The MTN Y’ello Star music talent and capacity building show has begun with the most exquisite set of judges. Its pick of Banky W, Omawumi and Malik Yusef makes it clear that excellence is the standard.
Banky W, Omawumi, and Malik Yusef each have interesting unique components that when mixed could create the most efficient musician the world has ever seen. From great business acumen, enviable voice control, and songwriting skills honed over years of experience, the trio have it on lockdown. And so far Olisa Adibua has done an amazing job as the guest judge on the project.
Olubankole Wellington, aka Banky W, has years of experience in the music business and in the actual act of creating music. He started attending and winning music competitions while he was in college and finally began his career after he got his degree. He has over a decade and a half of experience as an artiste and in the music business. Banky’s solo music catalogue consists of an impressive discography spanning over a decade as one of Africa’s most relevant, successful and in-demand musicians. His discography featuring projects like ‘Undeniable: The EP’, ‘Back In The Building’, ‘Mr. Capable’, ‘The W Experience’, ‘R&BW’, ‘Songs About U’ is stellar.
Banky, as a music business executive, has launched the careers of some of the biggest stars in the country, including Grammy-nominated Wizkid; Skales, Niyola, and Shaydee. He was also highly influential in the discovery, introduction and development of the careers of producer, Masterkraft, and in-house Sound Engineer, Suka Sounds. He served as the Executive Producer and Lead A&R for Wizkid’s 2011 highly acclaimed debut album, ‘Superstar’, Wizkid’s 2014 follow up album, ‘Ayo’, and the hit-filled Label compilation CD, ‘Empire Mates State of Mind’.
Throughout his career, Banky W has won numerous awards including three Headies awards for ‘Best Male Vocal Performance’ in 2008, and ‘R&B Single of the Year’ in 2010 and 2013. Some of his other awards include the 2010 Soundcity Music Video Awards ‘Best Male Music Video’ and ‘Best R&B Singer’, the 2011 Channel O Music Video Awards ‘Most Gifted R&B Male Video’, the 2011 Future Awards ‘Musician of The Year’, and more. He is the perfect person to help launch someone’s career and take them from zero to hero.
Omawumi is probably the best judge any contestant on a talent show could hope for. She understands the struggle they are facing as she also got her start in the music industry on another music talent show, West African Idols. Even though she didn’t win, emerging as the first runner up, she has gone on to have an illustrious career. The 38-year-old has thrived and maintained consistency in the industry for over a decade and has released four critically acclaimed studio albums.
Omawumi is famed for the amazing voice that has earned her two Headies for ‘Best Female Vocal Performance’, first in 2009 and then in 2018. Her foray into acting and production helps her to understand theatrics. She can teach participants of the show how to add some drama and flair to their performances, which will only make them more entertaining. If there was ever a person who could push, empathize and teach MTN Y’ello Star contestants to be better musicians, even outside the confines of the show, it would be Omawumi.
Malik Yusef is the icing on the cake. There is not a single soul trying to break into the music industry, that would not want to learn from a six-time Grammy award-winning artiste. He is the holy grail of music writing, and most beginners can not do any better than him. He rose out of Chicago’s south side to become a 24x Grammy award-nominee and 7x ASCAP award-winner for both pop and R&B. His other credits include Emmy, Peabody, and the Tony awards.
Malik co-wrote ‘Sandcastles’ on Beyonce’s album Lemonade. He has featured on every Kanye West album since his career inception except on the album, Jesus is King. And as one of Kanye West’s most consistent collaborators, he has enjoyed numerous Platinum and Billboard Successes. His roster of artistes he has written for includes, Jay Z, Drake, Katy Perry, Common, Jennifer Hudson, Rihanna, and Adam Levine, to name a few. Learning how to write music and even possibly record a song written by the award-winning songwriter is an honour. It puts you in a class of super exclusive talents from across the world and opens doors many can only ever dream of.
Banky W, Omawumi and Malik Yusef make a heady cocktail mix of music excellence. Their innovation, talent, drive, and experience is just what a burgeoning act needs to help push them to achieve greatness. This season of MTN Y’ello Star is sure to be filled with learnings for the contestants, and interesting and insightful comments from the judges that the viewers can learn from.
