DE AFRO DRUM BEAT: AFRICAN ARTISTE OF THE MONTH JULY 2012: EVA ALORDIA

Sunday, July 1, 2012

AFRICAN ARTISTE OF THE MONTH JULY 2012: EVA ALORDIA

Born Elohor Eva Alordiah (August 13), Eva is a Nigerian rapper, dancer, creative writer and photography model from Delta State. She was born in Abuja Nigeria but travelled around the country as a child, from Asaba to Minna Niger state and then finally settling with her family in Lagos Nigeria.

After graduating from Secondary school in 2004, she decided to pursue a career in music/entertainment. Teddy Esosa introduced her to Zdon Paporella who helped her understand the music business. But with an admission into Bowen University to study Computer Science, she decided to put music on hold, and bagged a degree.

While in the University, the inner workings of music making became her passion. She showed flair and ingenuity with music and finally settled to record as song with Tha Suspect of Capital Hill records in 2008. The song, titled "I dey Play" featured Tha Suspect and was inspired by M.I's single, Safe. With good follow up and excellent reviews from the critics, the song went on to receive radio play and created a much needed awareness for the brand that is “Eva”.

Late in 2009, her collaboration with 'Str8buttah' churned out the rap single "Make em say" which is featured on their "Illastr8 II" mix-tape and successfully crowned Eva as a lyrical rapper to be reckoned with by her counterparts. Same year, she featured on Cartiair's single "Owo ati Swagger" which went on to be nominated in the Hip-hop World Awards and the Soundcity Music Video Award shows.

Eva has had several collaborations: ID Cabasa, Knighthouse, Kel, Cartiair, Beazy, Tha Suspect, M.I, Show Dem Camp, eLDee, CONtradiction, Sasha, Mocheddah, BEZ, P-Square, to mention a few.

She was featured in the song ‘Shake it’ off the Invasion album by Africa’s favourite duo Psquare and then again in ‘Supersun remix’ by Bez, which also features Iceprine and eLDee. The song which was produced by Award winning producer Cohbams Asuquo, saw Eva in another light, showing us again how versatile and musical she really is.

Eva has worked with several talented producers from Sossick to SarZ, Tintin, eLDee, Gray Jon’z, M.I, TK, and more. With an increasing anticipation from the fans, Eva released the single "Relentless" on April 1st 2010. Following the release of the single, she was hailed as the Female rapper to watch out for. With a budding fan base and a good following on social media sites, and constant “Eva related search strings” there’s no stopping the young talented rapper as the world aligns to embrace the mobile/web based collaboration age.

In 2010, “Bella Naija” reviewed her as one to be watched.

The 'ThisDay' newspaper went on to hail her as the Future of Music.

2011 also saw her creative writing prowess recognized, Eva was granted her own column in the ThisDay newspapers, a national daily in Nigeria. The column which she titled "My undecided State of Mind' is published in the papers every Friday. In it, she takes readers on a thrilling, suspense filled ride with short stories week after week.

Eva was nominated for “Best Rap Act” Nigerian Entertainment Awards 2011, and won the award for “Best Female Rap” at the Exquisite Lady Of the Year Awards (ELOY)

In 2011, Eva announced the release of her first body of work "the GIGO EP" and called it -'her pet project to the fans before her debut album is released'

The first single off the EP titled 'Down Low' features Shank and was produced by TinTin. Following the success of the single, the second Single "I Done Did it" produced by award winning Producer of the year, Sossick was released gaining instant attention and acceptance. It went on to be rated on Top Ten countdowns on radios, getting to #1 on the MTN top 10 Nigeria Countdown, and staying #3 for several weeks. “I Done Did it” has grabbed grand reviews from critics and immediately stamps Eva with the tag -Highly Rated Female Rapper in the Nigerian music scene. Critics hailed it as the best rap song from a female rapper, DJs rated it as a must play.

She released the GIGO EP as a complete project for FREE download in November 2011 and it has gone on to be rated the best collection so far from a female rapper in Nigeria. With the release of this pre-album project, the growing Eva fan base has obviously been on the increase. The hashtag #GIGO was trending on popular Social networking site Twitter and is still a tweet worthy topic, the fans can’t stop tweeting lyrics off songs on the E.P.

Production credits on the EP go to Award winning producer of the year, Sossick and seasoned producers, Tintin, Gray Jon’z, and BigFoot of Mircwox. The EP also features collaborations with Saucekid, Basket Mouth, Ikechukwu, Shank and Chi Gurl.

Eva was featured in the 2011 BET Hiphop Awards Cypher which gained for her some International recognition and had the fans ranking her amongst the best rappers from Nigeria.

She weent on to be cast amongst top musical entertainers for the 2011 Ovation Red Carol which also features Wizkid, Waje, Chidinma, Iceprince, Segun Obe, Y.Q, Jaywon to list a few.

Eva who says performing for her is therapeutic and always exciting, has shown off her entertaining prowess in different concerts and events across the country. Her stage craft is always electrifying. Performances stretch an endless list. The most recognizable shows would be, but not limited to:

• Industry Night at Tribeca

• Nigerian Idol, semi-finals show

• Industry Night remembers Dagrin

• Soundcity Easter blast

• Tha Suspect -Album Listening Party

• Jesse Jagz -Album Listening Party

• One Mic

• Koffi and friends

• Monster Music blast

• P-square 'the Invasion concert'

• Lynxxx and friends Campus Tour

• Basket Mouth’s Laffz and Jamz