Biography
Tobechukwu Melvin Okafor (born 30 December 1979), who is known professionally as Illbliss, is a 44 years old famous Nigerian rapper, sound producer, actor, and music executive.
He is the founder and CEO of The Goretti Company, which is credited for launching the careers of music superstars, Chidinma and Phyno.
Since he became a star in 2008, he has grown over the years into a music phenomenon.
At the inaugural Soundcity Music Video Awards in 2008, he won the Best Hip-hop Video Category for his hit single, U Go Wound.
In 2009, he released his critically acclaimed debut studio album, Dat Ibo Boy. Joyfully, his latest album, Illy Chapo X, was dropped in 2020 during the pandemic.
Illbliss | |
|---|---|
 Illbliss: History, Bio, Photo | |
| Wiki Facts & About Data | |
| Full Name: | Tobechukwu Melvin Okafor |
| Stage Name: | Illbliss |
| Born: | 30 December 1979 (age 44 years old) |
| Place of Birth: | Enugu, Nigeria |
| State Of Origin: | Enugu State |
| Nationality: | Nigerian |
| Parents: | N/A |
| Children: | Kachimsideh |
| Height: | N/A |
| Siblings: | N/A |
| Girlfriend • Wife: | Munachiso Ejiofor (m. 2009) |
| Occupation: | Rapper • Actor |
| Net Worth: | US$7-US$10 million |
Early Life
Illbliss was born to Ibo parents in southeast Nigeria. He was raised in the Catholic faith by his parents, who were Christians.
He spent his formative years in the South East, learning the traditions and history of the Ibo people. As a result, he grew up knowing how to speak his mother tongue, Igbo. Illbliss was born on 30 December 1979 in Enugu State, Nigeria.
While attending elementary school, he was taught the English language by his teachers. At home, with his neighborhood playmates, he conversed in the Igbo dialect and, oftentimes, mixed it with Pidgin English.
As a young boy in southeast Nigeria, he was exposed to a lot of highlife and folklore songs created by notable Ibo musicians. From listening to the radio regularly, he also came across rap songs by Western artists and songs by artists such as Fela Kuti, Sonny Okosun, Charly Boy, King Sunny Ade, Sir Shina Peters, amongst others.
Listening to these artists influenced his desire to make music. So Illbliss started by writing rap lyrics in English, which he performed to the delight of his classmates and friends. Then, in a bid to promote his native dialect and connect more with his local audience, he decided to try his hands on Igbo rap. After doing one or two rap songs, he found out that he preferred rapping in Igbo to English, so he stuck with the former.
Education
Illbliss comes from a family that places a high value on education, as his parents ensured that he had quality education up to the university level.
He obtained his First School Leaving Certificate and West African School Certificate from top public schools in the South East region.
Thereafter, Illbliss studied for a Bachelor’s degree at a renowned university in the South East. He graduated with good grades from the institution after four years.
Career
Illbliss foray into professional music had started from his undergraduate days when he performed at faculty & departmental events, shows, and concerts on campus. He won the hearts of many undergraduates with his punchlines and relatable rap verses. They became his first set of fans.
After leaving the university, Illbliss launched his career proper and was doing a lot of recording sessions at a studio owned by a friend. He got his big break when he released the song, U Go Wound O. The single was a massive hit in the Nigerian music industry and catapulted Illbliss into the limelight. His newfound fame meant that he was booked to perform at several music gigs across the country.
The music video of the song won Best Hip-hop Music Video at the 2008 Soundcity Music Video Awards. After the release of U Go Wound O, Illbliss began working tirelessly on his debut studio album. After spending many days and nights in the studio, he made the album titled Dat Ibo Boy available to the public in 2009. The album was a commercial success, selling thousands of copies in Nigeria. In addition, the album’s lead single, Aiye Pon Gan (Enuf Space), helped the project do great numbers.
Since he was already a voice to reckon with in the industry, Illbliss decided to heed his entrepreneurial calling. So he set up the record label, The Goretti Company, which also doubled as a Talent Management Company. He has been successful in this music venture and is credited for helping musicians like Phyno and Chidinma find their feet in the industry and build successful careers. Thus, Illbliss is regarded among the leading music executives in the continent.
He collaborated with fellow rapper, Teck Zilla to record the joint album, IllyZilla. The project was released in 2019.
In 2020, Illbliss thrilled his fans to a new project when he released the album, Illy Chapo X. Although he kept to his trademark Igbo rap, it was clear to listeners that he had evolved over the years. The album, which is his seventh as a rapper, was nominated for the Best Rap Album category at 2020 The Headies.
Illbliss‘ other notable projects are Oga Boss, Powerful, Illygaty:7057, Illy Bomaye, Illsophy, Position Of Power Vol. 1, and Position Of Power Vol. 2.
Social Media
Due to his celebrity status, Illbliss cultivates a solid social media presence. He has over 470k followers on Instagram.
- Instagram handle – @illblissgoretti
- Twitter handle – @illblissgoretti
Personal Life
Illbliss is also known by the nickname, Oga Boss. The nickname stuck to him after he released his sophomore album in 2012. The Igbo-born actor is an influential figure in the Nigerian music industry, having played a role in the success of many upcoming artists.
Illbliss is also a successful actor. He made his film debut when he appeared in the blockbuster movie, King Of Boys. In the film, he played the role of a mafia boss, Odogwu Malay, winning the hearts of many Nigerians with his excellent acting performance. He reprised the role of Odogwu Malay in the movie’s sequel: The King Of Boys 2.
Although he has real estate properties across the country, he shuttles between Lagos City and the South East. He also owns exotic cars, which can be found in the garage of his residences. He is currently signed to Hero lager beer as one of its brand ambassadors.
Illbliss is married to Munachiso Ejiofor in 2009, and their union is blessed with beautiful children. He is also a managing partner at Capital Hills Records, which he co-owns with Clarence Peters.
Net Worth
Illbliss started making his wealth from the music industry before diversifying his earnings into other sectors. This ensures that he has a steady revenue from multiple streams of income.
He is estimated to be worth US$7-US$10 million.
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