Mohbad (Ilerioluwa Aloba) R.I.P.
Musician, Rapper
In memoriam — Mohbad (Ilerioluwa Aloba) passed away on 2023-09-12. Their legacy lives on.
Biography
Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, known professionally as Mohbad or Imole (The Light), was a highly talented and deeply loved Nigerian street-hop artist, singer, and rapper. He rose to prominent national and international fame with his entirely unique signature baritone voice and a brilliant musical style that blended Afrobeats, hip-hop, Fuji, and indigenous Nigerian sounds. Mohbad was widely celebrated for his raw, electric energy, incredibly catchy street melodies, and highly relatable lyrics that painted vivid pictures of everyday life, struggles, and hope. During his short but remarkably impactful career, he evolved into a defining voice for the streets and a rising powerhouse in the global music community. His sudden and untimely passing at the young age of 27 sent shockwaves through the world, sparking widespread mourning, global tributes, and immense calls for justice.
Early Life
Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba was born on June 8, 1996, in the Ketu suburb of Lagos State, Nigeria. He was raised in a modest, working-class household by his parents, Joseph Aloba and Promise Oladimeji, alongside four siblings. During his preteen years, his parents went through a separation, which introduced financial and personal hardships into his young life. He spent much of his youth growing up in the popular and bustling Ikorodu suburb of Lagos. To help support his family, he learned the trade of carpentry from his father, who also worked as a pastor and a local artisan.
Mohbad attended Abifab College in Ikorodu for his secondary school education, joining the school in 2013. He was known by his teachers and principal as a deeply reserved, easygoing, and intelligent young man. Enrolled in the commercial class, Mohbad showed a great aptitude for mathematics and financial accounting, initially inspiring an aspiration to become a professional accountant. While his musical talents remained largely hidden from the school administration, his inner passion for music was steadily growing. At the age of 16, he began writing his thoughts down in jotters whenever inspiration hit, finding solace and expression in creating rhythm and poetry.
Career
Mohbad’s professional musical journey began to gain serious traction around 2016. He started building a grassroots fanbase by recording raw freestyle videos of his raps and posting them on social media platforms. He also specialized in recording creative covers of popular mainstream Nigerian tracks. His definitive breakthrough arrived in 2019 when his freestyle cover of Kizz Daniel's hit song "Fvck You" went viral across social media, catching the attention of prominent music executives. On January 1, 2020, Mohbad officially signed a life-changing record deal with Marlian Music, the prominent label owned by Naira Marley, alongside artists like Zinoleesky.
Under Marlian Music, Mohbad released his highly successful debut EP titled Light later in 2020. The eight-track project featured major collaborations with top-tier Nigerian stars such as Davido, Lil Kesh, and Naira Marley. His true breakout hit came with the chart-topping single "KPK (Ko Por Ke)," produced by the award-winning hitmaker Rexxie. The song became a massive viral street anthem across Africa, earning Mohbad three distinct nominations at the 2022 Headies Awards. He followed this success with his chart-dominating solo single "Feel Good" in 2021, solidifying his status as a street-hop superstar.
In late 2022, following intense internal and public disputes over royalties and management, Mohbad bravely left Marlian Music to establish his own independent record label, Imolenization. As an independent artist, he released his highly acclaimed sophomore EP, Blessed, in 2023, featuring collaborations with his close friends Bella Shmurda and Zlatan. The project and its hit track "Ask About Me" proved his independent artistic power, with the EP hitting the number-one spot on Apple Music Nigeria.
Personal Life
Mohbad was known by those closest to him as a humble, deeply generous, and gentle soul who remained grounded despite his massive celebrity status. He proudly adopted the moniker "Imole," which translates to "The Light" in the Yoruba language, reflecting his desire to bring hope and positive energy to his listeners. He shared a very close and protective bond with his longtime partner, Omawunmi, with whom he welcomed a beloved son named Liam.
His personal life and final years were also marked by significant emotional and mental struggles due to intense pressure, threats, and harassment stemming from his bitter departure from his former record label. Despite these immense challenges, Mohbad consistently channeled his anxieties and pains directly into his music, which is why tracks like "Sorry" and "Peace" resonated so deeply with millions of fans going through their own life battles. Tragically, on September 12, 2023, Mohbad passed away in Lagos under highly controversial and sudden circumstances. His death ignited an unprecedented movement across Nigeria, leading to massive peaceful candlelit processions, global streaming spikes, and an official investigation by law enforcement.
Fun Facts
Before pursuing music full-time, Mohbad trained extensively as a carpenter under his father's guidance in Ikorodu.
He was a brilliant commercial student in high school and originally aspired to become a professional accountant.
His famous stage name "Mohbad" is a playful street-slang combination meaning "I am bad" (in a remarkably skilled or talented context).
He officially announced his entry into his first major record label, Marlian Music, on New Year's Day in 2020.
His massive viral hit "KPK (Ko Por Ke)" translates from Yoruba slang to mean "It is plenty" or "Is it not enough?"
After passing away, his music experienced an unprecedented global streaming surge, making him the number-one ranked artist on TurnTable's Official Artiste Top 100.
He founded his own independent music imprint called "Imolenization" to protect his creative freedom and support other street talents.
His sophomore EP, Blessed, completely dominated digital streaming platforms, reaching the number one spot on the Apple Music charts in Nigeria shortly before and after his passing.
He was famous for his deep, booming baritone vocal delivery, which contrasted sharply with his quiet and reserved real-life personality.
Millions of fans worldwide honor his memory by using his signature slogan and nickname, "Imole" (The Light).
