Innocent Ujah IdibiaMON[a] (Listenⓘ; born 18 September 1975), known by his stage name 2Baba and formerly as 2face Idibia,[2][3] is a Nigerian singer-songwriter, record producer and philanthropist known for his solo debut album, Face 2 Face.[4][b] He is regarded as one of the "most influential" and greatest Afrobeats artists of all time following his contributions to Nigerian pop music in the 2000s.[5]
Following his academic pursuits, 2Baba discontinued his formal education in pursuit of his music career.[8] By 1996, he had already begun composing music and recording jingles especially at the GB Fan Club at Enugu State Broadcasting Services (ESBS).[8] Operating under the stage name "2Face",[c] he said that the name was "to demarcate his personal life from business life" though was later changed to "2Baba" in 2016.[9]
Career
While attending IMT, Idibia began his music career performing alongside Blackface Naija, his secondary school classmate, and Faze, all of whom later formed the trio band, Plantashun Boiz.[10] The band released two albums, Body and Soul (2000) and Sold Out (2003), under Dove Records, a label owned by Nelson Brown.[11] The band members separated in 2004, and 2Baba returned to his solo music.
2Baba released his debut solo album, Face 2 Face (2004), which was positively reviewed by music critics and was listed as "the greatest Nigerian debut album of the 21st Century by a solo artist".[12] It was followed by his second album, Grass 2 Grace (2006). After that, he left Kennis Music and established his own record label, Hypertek Digital.[13] In 2009, he released an experimental album, The Unstoppable, with an international edition in 2010.[14] The international edition won two awards at the 2010 SoundCity Music Video Awards.[15]
Personal life and controversies
In 2004, 2Baba's departure from the band "Plantashun Boiz" led to the group's split, sparking a feud with his former bandmates who blamed him for the disbandment. 2Baba and former bandmate Faze traded blame in various tracks on their respective solo albums.[16]
BlackFace alleged that 2Baba's performed songs were written by both of them, although the issue was later resolved in court.[17] The hit song "African Queen" became a subject of controversy between 2Baba, his record label Kennis Music, and former bandmate Blackface, who publicly accused him of stealing the song from him, alleging that he wrote the song while they were still a band.[18][19] Kennis Music eventually agreed to give Blackface writing credits for the song and also agreed to pay him royalties from the proceeds of the song.[20]
On 25 January 2017, 2Baba announced through his Instagram handle that he would be leading a nationwide protest on 5 February 2017; the protest was against policies implemented by the Presidency of Muhammadu Buhari.[21][22][23] In an attempt to halt the protest, the administration, through the Lagos State police commissioner Fatai Owoseni, released a statement that the protest was banned in the state, citing concerns that hoodlums would hijack it and cause havoc. However, the statement was rebuffed and ignored publicly, while publicity for the protest continued on social media.[24][25]
In February 2017, 2Baba released a video stating that he was canceling the protest due to security reasons. Rumors circulated on social media alleging that the administration, through the DSS, had picked him up earlier that day and pressured him to cancel the much-hyped protest, though he later made a series of tweets from his Twitter account to deny the claim.[26][27][28]
The FORTYfied All-Star Tribute Concert, organized by 2Baba to celebrate his 40th birthday and influence in Nigerian music, took place on 20 September 2015, at the Eko Hotel and Suites Convention Centre.[49] Hosted by Basketmouth and sponsored by STAR Lager Beer, the concert garnered widespread acclaim.[50] He is also the founder of the "Buckwyld and Breathless" concert series[51] and the 2Baba Foundation, formerly known as the "2Face Reach Out Foundation".[52]
^The album was received on hit with one of its content "African Queen", which ushered a wave of awareness and reverence for Nigerian music among Africans and diaspora
