favourable reviews. According to research, Spotlight is one of the most popular albums in the world album category. It also debuted on the Billboard World Albums chart at number 10.

Reekado Banks reappeared in 2021 with Ozumba Mbadiwe after a hiatus, during which he had no popular songs.

Reekado Banks songs

Some of his songs include:

• Turn It Up
• Dorobucci ft Mavins record
• Ada Obi ft Mavins record
• Chop Am
• Katapot
• Corner
• Sugar Baby
• Tomorrow
• Koloba
• Oluwa Ni
• Standard
• Hey Stranger
• Na Your Boy
• Dangote
• Move
• Ladies and Gentlemen
• Easy Jeje
• Kiss Me
• Pull Up
• Blessings
• Yawa
• Ozumba Mbadiwe

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Awards

Below are a few of the honours he received for his musical compositions as a brilliant singer. 

• The Headies Award, Rookie of The Year,2014.
• The Headies Award, Next Rated Award, 2015.
• Headies Awards, Video of the Year, 2015.
• City People Entertainment Awards, Most Promising Act of the Year (Male), 2015. 
• Revelation of the Year, Top Naija Music Award, 2015.
• Best Album, Headies Awards, 2016.
• Revelation Of The Year, Headies Awards, 2017.
• The Headies Award, Hip hop World Revelation of the Year, 2018.

Controversies

Reekado Banks recently discussed his decision to cut ties with Temi Solomon, his brother and previous manager, in an interview with Cool FM. 

The 25-year-old musician claims he decided to part ways with his brother as his manager because he now requires individuals who can see as far as he sees due to next-level business transactions. 

When asked if Temi, who has been his manager since the start of his career, is still associated with his team, he responded negatively.

He is now under the management of Twenty20 Media, which is run by Kamal Ajiboye, Davido’s previous manager.

Reekado Banks was again in the spotlight for the wrong reason after he announced the release of a new song during the #EndSARS protests in 2020. 

He tweeted the midnight release of his single Omo Lomo, a duet with Wizkid, causing outrage on social media as many slammed him for releasing music at a trying time youths were fighting police brutality.

Wizkid also criticized Reekado Banks over the tweet. Wizkid referred to Reekado Banks as a fool in a now-deleted reply to the tweet for deciding the promote the song at that time.

Reekado Banks net worth

The estimated net worth of Reekado Banks is $2.1 million. His main sources of income are music and various commercial endeavours.

Family

Reekado Banks has occasionally been photographed with Tolani Otedola, Femi Otedola’s daughter. Many people think that she could be his girlfriend. Reekado Banks is single and doesn’t have a wife.

Conclusion

His stage name is partially translated as Strong Ruler and partially as Wealth, respectively.

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