M.I Abaga Biography, Real Age, Awards, Songs & Networth
Born, Jude Abaga and known professionally as M.I Abaga is Nigerian rapper, singer-songwriter born and raised in Jos, Plateau State, on the 4th of October 1981 to the family of Mr. and Mrs. Abaga.
M.I Abaga hails from the Jukum tribe of Takum, Taraba State, Nigeria. He has two younger siblings – Jesse Jagz, who is also a hot cake in the Nigerian music industry and Jason Abaga. M.I speaks Hausa fluently because he was born and brought up in Jos.
Abaga attended Baptist High School, Jos; while he was in Secondary School, his parents noticed his passion for music and his mother bought him basic music notations to learn more about music. After a while, she also bought him a 7-key mini piano, which he used for personal training.
Growing up, he always listened to Lauryn Hill, Bob Marley, Sarah Maclachlan, Pablo Neruda, Jay-Z, DMX, and Fela Ransom Kuti. He also attended Calvin College, Michigan, USA, where he studied Engineering for only a year before he moved on to major in Business and Economics.
M.I Abaga’s Musical Career
Mr Jude Abaga (M.I Abaga) started his music career in 2003, after his relocation to Nigeria. He started by producing mixtapes with his friend Djinee which led to the release of the hit single “Safe”. The song was widely recognized and played on African radio stations and music video stations like MTV Vibe.
M.I teamed up with his brother – Jesse Jagz, Ice Prince, Ruby Gyang, Threadstone, Lindsay, Moses – Elbulk, and E-Kelly to form Loopy Music.
After a while, Chocolate City Company – a renowned music label in Nigeria, signed M.I Abaga, on this account, he relocated to Abuja from Jos. Also, it was his contract with Chocolate City that launched him into a successful music career.
As a producer, M.I has produced and featured on the works of several artists including Don Jazzy, Threadstone – the first rock band in Nigeria, Kel, Djinee, Shifi of Styl-Plus, Jesse Jagz, Ice Prince, Ruby Gyang, Lindsey, Leony, Wizkid, etc. Although he is the CEO of Chocolate City, he still owns his own production company – Rytchus Era Productions, with his brother Jesse Jagz.
M.I Abaga has helped several upcoming artistes come to limelight, some of these artists are Wizkid, Vypa, Jesse Jagz, Ruby Gyang, Pype, Ice Prince, Brymo and KhaliGraph Jones.
Also, with his music, M.I Abaga imprint a Northern presence in the Nigerian music industry by doing so, he is seen as one who wants to bring Nigeria together through music. Hence, Nigerian hip hop fans describe him as Nigeria’s Hip Hop Messiah.
M.I Abaga Awards
- Lyricist on the Roll at The Headies Awards
- Best Rap Single at the Hip Hop World Awards – 2008
- Musician of the Year at the Mode Men Awards – 2008
- Best New Act at the MTV Africa Music Awards – 2009
- NMVA Award for the Best Use of Special Effects in a video – 2009
- Best Mainstream Hip Hop Video at the NMVA – 2009
- Nigerian Entertainment Awards honoured him as the Best New Act of the Year – 2009
- Best Rap Album at the Hip Hop World Awards – 2009
- Hip Hop Revelation at the Hip Hop World Award – 2009
- Musician of the Year at The Future Awards – 2010
- City People named him as the Musician of the Year – 2010
- Artist of the Year by the National Daily – 2010
- Malaysian African Entertainments Awards honoured M.I as the Musician of the Year – 2010
- Orange Wall of Fame named him as the Most Amiable Brand – 2010
- The Chairman was named as the Best Rap Album at The Headies – 2015
- Best Rap Single at The Headies Award – 2018
- Lyricist on the Roll – The Headies Award – 2018
M.I Abaga Albums
- Talk About It – 2008
- Illegal Music – 2009
- MI 2: The Movie – 2010
- Illegal Music 2 – 2012
- The Chairman – 2014
- The Indestructible Choc Boi Nation (with Chocolate City) – 2015
- M.I Abaga Mixtapes And Playlists
- The Finale: Illegal Music 3 – 2016
- Rendezvous – 2018
- A Study On Self Worth: Yxng Dxnzl – 2018
- The Guy – 2022
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