Bella Shmurda

Bella Shmurda studied at Lagos State University. The recorded working language is Yoruba, English and Nigerian Pidgin. The field of work recorded is singing and composer. Subjects and genres recorded for the work are Afrobeat and street pop. Distinctions recorded are City People Entertainment Awards.

• Name — Bella Shmurda • Birth Name — Abiola Ahmed Akinbiyi • Born — 27 January 1996 • Birthplace — Ikorodu, Lagos, Nigeria • Genre — * Afrobeats • Street pop • Afro-fusion • World • Occupation — * Singer • songwriter • Years Active — 2017present • Label — Dangbana Republik

Bella Shmurda hails from a polygamous family in Ikorodu, Lagos State and is the last child from a family of 10 children. His journey in arts began in his early days through being a part of his elementary school band and cultural dance troupe. He grew up in Ikorodu, proceeded to have his secondary school studies in Badagry, and earned a bachelor's degree in History and International Relations from Lagos State University. He gained public attention after his debut single "Vision 2020", caught the interest of Nigerian rapper Olamide who did a follow-up remix of the song. Poco Lee, who is a dancer and close friend to Bella Shmurda made a video with the song which made it viral and earned the interest of Olamide, who invited the latter over to his studio for a remix. The support Bella Shmurda got encouraged him to release his first EP "High Tension" in January 2020. He released several other songs in 2020, one of which rapper Zlatan was featured in, titled "Cash App". In 2020, he was nominated for the Next Rated Award at The Headies 2020. He won the awards "Next Rated Male" and "Street Music of the Year" at the City People Entertainment Awards, and was also nominated for the "Revelation of the Year" Award Category in 2020. In 2021, at the Global Music Awards Africa which held virtually in Ghana, he won in two award categories, Global Collaboration of the Year and Global Most Popular Song of the Year. Also in 2021, he was the only Nigerian beneficiary among twenty-seven acts, across fourteen countries who were inducted into the YouTube Foundry Programme facilitated annually by YouTube Music to access and leverage resources aimed at artistes development to launch their music to a wider reach globally, create greater impact and promote a broad spectrum of musical heritage. Following his breakout in the Afrobeat music industry in 2021, Bella Shmurda was featured in an episode on the African music interview series "This is Africa" by BBC. Also, in 2021, Bella Shmurda was nominated for the "Next Rated" award at the Headies Awards. In June 2021, his single, "Cash App" featuring Zlatan and Lincoln was nominated for "Most Played Song - Street Pop" at the NET Honours. Bella Shmurda made his debut performance at The O2 Arena in the United Kingdom, as a guest performer at Wizkid's Made in Lagos Concert in November 2021. In March 2023, he released his first single of the year, "Ara (Gen Gen Tin)" after his album project rollout. His single "Philo" which featured Omah Lay was released off his debut album "Hypertension" in October 2022 and received global attention, causing South African rapper Nasty C to make a remix of the song which dropped in March 2023. For his third release of the year, he collaborated with Tiwa Savage on a single titled "NSV" which dropped in May 2023 and was produced by Krizbeatz. Bella Shmurda released his sophomore album, Sanity, on the 3rd October 2025

In October 2021, Bella Shmurda reacted to a viral video of a pre-schooler performing a song by Olamide and himself titled “Triumphant” off Olamide's “Carpe Diem” Album, by choosing to sponsor the kid with an elementary school scholarship. This scholarship came into effect in November 2021. Also on his birthday in January 2022, he declared that through his collective, he would begin a program to feed a thousand destitute persons in the Ojo community where he grew up every year his birthday.

• Year — Title — Tracks • 2020 — High Tension (EP) — # Ginger Me (Intro) # Omnipotent # Liquor # Sho mo mi # Amope # Vision 2020 # Upgrade • 2021 — High Tension 2.0 (EP) — # Out There # World # Soldier Go # Far Away # Lako # Rush # Party Next Door # Champion • 2022 — Hypertension (Album) — # New Born Fela # Ase # Contraband # Lose It ft. Simi # Oh Oh Oh # Converse ft. Phyno # Fire # Lagos City # Level Up # Philo ft Omah Lay # Nakupenda ft BackRoad Gee, Not3s, L.A.X # No Other ft. Victony # Man of the Year # Addicted # So Cold ft. Popcaan • 2023 — DND (EP) • 2024 — R2 Sept 12 (EP)

• Year — Song title — Producer — Album • 2019 — Vision 2020 — ID Cabasa • Upgrade • Only You — BYLinx • 2020 — Omnipotent — Saint Khor — High Tension EP • Sho Mo Mi — High Tension EP • Dangbana Orisa — Rexxie • Cash App — Dopestiks • 2021 — Rush — LarryLanes — High Tension 2.0 EP • World — SB the Producer — High Tension 2.0 EP • So Cold ft. Popcaan — Linton White — Hypertension (Album) • No Caution ft. Seyi Vibez — LarryLanes • Party Next Door — Vibez Ace • 2022 — My Friend — Niphkeys • Many Things — Fancybeats • Fvck Off — Niphkeys & LarryLanes • New Born Fela — Fancybeats — Hypertension (Album) • Philo ft. Omah Lay — Krizbeatz — Hypertension (Album) • 2023 — Philo Remix ft. Nasty C — Krizbeatz • NSV ft. Tiwa Savage — Krizbeatz • 2024 — Loner • Evidence/Holy Man • 1999 ft Bloody Civilian — BYLINX & PBeatz — R2 Sept 12 (EP) • Mentali ft Boj — Krizbeatz

• Year — Title — Producer — Album • 2020 — "Triumphant" (featuring Olamide) — Carpe Diem • "Fade Away" (featuring Davido) — A Better Time • 2021 — "Jackpot" (featuring Crayon) — Twelve A.M • "Back 2 Back" (featuring Rexxie) • 2023 — "DOG EAT DOG II" (Odumodublvck featuring Cruel Santino, and Bella Shmurda) • 2024 — "50-50" (VASA featuring Bella Shmurda) — T.U.C. • "Bring It (Naija Remix)" (featuring Bella Shmurda) • 2025 — "Delilah" (Bahd Man Niko featuring Bella Shmurda) — The Beat Murderer