He was born Sodamola Oluseye Desmond, but we all know him as DJ Spinall and, sometimes, he is referred to, due to his undying affinity with traditional headwears, as TheCap. Here are a few facts about the DJ whom the cap fits. Such as the fact that DJ Spinall thought himself DJing online.
The fact that DJ Spinall taught himself the art of DJing is not the main surprise. The fact that he bothered at all. That is the cause for amazement. In a country where a lot of folks rely on sheer talent or luck or a dose of both to hammer, TheCap took the trouble of learning the ropes and honing his talent. According to Notjustok, the artiste first began DJing while studying for his degree in electrical engineering at Olabisi Onabanjo University, immersing himself in self-rehearsals and YouTube tutorials, although his interest in the profession began while the social prefect in secondary school.
DJ Spinall has acted as disc jockey for popular radio stations such as Ray Power, Eko FM and Beat FM. Channel O Africa and Wande Coal have hired him as their official DJ. He has cooked mixtapes that have crossed the borders of Nigeria, delighting both listeners and critics. He has also toured the United States, the UK, Europe, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, et cetera, DJing.
He studied the act. No wonder.
He is the first DJ to become a brand
If you are asked to name one DJ you know, you would probably say DJ Jimmy Jatt or a DJ who made it via the studio. DJs are not common celebrities, even when they hit stardom, there is still a hidden asterisk of the incompleteness of sort attached to it.
DJ Spinall smashed the DJ ceiling. Not only did he become a star just on the strength of his mixes, but he also became the first DJ to become a brand and be recognized as so by a brand. In June 2015, Smirnoff Ice unveiled DJ Spinall as their brand ambassador at Industry Nite, Lagos, in an event that had Lil Kesh, Ice Prince, Jimmy Jatt and MI among the star list of people in attendant. It was a night to be proud of the disc jockey. At the end of the night, the chant was DJ Smirnoff.
DJ Spinall cameo into the studio was in 2014.
While DJ Spinall is made more popular by his songs “Baba”, in which he featured Kiss Daniel and “Nowo” with Wizkid, both crooned in 2018, the DJ turned musician’s first attempt at the lyrics way was in 2014 in the song “Oluwa” with MI Abaga. The DJ’s first popular song is “Ohema” in which he featured Mr. Eazi was part of the Ten mixtape album Spinall, himself, compiled. The Ten album has songs by Falz, Davido, Yung L, Ceeza Milli, Ice Prince and Niniola as part of the Nigerian crew and Sarkodie and Kenyan Sauti Sol completing the pan African definition of the album.
While you are here Kizz Daniel Bio
While “Ohema” is critically sound and well known, hitting over two million views on Youtube after two years, its popularity is limited when compared with Nowo (more than eight million views on Youtube in less than half a year) and “Baba” (more than a million views in just weeks).
The DJ has other songs such as “Excuse Me” With Timaya in 2015 and “On a Low” done with Ycee in 2017.
DJ Spinall has a shelf of awards
Many Nigerian acts have mentioned the church choir as their root. Desmond didn’t begin his act in the church but it was the church that first paid him his first DJ fee. He told Punch Newspaper this in 2008. He said the person who gave him the church link to DJ in their youth party wasn’t even aware he was into DJ; she just knew him as the chap who was always playing loud music.
His experience was overwhelming. “I repeated Cece Winans about twenty times but the pastor did not complain and everybody seemed to be having a good time.” Has the DJ abandoned the avenue that paid him his first naira? He said no. “I still do a lot of gospel events but they don’t make it to television, radio or social media.”
See Falz facts
Since 2013 when he was first nominated in Nigeria Entertainment Awards as World DJ, The DJ whom the cap fits has won more than a handful of recognitions. Some of the awards he took home include DJ of the year, Male Disc Jockey of the year, Best Nigerian DJ, Disc Jockey Collaboration of the year, Best Disc Jockey, Best DJ Africa. In whatever way the organizers chose to word the awards, the only constant was that in due time Spinall gets awarded.
Image source: Guardian Nigeria
