About Artist
ARTISTE PROFILE :
IVORY
Born in U.C.H. Ibadan in 1979, Isaac Onyeonoru aka Ivory, grew up loving and appreciating the art called music. Being the only son of a music loving Clergy, he became an integral member of the choir. He then moved with his parents and only sister to Lagos in 1987, where he later got his secondary education. During this period, he represented his school in music and dance competitions, where he performed exceptionally. Consequent upon his accomplishment and leadership qualities, he was made the President of the Art club and was also put in charge of the school choir.
Influenced by gospel music, Ivory started an R&B gospel group in 1997 called Tehilla Company. The group became popular in the church circle and as a result of this, in 1998, got signed on to a management company called Silver Point Entertainment. At that point the group changed it's name to TX. In that year and the following (1998 & 1999), TX picked up a couple of awards for their two singles; "Dreams and Must've been love", which topped charts on Rhythm fm, Star fm, Eko fm and Cool fm for a long time. Some of the awards includes, the FAITH awards for the best song of the year, best R&B gospel group of the year and the best production of the year.
Based on the popularity gained by the group in the entertainment circle (thanks to their hit single "Must've been love"),they got an international recording offer from a South African based company. But the group failed to sign the initial contract draft before the deadline given, due to a misunderstanding between the group's producer and the contract agent. Consequently, the group was dissolved and Ivory moved on and consentrated on a TV show. But never gave up on his dream to become a force to reckon with in the R&B and Hiphop industry, worldwide.
In 1999 (while in TX), Ivory and a couple of friends came together and created a TV show concept called "GROOOIDZ", which immediately caught the interest of the executives of Minaj Broadcast International, for its uniqueness, and was put on air. He co-presented and co-produced the show for the period it ran on MBI (1999-2003), and during this period was able to put the Nigerian Hiphop-music industry on the world map, through the international window of the TV station, which by then was transmitting to the UK, Europe and USA. Not to mention Africa. So it can be said that Ivory was instrumental in pioneering the Nigerian Hiphop-music industry to where it's gotten.
Ivory believes in love and stands for realness in all aspects. He is a perfectionist and believes in grabbing the bull by its horns. As a philosopher, he believes that every moment counts and should be held on to dearly, thus, his favourite quote is, "live the moment as if it were the last". And his motto is, "Stay true to yourself".
