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Fuse ODG
Ghanaian-English singer, songwriter and rapper (born 1988)

Nana Richard Abiona (born 2 December 1988), known as Fuse ODG, is a British-Ghanaian singer, songwriter, and rapper who gained fame with his Top-10 UK singles like "Antenna" (#7 in 2013) and "Dangerous Love" (#3 in 2014). He also featured on Major Lazer's "Light It Up (Remix)," which reached No. 73 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 2016. Outside music, Fuse ODG promotes African heritage education through his subscription app, "School of new Africa," aimed at helping people of African descent connect with their roots.

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Early life

Born in London and raised in Ghana, Fuse returned to London for his secondary education, where he attended the Archbishop Lanfranc School, Croydon. He grew up in Mitcham, South London.6 The stage name "Fuse" comes from his fusion of musical styles, as he is known for his unusual combination of genres such as Afro-pop, hip-hop, R&B, funk and rock. "ODG", meanwhile, stands for "Off Da Ground".7

After returning to London, Fuse faced bullying as an adolescent because of his Ghanaian accent. He started making music as a way to connect with his peers and gain social status. He had a studio setup in his bedroom, and initially made music that was primarily influenced by American hip-hop, but was also informed by African genres such as Ghanaian highlife. Fuse also took influence from Black British genres including grime and UK garage, and was specifically inspired by the UK garage and hip-hop collective So Solid Crew. Other influences included Ghanaian rappers like Obrafour, Reggie Rockstone and Lord Kenya. Fuse was part of a rap crew at his school called 2 Gully, and he began to take music more seriously after they performed at an open mic competition at Fairfield Halls.8

Music career

2013–14: T.I.N.A.

Main article: T.I.N.A. (album)

On 23 August 2012, Fuse ODG released a single titled "Antenna". The song peaked at number 7 on the UK Singles Chart and at number 85 on the Irish Singles Chart. On 27 Oct 2011 he released the single "Azonto", which peaked at number 30 on the UK Singles Chart. On 19 October 2013, he was awarded Best African Act at the MOBO Awards' 18th Anniversary.9 He recently won four awards at the Urban Music Awards 2013: Best Music Video, Best Single, Best Artiste and Best Collaboration.10 On 29 December 2013 he released the single "Million Pound Girl (Badder Than Bad)". The song peaked at number 5 on the UK Singles Chart and at number 65 on the Irish Singles Chart. On 18 May 2014 Fuse ODG released "Dangerous Love", featuring Sean Paul. It peaked at number 3 on the UK Singles Chart. His next single, "T.I.N.A.", featuring British R&B artist Angel, was released on 19 October 2014. His debut album, T.I.N.A., an acronym for "This Is New Africa", was released on 3 November 2014 and includes all five singles. The album peaked at number 25 on the UK Albums Chart and at number 63 in Scotland. Fuse ODG turned down an offer to sing on the Band Aid 30 project because he objected to the way the lyrics of the song portrayed the victims of the ongoing Ebola virus epidemic in West Africa, and Africa generally.11

2015–present

In April 2015 he featured on Tinchy Stryder's single "Imperfection". In July 2015 he released the single "Only".12 He features on Angel's single "Leyla". The song was released on 17 July 2015.13 On 4 September 2015 he released the single "Top of My Charts".14

In 2016, he collaborated with British Asian artist Zack Knight and Indian rapper Badshah. They came together and composed an African/Indian soundtrack, Bombae.

Discography

Albums

TitleDetailsPeak chart positionsCertifications
UK15SCO16
T.I.N.A.2563
New Africa Nation
  • Released: 26 April 201918
  • Label: Off da Ground
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
——

Singles

As lead artist

TitleYearPeak chart positionsCertificationsAlbum
UK19BEL (Fl)20BEL (Wa)21IRE22NL23SCO24
"Antenna"20137877885—9
  • BPI: Platinum25
T.I.N.A.
"Azonto"(featuring Itz Tiffany)30———9138
"Million Pound Girl (Badder Than Bad)"5——65—11
  • BPI: Gold26
"Dangerous Love"(featuring Sean Paul)20143——22—4
  • BPI: Platinum27
"T.I.N.A."(featuring Angel)9——91—8
  • BPI: Silver28
"Thinking About U"(featuring Killbeatz)201574————93
"Only"29——————Non-album singles
"Top of My Charts"30——————
"BomBae"(with Zack Knight & Badshah)2016——————
"Jinja"——————
"Mary Mary"(featuring Big Narstie)2017——————
"Diary"(featuring Tiwa Savage)——————
"Window Seat"——————
"No Daylight"——————
"Boa Me"(featuring Ed Sheeran & Mugeez)52——99—92New African Nation31
"Feels Like Home"(with Sigala and Sean Paul featuring Kent Jones)201871——52—62Brighter Days
"Island"——————New Africa Nation
"Lazy Day"(featuring Danny Ocean)322019——————TBA
"—" denotes single that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Awards and nominations

YearEventPrizeRecipientResultRef
2014MOBO AwardsBest Male ActHimselfNominated33
Best African ActWon
Best Song"Dangerous Love" (featuring Sean Paul)Nominated
African Muzik Magazine AwardsBest Male DiasporaHimselfWon34
Song of the Year"Antenna" (featuring Wyclef Jean)Nominated
MTV Africa Music Awards 2014Best PopHimselfNominated35
Ghana Music AwardsAfro Pop Song of the Year"Million Pound Girl (Badder Than Bad)"Won36
Vodafone Song of the YearNominated37
"Down on One" (Sarkodie featuring Fuse ODG)Nominated
Best Collaboration of the YearNominated
World Music AwardsWorld's Best Male ArtistHimselfNominated38
World's Best Live ActNominated
World's Best Entertainer of The YearNominated
2013Channel O Music Video AwardsMost Gifted Dance Video"Antenna" (featuring Wyclef Jean)Nominated39
Ghana Music AwardsAfro Pop Song of the YearWon40
Song of the YearNominated
MOBO AwardsBest African ActHimselfWon41
2019Ghana Music Awards UKUK based Ghanaian International ArtistHimselfWon42

References

  1. Scott Kerr. "Fuse ODG | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 7 July 2016. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/fuse-odg-mn0002961009/biography ↩

  2. "Chipmunk, Fuse Odg To Thrill Fans On Dec. 27". Modernghana.com. 19 December 2011. Retrieved 7 July 2016. http://www.modernghana.com/music/16894/3/chipmunk-fuse-odg-to-thrill-fans-on-dec-27.html ↩

  3. "Newsbeat - Fuse ODG - BBC Sounds". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 19 November 2024. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0024xkh ↩

  4. "Ed Sheeran shares statement accusing Band Aid of 'dehumanising Africans'". Yahoo News. 18 November 2024. Retrieved 19 November 2024. https://uk.news.yahoo.com/ed-sheeran-says-band-aid-090207136.html ↩

  5. Campbell, Joel (23 August 2024). "Fuse ODG launches 'School of New Africa', digital education platform". Voice Online. Retrieved 19 November 2024. https://www.voice-online.co.uk/entertainment/2024/08/23/fuse-odg-launches-school-of-new-africa-digital-education-platform/ ↩

  6. "AltSounds - The Best New Music Videos In The World". AltSounds. Archived from the original on 4 November 2014. Retrieved 7 July 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20141104144008/http://hangout.altsounds.com/news/158309-dance-craze-antenna-uks-biggest-afrobeats-export.html ↩

  7. "How Did Fuse ODG Choose His Name?". Capital XTRA. Archived from the original on 26 February 2023. Retrieved 10 January 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20230226113534/https://www.capitalxtra.com/artists/fuse-odg/lists/facts/stage-name/ ↩

  8. Hancox, Dan (11 February 2014). "Million pound sound: Fuse ODG, and the remarkable rise of Afrobeats". Fact Magazine. Retrieved 12 December 2023. https://www.factmag.com/2014/02/11/million-pound-sound-fuse-odg-and-the-remarkable-rise-of-afrobeats/ ↩

  9. "Fuse ODG Wins MOBO at the 18th Anniversary Awards". What's Good? Online. 19 October 2013. Archived from the original on 20 October 2013. Retrieved 19 October 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131020131900/http://whatsgoodonline.co.uk/events/mobo-award-winners-2013-announced/ ↩

  10. "Fuse ODG Claims Top Gongs at the Urban Music Awards 2013 - INFOLODGE.NET - INFOLODGE.NET". Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 2 March 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20131203014220/http://infolodge.net/blog/blog/2013/11/25/fuse-odg-claims-top-gongs-urban-music-awards-2013/ ↩

  11. "Why I had to turn down Band Aid | Fuse ODG | Opinion". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 July 2016. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/nov/19/turn-down-band-aid-bob-geldof-africa-fuse-odg ↩

  12. "Only - Single by Fuse ODG on iTunes". iTunes. 10 July 2015. Archived from the original on 18 November 2015. Retrieved 7 July 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20151118045700/https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/only-single/id1004991324 ↩

  13. "Leyla (feat. Fuse ODG) - Single by Angel on iTunes". iTunes. 17 July 2015. Retrieved 7 July 2016. https://music.apple.com/gb/album/leyla-feat-fuse-odg-single/1003093719 ↩

  14. "Top of My Charts - Single by Fuse ODG on iTunes". iTunes. 4 September 2015. Archived from the original on 31 October 2015. Retrieved 7 July 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20151031162327/https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/top-of-my-charts-single/id1018200416 ↩

  15. "Fuse ODG". Officialcharts.com/. Official Charts Company. http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/26103/fuse-odg/ ↩

  16. Peak positions for albums in Scotland: For T.I.N.A.: "Chart Archive > 09 November 2014 - 15 November 2014". Official Charts Company. http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-albums-chart/20141109/40/ ↩

  17. "British certifications – Fuse ODG". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 13 August 2022. Type Fuse ODG in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter. https://www.bpi.co.uk/brit-certified/ ↩

  18. "Fuse ODG - New Africa Nation CD Album (Signed)". Fuseodg.tmstor.es. 26 April 2019. https://fuseodg.tmstor.es/cart/product.php?id=40152 ↩

  19. "Fuse ODG". Officialcharts.com/. Official Charts Company. http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/26103/fuse-odg/ ↩

  20. Hung, Steffen. "Discografie Fuse ODG". Belgium (Flanders) Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung). http://www.ultratop.be/nl/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Fuse+ODG ↩

  21. Hung, Steffen. "Discographie Fuse ODG". Belgium (Wallonia) Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung). http://www.ultratop.be/fr/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Fuse+ODG ↩

  22. Hung, Steffen. "Discography Fuse ODG". Irish Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung). Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151208111051/http://irish-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Fuse+ODG ↩

  23. Hung, Steffen. "Discografie Fuse ODG". Dutch Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung). Archived from the original on 11 March 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140311231811/http://dutchcharts.nl/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Fuse+ODG ↩

  24. Peak positions for singles in Scotland: For "Antenna": "Chart Archive > 09 June 2013 - 15 June 2013". Official Charts Company. For "Azonto": "Chart Archive > 06 October 2013 - 12 October 2013". Official Charts Company. For "Million Pound Girl (Badder Than Bad)": "Chart Archive > 12 January 2014 - 18 January 2014". Official Charts Company. For "Dangerous Love": "Chart Archive > 25 May 2014 - 31 May 2014". Official Charts Company. For "T.I.N.A.": "Chart Archive > 26 October 2014 - 01 November 2014". Official Charts Company. For "Thinking About U": "Chart Archive > 18 January 2015 - 24 January 2015". Official Charts Company. http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-singles-chart/20130609/41/ ↩

  25. "British certifications – Fuse ODG". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 13 August 2022. Type Fuse ODG in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter. https://www.bpi.co.uk/brit-certified/ ↩

  26. "British certifications – Fuse ODG". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 13 August 2022. Type Fuse ODG in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter. https://www.bpi.co.uk/brit-certified/ ↩

  27. "British certifications – Fuse ODG". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 13 August 2022. Type Fuse ODG in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter. https://www.bpi.co.uk/brit-certified/ ↩

  28. "British certifications – Fuse ODG". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 13 August 2022. Type Fuse ODG in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter. https://www.bpi.co.uk/brit-certified/ ↩

  29. "Only - Single by Fuse ODG on iTunes". iTunes. 10 July 2015. Archived from the original on 18 November 2015. Retrieved 7 July 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20151118045700/https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/only-single/id1004991324 ↩

  30. "Top of My Charts - Single by Fuse ODG on iTunes". iTunes. 4 September 2015. Archived from the original on 31 October 2015. Retrieved 7 July 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20151031162327/https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/top-of-my-charts-single/id1018200416 ↩

  31. "In Focus: UK now has 'young black parents proud to be who they are' says Fuse ODG". Metro. 13 October 2017. Retrieved 1 December 2017. http://metro.co.uk/2017/10/13/in-focus-uk-now-has-young-black-parents-proud-to-be-who-they-are-says-fuse-odg-6996367/ ↩

  32. "Lazy Day (feat. Danny Ocean) - Single by Fuse ODG on Apple Music". 28 November 2019 – via iTunes. https://music.apple.com/gb/album/lazy-day-feat-danny-ocean-single/1486210527 ↩

  33. Molloy, Antonia (23 September 2014). "Mobo Awards 2014 nominations: Sam Smith and Krept and Konan lead pack". The Independent. Retrieved 25 September 2014. https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/mobo-awards-2014-nominations-sam-smith-and-krept-and-konan-lead-pack-9750686.html ↩

  34. "AFRIMMA Nominees". African Muzik Magazine. Archived from the original on 23 May 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140523180116/http://afrimma.com/afrimma-nominees-2014/ ↩

  35. "Mafikizolo, Uhuru, Davido lead nominations for MTV Africa Music Awards". Sowetan LIVE. Retrieved 17 April 2014. http://www.sowetanlive.co.za/entertainment/2014/04/17/mafikizolo-uhuru-davido-lead-nominations-for-mtv-africa-music-awards ↩

  36. Victor, Adebayo Adeyemi (4 May 2014). "List of winners at the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards 2014". Ghana Web. Retrieved 4 May 2014. http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=308169 ↩

  37. "Vodafone Ghana Music Awards 2014 Nominees List Out – Check It Now". Ghana News Report. 2 March 2014. Archived from the original on 7 March 2014. Retrieved 6 March 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140307025323/http://www.ghananewsreport.com/vodafone-ghana-music-awards-2014-nominees-list-out-check-it-now/ ↩

  38. "D'banj, Tuface, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Davido, Kcee Nominated at World Music Awards". Channels Tv. 20 February 2014. Retrieved 9 March 2014. http://www.channelstv.com/home/2014/02/20/dbanj-tuface-jay-z-kanye-west-davido-kcee-nominated-at-world-music-awards/ ↩

  39. Niyi, Adenrele (3 September 2013). "2013 Channel O Africa Music Awards unveils nominees". National Mirror. Archived from the original on 6 September 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20130906161524/http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/2013-channel-o-africa-music-awards-unveils-nominees/ ↩

  40. Abimboye, Micheal (20 May 2013). "Wizkid wins African Artiste of the year at Ghana music awards". Premium Times. Retrieved 6 March 2014. https://www.premiumtimesng.com/arts-entertainment/135040-wizkid-wins-african-artiste-of-the-year-at-ghana-music-awards.html ↩

  41. "And the 2013 MOBO winners are..." Eveningtimes.co.uk. Retrieved 19 October 2013. http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/u/the-stars-come-out-for-the-2013-mobo-awards.1382211362 ↩

  42. "Ghana Music Awards UK 2019: All the winners". Musicinafrica.net. 7 October 2019. Retrieved 23 December 2021. https://www.musicinafrica.net/magazine/ghana-music-awards-uk-2019-all-winners ↩