# ELDee > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/ELDee > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/ELDee.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ELDee > Source revision: 1353912962 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Nigerian-American rapper (born 1977) This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately from the article and its talk page, especially if potentially libelous. Find sources: "ELDee" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (July 2010) (Learn how and when to remove this message) eLDee Also known as eLDee The Don Born Lanre Dabiri[1] (1977-05-23) May 23, 1977 (age 49) Kaduna, Nigeria Origin Lagos, Nigeria Genres Afro hip hop Occupations Rapper record producer singer songwriter Years active 1998–present Label Trybe Records Website tryberecords.com Musical artist **Lanre Dabiri**[listen](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/f/f4/Lanre_Dabir.wav/Lanre_Dabir.wav.mp3)[ⓘ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lanre_Dabir.wav) (born May 23, 1977), better known by his stage name **Eldee**, stylized as **eLDee**, is a retired [Nigerian-American](/source/Nigerian-American) rapper, singer, and record producer based in the United States.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8] He is a member of the band [Trybesmen](/source/Trybesmen), which was started in 1998 with rappers KB and Freestyle. He has made five solo albums. In 2019, he said he does not regret quitting music as the path his career was going would not make him have time for his family.[9] On October 1, 2016, [Netng](/source/Netng) longlisted him on its list of 56 greatest Nigerian entertainers of all time, for his contribution towards the music industry, and for founding the first official Nigeria airplay chart, known as [Playdata](/source/Playdata_charts), for monitoring music consumption on radio.[10] ## Early life eLDee was born on May 23, 1977, in [Kaduna state](/source/Kaduna_State), a northern [geopolitical](/source/Geopolitical_zones_of_Nigeria) zone of [Nigeria](/source/Nigeria). He is originally from [Lagos Island](/source/Lagos_Island) in [Lagos State](/source/Lagos_State) of Nigeria.[11] ## Education He attended Command Children School [kaduna](/source/Kaduna) and [Essence International School](/source/Essence_International_School) before Moving to Lagos for his higher education. He has a [master's degree](/source/Master's_degree) in [Architecture](/source/Architecture) from the [University of Lagos](/source/University_of_Lagos), Nigeria in 2001. ## Career eLDee is credited as one of the pioneers of the [afrobeats](/source/Afrobeats) music genre. In 1998, he started a band called [Trybesmen](/source/Trybesmen) which went on to be one of the music groups that popularized the fusion of hip-hop, highlife, pop and traditional [afrobeat](/source/Afrobeat) music. Trybesmen was a continental hit by the year 2000 and played a pivotal role in the shaping of the new music genre. eLDee signed a total of 16 artists to his Trybe Records label and named the collaboration of all said artists [Da Trybe](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Da_Trybe&action=edit&redlink=1). They produced the singles "Work it out" and "Oya" in 2002, and the album *BIG Picture* in 2005. After moving to the United States in 2002, eLDee recorded a solo album titled *Long Time Coming* (2004). He followed it up with *Return of the King* (2006), which contains the single "I Go Yarn". *Return of the King* won "Best International Album" at the 2007 [Nigeria Entertainment Awards](/source/Nigeria_Entertainment_Awards) in New York City.[12] His subsequent albums are *Big Boy* (2008), originally titled *Evolution,* *Is it your money Vol.1* (2010) and *[Undeniable](/source/Undeniable_(eLDee_album))* (2012). eLDee has worked as an artist, producer, director, and interactive media consultant. ## Personal life "Lanre" is a derivative of the [Yoruba](/source/Yoruba_people) name "Olanrewaju" (which translates to "*Wealth is moving forward*").[13] eLDee and his long-term partner, Dolapo Latinwo-Bello are married and together they have 2 daughters, Temi, and Toke. He has been based in [Atlanta, USA](/source/Atlanta) since 2002. In December 2013 he posted a message on his official Twitter page to voice his support for gay rights, saying that hopefully one day soon Africa will realize that anti-gay sentiment is no different from racial or religious discrimination.[14] ## Discography Main article: [eLDee discography](/source/ELDee_discography) ### Studio albums - *Long Time Coming* (2004) - *Return of the King* (2006) - *Big Boy* (2008) - *Is It Your Money* (2010) - *[Undeniable](/source/Undeniable_(eLDee_album))* (2012) ### Compilation albums - *L.A.G Style* by [Trybesmen](/source/Trybesmen) (2000) - *The Big Picture* (2004) - *The Champion: The Hits* (2009) ## See also - [African hip hop](/source/African_hip_hop) - [Nigerian hip hop](/source/Nigerian_hip_hop) - [Music of Nigeria](/source/Music_of_Nigeria) ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["AFRICAN CHIQUITO"](https://www.ascap.com/repertory#/ace/search/workID/899462145). *ASCAP*. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved July 10, 2023. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Akan, Joey. ["eLDee: Rapper to make comback for Olamide collaboration?"](https://web.archive.org/web/20170813150951/http://www.pulse.ng/buzz/eldee-rapper-to-make-comback-for-olamide-collaboration-id4571759.html). *[Pulse Nigeria](/source/Pulse_Nigeria)*. Archived from [the original](http://www.pulse.ng/buzz/eldee-rapper-to-make-comback-for-olamide-collaboration-id4571759.html) on August 13, 2017. Retrieved May 21, 2018. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Handsome rapper, Eldee celebrates eight years of marriage (Photos) - Madailygist"](https://web.archive.org/web/20170813145944/https://madailygist.com/handsome-rapper-eldee-celebrates-eight-years-of-marriage-photos/). Archived from [the original](https://madailygist.com/handsome-rapper-eldee-celebrates-eight-years-of-marriage-photos/) on August 13, 2017. Retrieved August 13, 2017. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["eLDee And Wife Celebrate 7th Wedding Anniversary – INFORMATION NIGERIA"](https://www.informationng.com/2015/11/eldee-and-wife-celebrate-7th-wedding-anniversary.html). *Informationng.com*. November 7, 2015. Retrieved May 21, 2018. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** [\[1\]](http://www.transparentnigeria.com/news_entries/45050/Eldee:-Rapper-shows-concern-about-Nigerias-debt) [*[dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*] 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Eldee Picks Rapper, Eva Alordiah As First Lady"](https://web.archive.org/web/20210615224945/https://www.nigeriafilms.com/celebrity-gossips/124-nollywood-biz/15957-eldee-picks-rapper-eva-alordiah-as-first-lady). *Nigeriafilms.com*. Archived from [the original](https://www.nigeriafilms.com/celebrity-gossips/124-nollywood-biz/15957-eldee-picks-rapper-eva-alordiah-as-first-lady) on June 15, 2021. Retrieved May 21, 2018. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["TheNET.ng – Nigeria's Top Website for News, Gossip, Comedy, Videos, Blogs, Events, Weddings, Nollywood, Celebs, Scoop and Games"](https://thenet.ng/wizkid-eldee-dprince-see-nets-list-of-5-acts-who-dumped-rap-for-pop-music/). *[The NET](/source/The_Netng)*. Lagos, Nigeria. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20170813143907/http://thenet.ng/2013/03/wizkid-eldee-dprince-see-nets-list-of-5-acts-who-dumped-rap-for-pop-music/) from the original on August 13, 2017. Retrieved May 21, 2018. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Eldee signs female rapper, Eva Alordiah to Tribes Records v.20 – Daily Post Nigeria"](https://dailypost.ng/2012/05/31/eldee-signs-female-rapper-eva-alordiah-to-tribes-records-v-20/). *[Daily Post](/source/Daily_Post_(Nigeria))*. Lagos, Nigeria. May 31, 2012. Retrieved May 21, 2018. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["I don't regret leaving music –Eldee"](https://punchng.com/i-dont-regret-leaving-music-eldee/). *[The Punch](/source/The_Punch)*. Retrieved February 26, 2021. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["56 greatest Nigerian entertainers of all time"](https://thenet.ng/56-greatest-nigerian-entertainers-of-all-time/). *[The NET](/source/The_Netng)*. Lagos, Nigeria. October 1, 2016. Retrieved April 12, 2022. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["eLDee – Today Today (Mp3 Download)"](https://playmp3.com.ng/?p=14440). May 13, 2026. Retrieved May 13, 2026. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Eldee"](http://afrobios.com/-Eldee). *afrobios.com*. Retrieved May 25, 2020. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Olanrewaju - Nigerian.Name"](http://www.nigerian.name/w/index.php?title=Olanrewaju). *Nigerian.name*. Retrieved May 21, 2018. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["Rapper Eldee advocates for gay rights, as fans go wild! – Vanguard News"](http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/12/rapper-eldee-advocates-gay-rights-fans-go-bonkers/). *[Vanguard](/source/Vanguard_(Nigeria))*. Lagos, Nigeria. December 26, 2013. Retrieved May 21, 2018. ## External links - [Official Website](http://www.tryberecords.com/) - [Interview with Eldee](http://www.nigerianentertainment.com/NEMar05/eldee.htm) - [Listen to a clip of a Trybesmen single from the BBC Website](https://web.archive.org/web/20121102191436/http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/world/onyourstreet/ram/aoys_plenty.ram) Authority control databases: Artists MusicBrainz --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [ELDee](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ELDee) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ELDee?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.