Lanre Dabiri aka “eLDee the Don” is the founder of Trybe Records. A music producer, recording artist, and a qualified architect with a master's degree.
Born May 23rd and raised in Kaduna, a city in Northern Nigeria, eLDee’s love for music and the arts started at a very young age.
In 1998, eLDee and his high school friend, “Kaboom” teamed up with “Freestyle”, and the group Trybesmen was born. Subsequently, eLDee founded his own independent label (Trybe Records) to support the group, and took the Nigerian music scene by storm with two hits in 1999; “Trybal Marks” and “Shake Bodi”. Trybesmen’s debut album “L.A.G. Style” was a massive hit and still a cult-classic. eLDee, as the head of Trybesmen and Trybe Records, re-engineered what has now become the music genre most call Afro-hip hop/Afro-pop. With Trybesmen’s undeniably incredible blend of Afro beat, Reggae, Highlife and hip hop, and over 78 sold-out shows in one year, it was no surprise that Trybesmen became a force to be reckoned with across West Africa.
Trybe Records also created a platform for new talents that would help achieve the goal of placing African Hip Hop/African Pop on the international map. Trybe Records boasts of developing successful artists such as Sasha, who won the Kora’s Most Promising Artist Award in 2004, 2Shots, Lequse, olaDele, Timi, and Sid, who is now a member of the “Mo-hits Records” label.
eLDee came up with a collaboration of all the artists on the record label, named them “Da Trybe” and solidified Trybe Records” place as a force to be reckoned with in the Nigerian Music Industry with hits such as “Work it out” and “Oya” in 2002, and the album “BIG Picture” in 2005. Making a move to the United States in 2002, eLDee recorded a solo album titled “Long Time Coming” and followed up with “Return of the King” in 2006.
“Return of the King” was very well received earning him various nominations and awards for both videos and songs including the Nigerian Entertainment Award for “Best International Album”.
eLDee, though currently living between Nigeria and the United States is a household name both in Africa and in the African communities abroad. He has been featured on numerous international radio stations both in Europe, Asia and the USA. Back home in Nigeria, the hit-music playlist is incomplete without eLDee. His personal hits like “I go yarn”, “Champion”, “African Chiquito” and “Bosi Gbangba” have been aired on radio stations all over the world. eLDee has also been featured in countless local and international magazines and newspaper articles and remains one of the most RESPECTED artist/producer out of West Africa, on the international scene.
eLDee has emerged as a multi talented professional. eLDee has worked with various artists of various nationalities, doing various styles, producing amazing music and creating great videos. eLDee has produced and directed numerous videos both for Nigerian and international artists and is able to bring anyone into his world of creativity in an effortless manner.
eLDee’s resume not only brags about his work as an artist, producer and video director, but also as an interactive media genius. His business resume boasts of clients like CNN, D3 Publishing, Hines, Accenture, Andersen, Kimberly Clark, Naruto, Primedia, NBA, UPS, Cartoon Network, Consumer Source, Warner Bros, just to name a few of the fortune 500 companies he has had the opportunity to design and develop for with an Atlanta based firm. eLDee and his group of colleagues have received numerous national and international awards for design and advertising media campaigns.
eLDee writes and produces most of his music, and owns all rights to his works through his reign of over a decade. His much-anticipated album “Big Boy” was released early 2009 and was tagged an instant classic. The album includes monster hits such as "Bosi Gbangba" and "Big Boy". The Big Boy album has received 17 nominations in different categories of various award shows including best video, best album, best cinematography, hottest single, best album, best artist and the most recent MOBO award nomination for "Best African artist".
Radio and video charts have been incomplete without eLDee and he still stands as one of the most promising Nigerian artists on the scene today.
am having your new jams as constant repeat..just can't wait for ur Album ..u hitting hard every album ..your lyrical power,Rhyme and swagga is killing..you my No 1. Naija Hip Hop King...U rule dawg !!..and u still connecting from Atlanta to Okokomaiko.
Eldee Da Don.. Hope all is well. Just dey show ma Luv . abeg pls holla words of wisdom if u can at ma trakx. did maself but not mixed @ ma page. got no producer or team.lol. for real tho. 9ja 4 lyfe. peace
