Naira Marley is a British-Nigerian artist recognized for his roles as a singer, songwriter, and rapper.
He holds the title of the leader of the contentious fan community known as “Marlians”.
Early life and Education
Azeez Adeshina Fashola, was born on May 10, 1991, in Agege, Lagos State, Nigeria. He was raised alongside two brothers and a sister, with him being the eldest among his siblings.
When he was 11 years old, Fashola relocated to Peckham, South London, England. He completed his education with a distinction in business from Peckham Academy in 2010, and also pursued studies in business law at Crossways College (now Christ the King Sixth Form College).
Career
While growing up, Fashola harbored aspirations of becoming an MC and a voice-over artist. It wasn’t until 2013 that he delved into rapping, spurred by his newfound passion for music and the encouragement of friends from the Queens Roads area in Peckham. His musical journey kicked off with the release of the Max Twigz-assisted track “Marry Juana” and later his debut EP titled Gotta Dance in 2014.
In December 2017, he achieved notable success with the release of the single “Issa Goal”, featuring Olamide and Lil Kesh, which served as the theme song for the Super Eagles at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The official remix of “Issa Goal” was later released on June 16, 2018, featuring vocals by Olamide, Lil Kesh, Falz, Simi, and Slimcase.
Naira Marley’s music incorporates English, Pidgin, and Yoruba languages, blending Afrobeats with hip-hop influences. He draws inspiration from Jamaican icon Bob Marley, after whom he named himself, and his signature dreadlocks pay homage to the reggae legend.
Marley faced legal trouble after releasing the Zlatan-assisted track “Am I A Yahoo Boy” on May 3, 2019, leading to his arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on the same day. Despite this setback, he continued his musical endeavors and dropped “Soapy” on June 27, 2019, shortly after his release from prison. His resilience paid off when he won the Viewers’ Choice award for “Soapy” at the 2020 Soundcity MVP Awards on January 11, 2020.
Continuing his musical journey, Marley released his second EP titled “Lord of Lamba” on December 18, 2019, blending elements of Afrobeats and hip-hop across six tracks. The EP featured collaborations with artists such as CBlvck, Young John, and Mayorkun, with production by Killertunes, Rexxie, and Studio Magic.
During the “Marlian Fest” at Eko Hotels and Suites on December 30, 2019, Marley expanded his influence by launching his record label, Marlian Records, and introducing signed acts such as CBlvck, Zinoleesky, and Fabian Blu. He further strengthened his label’s roster on July 10, 2020, by unveiling Emo Grae as another signed artist, accompanied by the release of a new single and visual titled “0903” featuring Buju.
Looking ahead, Marley announced his forthcoming album “God’s Timing Is The Best” on June 21, 2021, set to be released following the official video debut of his song “COMING”.
Controversies and Legal issues
On May 10, 2019, the EFCC apprehended Marley along with his associates Zlatan, Tiamiu Kayode, Adewunmi Adeyanju Moses, Micheal “Taqueesh” Adenuga, and Abubakar Musa. This action followed the release of the controversial single “Am I A Yahoo Boy” and its accompanying video a day prior. Although Zlatan and three others were released five days later, Marley remained in custody due to incriminating evidence against him. He was formally charged with 11 counts of fraud before a federal high court in Ikoyi, Lagos, on May 16, 2019.
During his incarceration, Zlatan released the single “4 Nights In Ekohtiebo” on May 19, 2019, shedding light on their experiences and expressing admiration for their support. Marley, meanwhile, pleaded not guilty upon his arraignment in May 2019, with a bail hearing scheduled for May 30, 2019. On the day of the bail hearing, he released “Why”, accompanied by an image depicting him in handcuffs. He was eventually granted bail on June 14, 2019, after 14 days in custody, with a bail sum of ₦2,000,000.
Upon his release, Marley wasted no time and dropped “Soapy”, a track that delved into the intimate aspects of inmate life. In October 2019, he resumed court proceedings to confront the charges against him, with his case adjourned to February 27, 2020, following testimony from an EFCC witness.
Naira Marley faced detention by the Nigerian Police Force for violating the lockdown order issued by President Muhammadu Buhari to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the country. Despite the interstate travel ban and social distancing guidelines, he performed at a concert in Abuja on June 13, 2020. Consequently, he was arraigned by the FCT Administration before a mobile court in Abuja for organizing the concert.
In another instance, on February 13, 2021, reports emerged online stating that the Marley Valentine’s Concert in Cameroon was canceled by the Cameroonian government authorities. The concert had been rescheduled twice and relocated to various venues before ultimately being called off entirely. According to Nigerian music journalist Joey Akan, the cancellation was attributed to resentment from Cameroonian entertainers who were dissatisfied with the influence of Nigerian music and musicians in Cameroon.
On October 5, 2022, Naira Marley faced allegations of assault made by his signee MohBad through a series of statements on MohBad’s social media. The posts included images and videos showing MohBad with visible injuries that required medical attention. Marley addressed the accusation by dismissing it as a “family affair” and insinuated that MohBad might have been under the influence of substances when making the complaint.
On October 5, 2022, Naira Marley faced allegations of assault made by his signee MohBad through a series of statements on MohBad’s social media. The posts included images and videos showing MohBad with visible injuries that required medical attention. Marley addressed the accusation by dismissing it as a “family affair” and insinuated that MohBad might have been under the influence of substances when making the complaint.
Personal life
Naira Marley allegedly has two wives, although their identities remain undisclosed. He is a father to twin daughters, Aishat and Simiat, born in April 2015, with one of his wives. Additionally, he has two sons, Farouk (also known as Jojomarlian), born on October 30, 2015, and Fawaz, born on April 7, 2018, with his other wife. All of his children are British and reside in the United Kingdom.
Net Worth
Estimated to be over 1 million dollars