Pheelz Explained

Pheelz
Birth Name:Phillip Kayode Moses
Alias:Pheelz, Pheelz Mr. Producer, Ridimakulayo
Birth Date:5 June 1994
Birth Place:Lagos, Nigeria
Occupation:Record producer, songwriter, singer
Years Active:2011–present

Phillip Kayode Moses (born 5 June 1994), better known as Pheelz, is a Nigerian record producer,[1] singer and songwriter. Pheelz is credited to have produced all but one song on Olamide's Baddest Guy Ever Liveth album.[2] In 2022, he had a hit with his song "Finesse", a collaboration with Bnxn (formerly known as Buju).[3]

Early life

Pheelz is a native of Ogun State, but he was born and raised in Ojo, a local government area in Lagos State. He started music as a 10-year-old singer in church. While in high school in Ajangbandi Afromedia, Pheelz attended Ideal Comprehensive High School and later he worked under I.D Cabassa at Coded Tunes, the record label where he met Olamide. In 2011, he featured vocals in a song off Olamide's Rapsodi album titled "I'm Going In".

Career

2012–2020: Working as a producer

His breakthrough as a record producer came in 2012, when he produced the chart-topping singles by Olamide titled "First of All" and "Fucking with the Devil" off his YBNL album.[4] In 2013, Pheelz was listed in NotJustOks "Top 10 Hottest Producers in Nigeria".[5] He produced all but one song on Olamide's Baddest Guy Ever Liveth album, a move which made him gain grounds in the Nigerian music industry and won him a nomination at The Headies 2013.[6] In 2014, he was also nominated in the Producer of the Year category at the 2014 edition of The Headies and at the 2014 Nigeria Entertainment Awards.[7] Pheelz has gone on to produce and be credited in popular songs and albums including The Chairman by M.I, Ghetto University by Runtown and Seyi or Shay by Seyi Shay. In 2014, Pheelz collaborated with COPILOT Music and Sound on a cover of Carlinhos Brown's "Maria Caipirnha (Samba da Bahia)". The arrangement represented the musical instrumentation and styles of Nigeria for Visa's "Samba of the World", a digital campaign for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Pheelz was nominated and won[8] [9] the "Producer of the Year" category at The Headies awards 2020 edition.

He has worked with several artists and musicians, such as Davido, Usher, Olamide, Wizkid, Fireboy DML, Teni and Tiwa Savage.[10]

2021–present: Hear Me Out EP

In 2021 he released his debut EP Hear Me Out [11] through Empire Distribution.[12] [13] [14]

"One Life" was released as a single off the EP on 26 November 2020, with its lyric video following on 28 December 2020.[15]

Motolani Alake of Pulse Nigeria wrote that it "excels on quality songwriting and good productions".[16] Ikwuje Amos of Mp3bullet called Pheelz "very intentional on the EP".[17]

On 15 March 2022, he signed a record deal with Warner UK,[18] shortly after his single "Finesse" became an international success, and earned him, his first career entry on the Billboard Global 200 at number 131, the TurnTable Top 50 at number 1, World Digital Song Sales at number 10, UK Afrobeats Singles Chart at number 1, and the UK Singles Chart at number 52.

Discography

See main article: Pheelz production discography. Extended plays

Singles

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2"
YearPeak chart positionsCertificationsAlbum
NG
[19]
US
Global

[20]
UK
[21]
UK
R&B
[22]
UK
Afrobeats

[23]
SA
[24]
"Hustle"2012rowspan="9"
"Son of Abraham"
(featuring Olamide)
2015
"I.J.N"2016
"Do What You Want"
"Honey"
(featuring Reekado Banks, and Marv)
"12:01 (ADM Remix)"
(with Cina Soul)
"Gobe"
(with Olamide, and Naira Marley)
2019
"One Life"2020
"MOSLADO (Pheelz Remix)"
(with Teni)
2021
"Finesse"
(with Bnxn)
20221 131 52 28 1 31
"Finesse"
(with French Montana)
"Ruin"
(with Usher)[26]
2024Coming Home
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Awards and nominations

YearEventPrizeRecipientResultRef
2013The Headies 2013Producer of The YearPheelz for "Durosoke"
2014The Headies 2014Pheelz for "Eleda Mi O"
2014 Nigeria Entertainment AwardsHimself[27]
City People Entertainment Awards[28]
20152015 Nigeria Entertainment Awards[29]
City People Entertainment Awards
2016City People Entertainment Awards
The HeadiesPheelz for "Pick Up"
Pheelz for "Love Lagos"
2020The Headies 2020Producer of The YearPheelz for "Billionaire by Teni"[30]
2021The Beatz AwardsAfro Hip Hop Producer of the YearHimself[31]
Afro Soul Producer of the Year
2023Soundcity MVP AwardsBest Collaboration Finesse[32]
The HeadiesPRODUCER OF THE YEARElectricityNominated[33]
Afrobeats Single Of The Year FinesseNominated
Song Of The Year FinesseNominated

Notes and References

  1. News: Olamide and Pheelz part ways?. New Telegraph. 13 June 2013. 17 November 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20151118133102/http://newtelegraphonline.com/olamide-pheelz-part-ways/. 18 November 2015.
  2. News: Album Review: Olamide is the 'Baddest Guy Ever Liveth' (even though he's tired). Nigeria Entertainment Today. Tayo. Ayomide. 17 November 2013. 17 November 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20160113125257/http://www.thenet.ng/2013/11/album-review-olamide-is-the-baddest-guy-ever-liveth-even-though-hes-tired/. 13 January 2016. dead.
  3. Conteh . Mankaprr . Pheelz and Bnxn's 'Finesse' is Utterly Cool -- and Breaking Through Globally . . 18 March 2022 . 18 March 2022.
  4. News: Unveiling Pheelz …his synergy with Olamide, others. News Watch Times. 13 June 2014. 17 November 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160123184236/http://www.mynewswatchtimesng.com/unveiling-pheelz-synergy-olamide-others/. 23 January 2016.
  5. News: The 10 Hottest Producers in Nigeria. NotJustOk. 4 October 2013. 17 November 2015.
  6. News: Custodian Interview: Pheelz(YBNL Producer). Culture Custodian. Ayeni. Gbemiga. 23 July 2015. 17 November 2015.
  7. News: Nigeria Entertainment Awards 2014 Nominees List: Davido, Yemi Alade, Others Nominated. tooXclusive. 29 May 2014. 17 November 2015.
  8. Web site: 2021-02-22. Here Are The 14th Headies Music Awards Winners. 2021-02-23. OkayAfrica.
  9. Web site: #14thHeadies: Fireboy DML & Wizkid win Big, Full Winners List. Mp3bullet . 21 February 2021 . 24 February 2021.
  10. News: The Headies 2013: First Photos & Full List of Winners: Olamide, Phyno, Davido, Sean Tizzle & Waje. BellaNaija. 27 December 2013. 17 November 2015.
  11. Web site: Pheelz releases a new project 'Hear Me Out EP'. Pulse NG. 24 February 2021 . 24 February 2021.
  12. Web site: Pheelz Uncovers A New Level Of Musical Pursuit In 'Hear Me Out. 21 February 2021 . 24 February 2021.
  13. Web site: Pheelz flies solo on debut EP, "Hear Me Out". Pulse NG. 23 February 2021 . 24 February 2021.
  14. Web site: New EP: Pheelz – Hear Me Out . Bellanaija. 19 February 2021 . 24 February 2021.
  15. Web site: Pheelz Shares Lyric Video For Uplifting Track "One Life". Grmdaily. 1 December 2020 . 24 February 2021.
  16. Web site: Pheelz's 'Hear Me Out' excels on quality songwriting and good production [Pulse 1-Listen EP Review]]. Pulse NG. 19 February 2021 . 24 February 2021.
  17. Web site: Pheelz was very Intentional on 'Hear Me Out' EP [Critical EP Review]]. Mp3bullet . 24 February 2021 . 24 February 2021.
  18. Web site: Pheelz Secures International Record Deal . Cool FM . 18 March 2022.
  19. Web site: TurnTable Top 50: Pheelz & BNXN's "Finesse" Rises To No.1 . The Native . 17 January 2023 . 14 March 2022.
  20. Web site: Billboard Global 200 . . 17 January 2023.
  21. Web site: PHEELZ & BUJU full Official Chart History . www.officialcharts.com . . 17 January 2023.
  22. Web site: Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40 . www.officialcharts.com . 17 January 2023 . en.
  23. Web site: Official Afrobeats Chart Top 20 . www.officialcharts.com . 17 January 2023 . en.
  24. Web site: Local & International Streaming Chart Top 100 Week 14-2022 . TOSAC . 17 January 2023.
  25. United Kingdom . Pheelz. 17 January 2023 .
  26. Web site: Usher released Afrobeats & Amapiano-Inspired Single Ruin. The Source. February 2, 2024. February 5, 2024.
  27. News: Nigeria Entertainment Awards 2014 Nominees List: Davido, Yemi Alade, Others Nominated. tooXclusive. 29 May 2014. 17 November 2015.
  28. News: Who won what at City People Entertainment Awards 2014. Nigeria Entertainment Today. Oyewusi. Siji. 10 June 2014. 17 November 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20160123080641/http://thenet.ng/2014/06/who-won-what-at-city-people-entertainment-awards-2014/. 23 January 2016. dead.
  29. News: Kiss Daniel, Korede Bello, Falz, Wizkid, Olamide, Davido & More Nominated for the 10th Annual Nigerian Entertainment Awards. BellaNaija. Ade-Unuigbe. Adesola. 12 June 2015. 17 November 2015.
  30. News: Headies Award 2021 Winners list: Wizkid na Artiste of The Year, Omah Lay win 2020 Next Rated, Fireboy, odas win for di 14th edition. BBC. 21 February 2021. 22 February 2021.
  31. Web site: WINNERS 2021 . The Beatz Awards . 16 May 2022.
  32. Web site: Burnaboy, Black Sherif, Win At The Soundcity MVP Awards 2023 (FULL WINNERS LIST). African Folder . 12 February 2023.
  33. Web site: Akinyode . Peace . 2023-07-12 . Full list: 2023 Headies nominations . 2023-07-26 . Punch Newspapers . en-US.