Lojay

Real Name: Lekan Osifeso Jr.
Stage Name: Lojay
Alias: The Monalisa Crooner
Date of Birth: April 28, 1996
Place of Birth: Lagos State, Nigeria
Label: Metallic Music / Koratori Recordings
Genre: Afrobeats, Afro-fusion, R&B, Amapiano
Years Active: 2016 – Present

Lojay Bio

Lojay is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, and producer known for his velvet vocals, sharp lyricism, and genre-fluid sound that moves effortlessly between Afrobeats, R&B, amapiano, and soul. Born Lekan Osifeso Jr., his stage name is derived from the initials of his full name — L.O.J. — and he has grown from a University of Portsmouth undergraduate into one of the most critically celebrated voices in modern African music.

Early Life & Education

Born on April 28, 1996, in Lagos State, Lojay grew up splitting his time between Ikorodu and Victoria Island — two very different worlds within Lagos that shaped the depth and range of his artistry. His mother was a pastor, and music was central to church life from an early age; he recalls sitting close to the drums during services, feeling connected to the rhythm. Inspired by Chris Brown, Michael Jackson, Jon Bellion, Bruno Mars, and Wizkid, Lojay began writing songs in secondary school at Nigerian Turkish Secondary School, where he was also part of a local rap group called Dkoy. He later moved to the United Kingdom to study Marketing at the University of Portsmouth, graduating in 2018 before choosing music full-time over his degree.

Career Beginnings

Lojay began releasing music professionally in 2016 while still a student. In December 2017, he released his debut EP Midnight Vibes — a 5-track project that showed early promise. He followed up with singles including “Over The Bar” (2018), “Ariel” (2019), and “Ogogoro” (2020), all reflective of his Yoruba roots and evolving sound. A mutual friend introduced him to legendary Nigerian producer Sarz, and the creative chemistry between them was immediate — setting the stage for a breakthrough collaboration.

Breakthrough

On June 4, 2021, Lojay and Sarz released the joint EP LV N ATTN (Love and Attention) — a 5-track project that changed everything. The lead single “Tonongo” became an instant hit, topping charts and racking up millions of streams. But it was “Monalisa” that became the defining record of Lojay’s early career. The song went viral, accumulated over 51 million Spotify streams, and spawned a remix featuring Chris Brown — who invited Lojay on stage at the 2022 Wireless Festival in London. The Chris Brown remix of “Monalisa” peaked at number 8 on the Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart, giving Lojay his first major international chart placement. The EP also featured Wizkid on the title track “LV N ATTN” and earned a Headies Next Rated nomination in 2022.

Mainstream Success

Building on the momentum of LV N ATTN, Lojay released his second solo EP Gangster Romantic in March 2023 via Koratori Recordings — a 7-track project executive produced by Anthony Egwu. The project was a bold creative pivot: moodier, more personal, and genre-spanning, featuring production from DJ Maphorisa & Kabza De Small (“Canada”), Yung Willis (“Yahweh”), P.Prime (“Leader”), and Magicsticks (“Availabu”). Afrocritik called it “2023 Project of the Year Material,” praising Lojay’s lyricism and emotional depth. The same year, he appeared on Davido’s “Sensational” and earned his first Grammy nomination as a songwriter on the track.

Debut Album & International Reach

In October 2025, Lojay released his long-awaited debut album XOXO — a 14-track project that cemented his status as a global Afrobeats force. The album featured Colombian superstar Feid (“Body”), South African sensation Tyla (“Memories”), UK R&B artist Odeal (“Mwah!”), and Nigeria’s Victony (“Sawa”), alongside solo standouts like “Tenner,” “Shiver,” “Jericho,” and “Alright.” XOXO was praised for its cross-continental ambition and deeply personal storytelling. Prior to the album, Lojay and Sarz also released “Billions,” which received a Major League DJz remix, further extending his reach into the amapiano space.

Awards & Recognition

Headies Award – Next Rated nomination (2022)
AFRIMA – Most Promising African Artiste nomination (2021)
Grammy nomination – as songwriter on Davido’s “Sensational” (2024)
“Monalisa” (feat. Chris Brown & Sarz) – No. 8 on Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart
226 million+ combined streams on “Monalisa”
Invited on stage by Chris Brown at Wireless Festival, London (2022)

Recent Developments

Lojay remains one of the most in-demand voices in Afrobeats, appearing on tracks like Adekunle Gold’s “Bobo” (featuring Shoday), Tyler ICU & Sha Sha’s “Dishonest,” and a remix of Tyler ICU’s “Mnike” alongside DJ Maphorisa and Shallipopi. His 2025 singles “Mwah!” with Odeal, “Body” with Feid, “Memories” with Tyla, and “Somebody Like You” established XOXO as one of the year’s most anticipated albums before its release.

Legacy

In just a few years, Lojay has established himself as one of the sharpest pens and most expressive voices in Nigerian music. From “Monalisa” to XOXO, his journey reflects both artistic growth and a fearless willingness to cross genres, collaborate globally, and make music that is deeply personal yet universally resonant.