{{short description|Nigerian rapper (born 1995)}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Cheque | birth_name = Akanbi Bamidele Brett | alias = Superboy Cheque | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1995|3|23}} | birth_place = Ondo State, Nigeria | genre = {{hlist|Hip hop|Afropop}} | occupation = {{hlist|Rapper|singer|songwriter}} | years_active = 2015–present | label = Penthauze }} '''Akinbi Bamidele Brett''' (born 23 March 1995), known professionally as '''Cheque''', is a Nigerian rapper and singer. He rose to mainstream fame for his 2020 single "Zoom".<ref name=Perfer>{{Cite news|last=Akinwale|first=Akinyoade|date=2020-12-22|title=Davido And Wale Feature On Cheque's 'Zoom (Remix)'|url=https://guardian.ng/life/music/davido-and-wale-feature-on-cheques-zoom-remix/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|url-status=live|access-date=2021-09-24|newspaper=The Guardian|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201222173427/https://guardian.ng/life/music/davido-and-wale-feature-on-cheques-zoom-remix/ |archive-date=2020-12-22 }}</ref> In 2021, he won an award for Best Duo African HipHop at the All Africa Music Awards alongside Fireboy DML.<ref>{{cite web |title=Afrima Awards 2021 winners list: Wizkid, Iba One, Fireboy DML, win for dis year All Africa Music Awards |url=https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/tori-59370781 |publisher=BBC |access-date=17 February 2022}}</ref> He is currently signed to Phyno's Penthauze imprint.<ref name=Cut>{{Cite news|last=Motolani|first=Alake|date=2020-07-18|title=Cheque tells Pulse Nigeria about Fireboy, Razor EP, OAU, Phyno, Penthauze and more [Interview]|url=https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/music/cheque-tells-pulse-nigeria-about-fireboy-razor-ep-oau-phyno-penthauze-and-more/2kkdkdf|url-status=live|access-date=2021-09-24|newspaper=Pulse Nigeria|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126235049/https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/music/cheque-tells-pulse-nigeria-about-fireboy-razor-ep-oau-phyno-penthauze-and-more/2kkdkdf |archive-date=2020-11-26 }}</ref>
== Early life == Cheque was born in Okitipupa, Ondo State, but grew up in Ondo Town, Ondo State. He attended Obafemi Awolowo University in Osun State where he studied Chemical Engineering and graduated in 2016.<ref name="Cut" /><ref>{{Cite news|last=|date=2020-07-03|title=Cheque: My Infinite Vibe is a Mix of Different Genres|url=https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/07/04/cheque-my-infinite-vibe-is-a-mix-of-different-genres/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-09-26|newspaper=This Day|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808034913/https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/07/04/cheque-my-infinite-vibe-is-a-mix-of-different-genres/ |archive-date=2020-08-08 }}</ref>
== Career == While Cheque was still an undergraduate at the university, he started off as a musician using the stage name Kyle B. His genre of music was particularly Gospel hip hop.
Cheque attended the same school with the likes of Blaqbonez and others. During his music days as Kyle B, he worked on Hennessy Cypher (Part VI) featuring the likes of Dark Poet, Kursor, Blaqbonez, Toosleek, and Eclipse.
While garnering popularity on campus as Kyle B, he released an extended play (EP), titled ''Super Adventure Crew''.
In February 2019, he was discovered by Phyno who immediately gave him a recording deal with Penthauze Music.
In March 2019, an introductory song, "Nyem Space" was released for Cheque which was a collaboration with one of the acts in the record label. Cheque's music style is an infusion of afrobeat into rap, trap, RnB, and other genres. During June while still very much marked under Penthauze Music, he dropped "Jekasoro" (a Yoruba word meaning "Let’s talk"), "Pain Away", and "Abundance".
The rave of the moment act became popular after being announced as a new act by Phyno via his social media platforms.
As Kyle B, also known as Cheque released his five track EP, ''S.O.O.N EP'' in 2015. It featured DML (Now Fireboy DML), Chinko Ekun and Zamora. In January 2019, he was officially signed onto Penthauze and he was on the collective track "Nyem Space", which also had Rhatti and Nuno, who Phyno also just signed at the time.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-01-24|title=PentHauze Music ft. Phyno x Rhatti x Nuno x Superboy Cheque – "Nyem Space" » tooXclusive {{!}} MP3|url=https://tooxclusive.com/penthauze-music-ft-phyno-x-rhatti-x-nuno-x-superboy-cheque-nyem-space/|access-date=2021-09-24|website=tooXclusive|language=en-US}}</ref>
In February 2020, he was featured on the track "Warlord" in Olamide's ''999 EP''.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Motolani|first=Alake|date=2020-02-10|title=Olamide - 999 EP|url=https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/music/olamide-999-ep/1melll4|url-status=live|access-date=2021-09-24|newspaper=Pulse Nigeria|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200214222412/https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/music/olamide-999-ep/1melll4 |archive-date=2020-02-14 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Taiwo|first=Okanlawon|title=Olamide set to drop '999' EP - P.M. News|url=https://pmnewsnigeria.com/2020/02/10/olamide-set-to-drop-999-ep/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|url-status=live|access-date=2021-09-24|newspaper=P.M. News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200210202315/https://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2020/02/10/olamide-set-to-drop-999-ep/ |archive-date=2020-02-10 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=|date=2020-02-15|title=Olamide Drenches in Dreaded 999 EP|url=https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/02/15/olamide-drenches-in-dreaded-999-ep/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-09-24|newspaper=This Day|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200714184527/https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/02/15/olamide-drenches-in-dreaded-999-ep/ |archive-date=2020-07-14 }}</ref> In July 2020, he released his first EP in Penthauze music titled ''Razor'' which had the hit track "Zoom".<ref>{{Cite news|last=Motolani|first=Alake|date=2020-07-06|title=Read: Cheque - Razor [EP Review]|url=https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/music/read-cheque-razor-ep-review/tmw4je9|url-status=live|access-date=2021-09-24|newspaper=Pulse Nigeria|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125225725/https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/music/read-cheque-razor-ep-review/tmw4je9 |archive-date=2020-11-25 }}</ref> He also did a remix of "Zoom" with Davido and Wale afterwards.<ref name="Perfer" /><ref>{{Cite news|last=Motolani|first=Alake|date=2020-12-22|title=Davido and Wale feature on 'Zoom (Remix)' by Cheque|url=https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/music/davido-and-wale-feature-on-zoom-remix-by-cheque/rbkxbgg|url-status=live|access-date=2021-09-24|newspaper=Pulse Nigeria|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126203755/https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/music/davido-and-wale-feature-on-zoom-remix-by-cheque/rbkxbgg |archive-date=2021-01-26 }}</ref> In September 2021, Cheque featured Olamide in a single titled "LOML" (Love Of My Life)<ref>{{Cite news|last=MODUPEOLUWA|first=ADEKANYE|date=2021-09-02|title=Listen: Cheque Features Olamide In New Single 'LOML'|url=https://editor.guardian.ng/life/music/listen-cheque-features-olamide-in-new-single-loml/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|url-status=live|access-date=2021-09-24|newspaper=The Guardian|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210924175904/https://editor.guardian.ng/life/music/listen-cheque-features-olamide-in-new-single-loml/ |archive-date=2021-09-24 }}</ref> and later released his debut studio album ''Bravo'' on 24 September 2021.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Motolani|first=Alake|date=2021-09-05|title=Cheque to release debut album, 'Bravo'|url=https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/music/cheque-to-release-debut-album-bravo/gn8jp59|url-status=live|access-date=2021-09-24|newspaper=Pulse Nigeria|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210905113814/https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/music/cheque-to-release-debut-album-bravo/gn8jp59 |archive-date=2021-09-05 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Motolani|first=Alake|date=2021-09-23|title=NEW ALBUM: Cheque releases 13-track new album, 'Bravo'|url=https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/music/new-album-cheque-releases-13-track-new-album-bravo/gnf1gfs|url-status=live|access-date=2021-09-24|newspaper=Pulse Nigeria|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923070858/https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/music/new-album-cheque-releases-13-track-new-album-bravo/gnf1gfs |archive-date=2021-09-23 }}</ref>
== Discography ==
=== Albums and EPs === * ''S.O.O.N EP'' (2015) * ''RAZOR EP'' (2020) * ''Bravo'' (2021)
=== Selected singles === * ''Wave'' (2018) * ''Energy'' (2019) * ''Jekasoro'' (2019) * ''Pain Away'' (2019) * ''Abundance'' (2019) * ''Zoom'' (2020) * ''LOML'' (2021)
== See also == *Olamide *Phyno *Fireboy DML *''999 (EP)''
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cheque}} Category:1995 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century Nigerian male singers Category:21st-century Nigerian rappers Category:Obafemi Awolowo University alumni