Abdul Rasheed Bello, also widely and professionally known as Skillz or JJC Skillz is a famous Nigerian song writer, rapper, record artiste and television personality.
He was born on April 4, 1977 in Kano, in northern Nigeria where he had his primary and secondary education respectively. Skillz left for U.K. at a young age of fourteen and developed his skills for his long dream profession, music. He later studied TV and video production in school.
Skilz’s Career
JJC Skillz kick-started his music journey in the UK when he was producer for the British hip-hop record company and musical group Big Brovaz.
Prior to this development, he had a strong passion for music, listening to his father’s country music records and juju music.
Skillz became famous in the music world after his successful release of his single ‘We Are Africans’, an Afrobeat anthem. The song also attracted a huge fan base of over 400,000 followers on YouTube.
In December 2002, he released his debut album, Atide, an experimental album with lyrics in English and Nigerian languages and influenced by hip hop, African and Salsa musical styles.
Skillz is very creative, skillful and highly talented music star. He co-produced a television show about the Nigerian music industry titled ‘Industreet’ alongside his wife, Funke Akindele.
Industreet was a huge success as he became a force to reckon with in the Nigerian music scene.
While in U.K., Skillz was drawn to hip-hop music and soon formed a musical group with a friend. Thereafter, they began performing at different talent shows and event centres across United Kingdom. The group also received critical media acclaim within London in the early 2000s.
In 2004, the talented Nigerian singer and producer released a hit album, ‘Atide’, his debut album with 419 squad.
Skillz has so far released numerous hit songs, some of which are:
• My Life
• African Skank
• See Us Now
• Save the Last Dance
• Motiwa
• We are Africans
• Where’s the Fajiat?
• Marry Joanna
• Atide and many others.
Skillz has also produced a good number of impressive songs including Weird MC’s Ijoya, Pu Yanga by Tillaman, and Morile by Buoqui.
He came to the African music scene creating projects like Afropean (Afro-European fusion) and Afrobeats, a development many believed was meant to launch African music to the global scene.
Skillz has so far performed in front of sold-out crowds across Europe in countries like England, France and Italy, and his country, Nigeria.
Awards
Skillz has in the course of his music career won a good number of prestigious awards, notably as:
• The Best International Artiste at the Nigerian Entertainment Awards.
• The JJC and the 419 Squad which he created won the Kora Awards in Johanesburg in South Africa in 2014.
Skilz’s Personal Life
Skillz married Funke Akindele in 2016 and the union is blessed with a set of twins since 2018.
Prior to his marriage to Funke Akindele, the producer of Jenifa’s Diary, Abdul Rasheed Bello was said to be father of three children from three different mothers.
The couple has been previously married.
Skilz’s Net Worth
Abdul Rasheed Bello (Skillz) has made a huge fortune from his entertainment career, rated one of the richest and most influential with an estimated net worth of about $1 million dollars.
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