Vector (rapper)

Olanrewaju Ogunmefun, better known by his stage name Vector, is a Nigerian rapper, singer, songwriter, actor and philosopher. He has released three studio albums, including State of Surprise and The Second Coming (2012). In anticipation of his second studio album, he released a mixtape titled Bar Racks. "Lafiaji" which was released in December, 2016. He also released a mixtape in October 2018, "The Rap Dialogue" in an effort to keep the spirit of Nigerian hip-hop alive

He is the voice behind a Sprite commercial that aired on radio stations across Nigeria since 2009.

Early life
Lanre was born in Lagos State, hails from Ogun State, the fourth of five children. He schooled in Nigeria attending Command children school, Ijebu Ode Grammar School, Government College Victoria Island & Saint Gregory's College Ikoyi Lagos. He started his journey into hip-hop in junior high in 1994. In St. Gregory's College, he was involved in various social activities in which he was made to perform from the stage. In 1999, he formed a duo called Badder Boiz, who wrote their own songs and in the same year went on to start performing at showcases as a trio.

They recorded their first demo in 1999 and attended talent showcases. Vector was going in the direction of an emcee. As a group of three, consisting of Vector, Krystal & Blaze, they were together until 2004 when Krystal left due to irreconcilable differences. He then attended the University of Lagos, graduating in 2008 with a bachelor's degree in Philosophy.

Career
Vector released his first official single "Kilode" for the album State of Surprise in February 2010. He later released the video for this single in June 2010. His second official single was "Mary Jane" which was released in April of the same year. The album was released on 29 October 2010, executive produced by Eloka "Culture" Oligbo. It featured 2 Face Idibia, General Pype, Chuddy K, Ade Piper, Emmsong, Sista Soul and with productions from H-Code, Sam Klef, Da Piano, J-Smith, Xela Xelz and Vibez Production.

He released a video for the song "Get Down" featuring 2Face Idibia in June 2011. At the Nigerian Music Video Awards 2011, he was nominated for "Best Mainstream Hip Hop Video". He was nominated at the 2010 Nigeria Entertainment Awards for "Best Collaboration With Vocals" with the track "Champion" in which he was featured in by General Pype.

His singles "Angeli" ft. 9ice and "Mr. Vector" featuring Jazzy, both produced by Sagzy were released on 19 May 2011 and were on heavy rotation on radio stations around the country. The video for "Angeli" was released in October, 2011.

Vector released the track "Born Leader" featuring Mavado of DJ Khaled's We the Best Music Group. "Born Leader" is Vector's third single off his second album titled The Second Coming. He shot the video in Miami, Florida and it was directed by Antwan Smith. In August 2013 he was featured by Pheelz a producer on a song titled "Popular" which gained airplay in radio stations across Nigeria.

In January 2015 Vector released a rap single titled "King Kong" and the video was released the same month. Vector released two remixes with the first one featuring Phyno, Reminisce, Classiq and Uzi, and the second remix featuring Ghanaian rapper Sarkodie which was released in May and June 2015 respectively. The video for the first remix was released in July 2015. In 15 July he released a fresh single titled "Kanawan Dabo" and on 24 July he released a freestyle titled "8".

Awards
Won 
The Headies 2015  - Best Rap Single
The Headies 2015  - Lyricist On The Roll
 Nigerian Music Video Awards (NMVA) 2012 – Best Afro Hip-Hop Video 
 The Headies 2012 – Lyricist On The Roll 
 The Headies 2012 – Best Rap Single 
 Nigeria Entertainment Awards (NEA) 2012 – Best Rap Act 
 DYNAMIX Youth Awards 2012 - Recognition Award 
 Nigerian Music Video Awards (NMVA) 2011- Best Mainstream Hip-Hop Video 

Nominated
 Nigerian Entertainment Awards (NEA) 2011- Most Promising Act To Watch 
 The Headies 2011 - Lyricist On The Roll 
 DYNAMIX Youth Awards 2011 – Best New Act

Controversy
Nigerian artiste Reminisce recorded a diss track "ATA (Street Kitchen Reply)" with the line, "V-E what shit ki lo’n je be. Shebi iwo lo rap ju shit o ma pe’n nbe" in reply to Vector's verse on Sauce Kid's "KitcheStreet" in which Vector said "For all those boys wey dey show. Ti e ba fe ma form pe eyin lata ani tomato to ma to".

After this incidence Vector has replied with the track "Distractions (Reminisce Diss)", which he featured on with renowned lyricist A-Q. Vector hit him with the lines, "Cos you bleach your skin doesn't mean you are enlightened, Pig. I'm the base and my crew be strong, you cannot be the best cause you had one stupid song" and "And I'm made oh, and it's so public. But you, your life is like your videos, low budget." He is presently in a rap supremacy battle with Jude "M.I" Abaga, and has released diss tracks such as "The Purge" (featuring Vader and Paper) and also #JudasTheRat which was a response to M.I's #ThaViper.

Discography

Studio albums
State of Surprise (2010)
The Second Coming (2012)
Lafiaji (2016)

Mixtapes
Bar-Racks The Mixtape (2012)
A7 (2014)
The Rap Dialogue (2018)

Singles

See also
List of Nigerian rappers

References

External links
 
 https://genevievemagazine.com/gman-vector-tha-viper/

Category:Nigerian songwriters
Category:1983 births
Category:Yoruba musicians
Category:Nigerian hip hop singers
Category:Nigerian male rappers
Category:Musicians from Ogun State
Category:Living people
Category:21st-century Nigerian musicians
Category:The Headies winners
Category:University of Lagos alumni
Category:Ijebu Ode Grammar School alumni
Category:21st-century male musicians