Ajofé

ajofé
Background information
Birth name	Adukwu Samuel Atadoga
Also known as	Ajofe StreetMic, StreetMic Tha Virus, Ajofé Street Mic, O7 the Drummer., Octoba 7ven
Born	(1989-10-07) October 7, 1989 Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria
Origin	Kogi State, Nigeria
Genres	Afrobeats, Alté, Afro-Groove, Hip hop, Alternative hip hop
Occupations	Singer rapper songwriter record producer
Years active	2016–present
Labels	Octoba 7ven (independent) Distributed by Hustle 360 LTD, AWAL, The Orchard

Adukwu Samuel Atadoga (born October 7, 1989), known professionally as ajofé (stylized in lowercase), is a Nigerian-American singer, rapper, songwriter, and record producer. He is known for pioneering an "Afro-Groove" sound that blends Afrobeats and hip hop with alternative influences. He first gained recognition with his LUCID EP series and debut album Artwork Loading.., and attained wider acclaim with singles such as "VOODOO", "REGINA ASKIA", "ONE TIME", and "SERERE". His work is noted for addressing personal and social themes—especially mental health and identity—delivered in a distinctive baritone and street-poet style.

Early life and education

Adukwu Samuel Atadoga was born on October 7, 1989, in Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria. Raised in a media-influenced household—his father worked for the Kogi State Broadcasting Corporation—he was exposed to music and sound engineering from a young age. He began composing songs at 14 and recorded his first track, "Oh Boy Weytin?", in secondary school.

He later studied Theatre Arts and Communication in Nigeria, graduating cum laude in 2011, before moving to the United States in 2014 to pursue a Master's in Communication (Public Relations & Entertainment Marketing) at the University of Northern Iowa. He is now a naturalized U.S. citizen and resides in Des Moines, Iowa with his family.

Career

2007–2018: Early career and mixtapes

Ajofé's musical exploration began with the release of "Oh Boy Weytin?" during his secondary school days. Between 2010 and 2015, his demos aired several times on local radio stations in Kogi State. During this period, he performed under various names including "Ajofé Street Mic" and "Ajofé StreetMic".

In 2016, he released the mixtape Outta Skool: The Story Book, blending hip hop and Afro-fusion narratives. On July 25, 2017, he released XVI, which marked his full transition from hip-hop and rap to Afro fusion.

2019–2022: LUCID trilogy

From 2019 to 2022, Ajofé issued the LUCID trilogy:

• Lucid I: Negro's Creed (January 25, 2019) - charted at number 17 on the iTunes World genre chart within the first week of release
• Lucid II: The Jungle (2019)
• Lucid III: The Black Stories (2022)

These EPs explored themes of personal struggle, growth, love, and social justice, establishing his Afro-Groove identity.

2020–present: Artwork Loading.. and breakthrough

In 2020, Ajofé released his debut album Artwork Loading.., lauded for its fusion of hip hop, soul, and dancehall with poignant storytelling. The album was accompanied by an unreleased short film and solidified his reputation for genre-defying Afro-alternative music.

In 2022, "Dirty December" topped the Spotify South Africa Chart and sparked TikTok trends.

In April 2024, Ajofé released "VOODOO", an Afro-Groove track addressing mental health awareness. Its bold message and infectious beat generated widespread coverage, with ajofé clarifying that "VOODOO" is a call for honest conversations about mental well-being, not an endorsement of substance abuse.

Later in 2024, he issued "ONE TIME", a decade-old recording reflecting resilience in personal relationships. In November 2024, "REGINA ASKIA" was released. An Afro-grunge anthem tackling generational trauma and identity suppression within African households.

In early 2025, "SERERE" became a breakout street-hop hit across West Africa, charting on Apple Music and Boomplay, and spawning over 12,000 TikTok videos. The song ranked on the Buffalo Top 50 on Shazam. He followed with "SERERE (REMIX)" featuring Magnito in May 2025, earning placements on major Afrobeats playlists including Boomplay and Audiomack editorial playlists such as Africa's Best, Naijampiano, and Afro Magic.

Artistic identity and branding

ajofé stylizes his name in all lowercase to shift focus from persona to narrative, believing the music should speak for itself. Conversely, his song titles appear in uppercase (e.g., VOODOO, REGINA ASKIA, SERERE) to underscore their thematic importance and emotional resonance. This approach is central to his Afro-Groove aesthetic.

Musical style and influences

ajofé defines his sound as "Afro-Groove"—an amalgam of African rhythms, hip hop, and alternative music. His deep baritone and use of Nigerian pidgin and street slang lend a gritty, conversational feel. His music is heavily influenced by street language and conversations, with music serving as his medium for venting. As he states: "When you listen to my music, you typically hear a lot of anger, it is how I heal."

He cites Fela Kuti, 2Shotz, 2Baba, Jhus, Frank Ocean, Sky B, Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar, Kid Cudi, and Pharrell Williams among his influences. ajofé typically works in E-minor or G-minor keys, contrasting with the major keys commonly used in mainstream Afrobeats. His music bridges Nigeria's alté scene with global hip hop and R&B sensibilities.

Personal life

ajofé is married and has one son. He currently resides in Des Moines, Iowa, United States. Besides music, he has an interest in information technology and building technological solutions.

Discography

Studio albums

• Artwork Loading.. (2020)

Mixtapes and EPs

• Outta Skool: The Story Book (mixtape, 2016)
• XVI (2017)
• Lucid I: Negro's Creed (EP, 2019)
• Lucid II: The Jungle (EP, 2019)
• Lucid III: The Black Stories (EP, 2022)

Selected singles

• "OH BOY WEYTIN?" (c. 2007)
• "DIRTY DECEMBER" (2022)
• "EGO" (2023)
• "IHENEME." (2023)
• "VOODOO" (2024)
• "ONE TIME" (2024)
• "REGINA ASKIA" (2024)
• "SERERE" (2025)
• "SERERE (REMIX)" featuring Magnito (2025)