{{short description|Nigerian dancer and singer}}{{Infobox person | name = Poco Lee | birth_name = Iweh Pascal Odinaka | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1996|10|21}} | birth_place = Orlu, Imo State, Nigeria | alma_mater = Lagos State University | occupation = Dancer . Singer . Influencer }}
'''Iweh Pascal Odinaka''' better known as '''Poco Lee''' is a Nigerian dancer and singer.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-09-11 |title=Dancer Poco Lee gifts Mother New house – Independent Newspaper Nigeria |url=https://independent.ng/dancer-poco-lee-gifts-mother-new-house/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=2024-09-06 |language=en-GB|newspaper=Independent}}</ref>
== Early life == Poco Lee was born on the 21st of October, 1996 in Orlu, Imo State, Nigeria to Kenneth and Augustina Iweh. He is the third of five children and was brought up in Ojo, Lagos. His father died when he was ten years old, leaving his mum to fend for the five children.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kenechi |first=Stephen |date=2022-10-22 |title=Poco Lee: How poverty, my father's death inspired my dancing career |url=https://lifestyle.thecable.ng/poco-lee-how-poverty-my-fathers-death-inspired-my-dancing-career/ |access-date=2024-09-08 |newspaper=TheCable|language=en-US}}</ref> He attended the Nigerian Navy Primary School in Lagos, completed his secondary education at the Command Day Secondary School and then proceeded to the Lagos State University for his bachelor's degree.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mbuthia |first=Mercy |date=2022-05-18 |title=Poco Lee's biography: age, real name, state of origin, girlfriend |url=https://www.legit.ng/ask-legit/biographies/1469170-poco-lees-biography-age-real-state-origin-girlfriend/ |access-date=2024-09-06 |newspaper=Legit.ng|language=en}}</ref> Iweh got the sobriquet, "Poco Lee" in music class in junior secondary because of his small stature. The word "poco a poco" in Latin musical language means "little by little" in effecting musical transition, and friends humorously referred to him as "poco" for his small stature. Referring to how he got his name Lee said "they started calling me 'Poco'. I added “Lee" to spice it up".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Entertainment |date=April 25, 2021 |title=How Nigerian dancer, Poco Lee got his stage name |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/04/how-nigerian-dancer-poco-lee-got-his-stage-name/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|newspaper=Vanguard}}</ref> He is 5 ft 8 inches(172 cm) tall.
== Career == Poco Lee started dancing as a child. He later began street dancing in Lagos with his friends. Luckily, a street dance video of him went viral, and soon he got a call from Zlatan Ibile for a collaboration.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Entertainment |title=How Poco Lee became Nigeria's class act dancer |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/05/how-poco-lee-became-nigerias-class-act-dancer/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|newspaper=Vanguard}}</ref> Zlatan featured Poco Lee in his hit song, Zanku, and his dance moves and performance were credited for helping the video go viral. Soon enough, other A-List artistes came calling, and Lee has since then performed on stage and videos with Davido, Burna Boy, Wizkid, Reekado Banks, Tiwa Savage, Naira Marley and Niniola. He has also performed at the One Africa Music Festival in Dubai, the O2 Arena, London, and the Valentine's Jamboree Concert in Nairobi, Kenya. Poco Lee cites Naira Marley and Zlatan as major influences in his career.<ref>{{Cite news |last=PM News |date=February 29, 2020 |title=Zlatan, Naira Marley influenced me – Poco Lee |url=https://pmnewsnigeria.com/2020/02/29/zlatan-naira-marley-influenced-me-poco-lee/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|newspaper=P.M. News}}</ref> Aside his dancing, Lee is also a versed singer with many singles to his credit. He is credited with introducing Portable to Olamide, thus helping to launch his career, and also linked Black Sherif with Burna Boy.
== Controversy == Poco Lee was called out in 2023 for not publicly paying tribute to late MohBad, a close music friend whose concert Lee had headlined not long before his death.<ref name="auto">{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2023-09-16 |title=Nigerians berate popular dancer Poco Lee over his silence on Mohbad's death |url=https://guardian.ng/life/nigerians-berate-popular-dancer-poco-lee-over-his-silence-on-mohbads-death/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=2024-09-06 |newspaper=The Guardian|language=en-US}}</ref> He trended on twitter over days as Nigerians on twitter, angry and frustrated over the circumstances around the singer's death, called out his industry friends to take a more proactive and critical stance for justice.<ref name="auto"/>
In December 2022, Poco Lee was seen in a viral video engaged in a scuffle with policemen on the streets of Lagos.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Nosa |first=Oke-Hortons |date=2022-12-12 |title="What did he do?" Fans query as video of Poco Lee fighting policemen goes viral |url=https://www.legit.ng/entertainment/celebrities/1508837-ive-angry-nigerians-react-video-poco-lee-fighting-policemen-street-trends/ |access-date=2024-09-06 |newspaper=Legit.ng|language=en}}</ref> The reasons for the fracas was not disclosed and the police never issued a statement on whether anyone was arrested or not.
On Wednesday, July 13, 2023, Poco Lee, Bella Shmurda, Odumodublvck and other musicians were reportedly attacked with guns and other weapons by campus cultists at the Lagos State University, Ojo, during a homecoming concert titled "Party with Poco Lee".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Itodo |first=Sunny Green |date=2023-07-14 |title=Bella Shmurda, others injured as suspected cultists disrupt Poco Lee's concert in Lagos |url=https://dailypost.ng/2023/07/14/bella-shmurda-others-injured-as-suspected-cultists-disrupt-poco-lees-concert-in-lagos/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=2024-09-06 |newspaper=Daily Post|language=en-US}}</ref> This was first reported on social media and then picked up by mainstream media.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Daramola |first=Ibukunoluwa |date=2023-07-14 |title=Chaos erupts at Poco Lee's LASU concert with Bella Shmurda, Odumodublvck |url=https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/celebrities/chaos-erupts-at-poco-lees-lasu-concert-with-bella-shmurda-odumodublvck/yh3hmrv |access-date=2024-09-06 |newspaper=Pulse Nigeria|language=en}}</ref> The Lagos State University management however debunked these claims, and clarified that the concert management had sold tickets in excess of the capacity of the hall. Over 10,000 tickets were sold for a 2,500 capacity hall, creating chaos and frustration amongst concert-goers, who were turned away by security due to fears of a stampede,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Abdullahi |first=Idowu |date=2023-07-14 |title=Poco Lee, Bella Shmurda, others not attacked — LASU |url=https://punchng.com/poco-lee-bella-shmurda-others-not-attacked-lasu/ |access-date=2024-09-06 |newspaper=The Punch|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Adelagun |first=Oluwakemi |date=July 14, 2023 |title=Pocolee's Concert: Bella Shmurda, Pocolee, others not attacked – LASU |url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/ssouth-west/609836-pocolees-concert-bella-shmurda-pocolee-others-not-attacked-lasu.html?tztc=1 |access-date=2024-09-06 |newspaper=Premium Times}}</ref> leading to arguments and the scuffles caught on video.
In 2021, Habeeb Okikiola popularly known as Portable, a Nigerian artiste called out Poco Lee in a viral video, for collecting his money and taking credit for their song. Portable later apologized to Poco Lee, saying "kindly forgive the street in me".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Edeme |first=Victoria |date=2021-12-21 |title=Zazoo Zeh: I'll never let you down again, Portable apologises to Poco Lee, Kogbagidi |url=https://punchng.com/zazoo-zeh-ill-never-let-you-down-again-portable-apologises-to-poco-lee-kogbagidi/ |access-date=2024-09-06 |newspaper=The Punch|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Alake |first=Motolani |date=2021-12-21 |title=Poco Lee stole my song, $2400 Wizkid sprayed me – Zazoo crooner |url=https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/music/poco-lee-stole-dollar2400-wizkid-sprayed-me-shortchanged-me-on-my-song-zazu-zeh/dvkmywl |access-date=2024-09-06 |newspaper=Pulse Nigeria|language=en}}</ref>
== Discography == Poco Lee is credited with many singles such as "Jokoriko" (2024), "Unleash" (2023), "Obirin-Ahh 2.0" (2022), "Otilo-Izz Gone" (2022), "Chop Up" (2022), "Yard" (2022), "ZaZoo Zehh" (2022), "Commot Body Jor" ft Big Wiz (2021), and "Commot Body Jor" (2021).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Poco Lee Profile and Discography {{!}} African Music Library |url=https://africanmusiclibrary.org/artist/Poco%20Lee |access-date=2024-09-06 |website=africanmusiclibrary.org}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
Category:Afrobeat musicians Category:Nigerian musicians Category:Nigerian dancers Category:1996 births Category:Living people