{{Short description|Nigerian-American rapper (born 1977)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=December 2020}} {{Lowercase title}} {{BLP sources|date=July 2010}} {{Infobox musical artist | image = | image_size = | name = eLDee | caption = | background = solo_singer | birth_name = Lanre Dabiri<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ascap.com/repertory#/ace/search/workID/899462145 |title=AFRICAN CHIQUITO |website=ASCAP |publisher=American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers |access-date=July 10, 2023}}</ref> | alias = eLDee The Don | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1977|5|23}} | birth_place = Kaduna, Nigeria | death_date = | origin = Lagos, Nigeria | instrument = | genre = Afro hip hop | occupation = {{hlist|Rapper|record producer|singer|songwriter}} | years_active = 1998–present | label = Trybe Records | associated_acts = Trybesmen, Sasha P, Yemi Alade, Chiddy Bang, Dr SID, M.I Abaga, Sarz, Wizkid, Davido, Banky W, Sound Sultan, Dbanj, Wande Coal, Darey, Tuface Idibia, Olu Maintain | website = {{URL|tryberecords.com}} | current_members = | past_members = }} '''Lanre Dabiri'''{{Audio|Lanre_Dabir.wav|listen}} (born May 23, 1977), better known by his stage name '''Eldee''', stylized as '''eLDee''', is a retired Nigerian-American rapper, singer, and record producer based in the United States.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.pulse.ng/buzz/eldee-rapper-to-make-comback-for-olamide-collaboration-id4571759.html|title=eLDee: Rapper to make comback for Olamide collaboration?|first=Joey|last=Akan|newspaper=Pulse Nigeria|access-date=May 21, 2018|archive-date=August 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813150951/http://www.pulse.ng/buzz/eldee-rapper-to-make-comback-for-olamide-collaboration-id4571759.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://madailygist.com/handsome-rapper-eldee-celebrates-eight-years-of-marriage-photos/ |title=Handsome rapper, Eldee celebrates eight years of marriage (Photos) - Madailygist |access-date=August 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813145944/https://madailygist.com/handsome-rapper-eldee-celebrates-eight-years-of-marriage-photos/ |archive-date=August 13, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.informationng.com/2015/11/eldee-and-wife-celebrate-7th-wedding-anniversary.html|title=eLDee And Wife Celebrate 7th Wedding Anniversary – INFORMATION NIGERIA|date=November 7, 2015|website=Informationng.com|access-date=May 21, 2018}}</ref><ref>[http://www.transparentnigeria.com/news_entries/45050/Eldee:-Rapper-shows-concern-about-Nigerias-debt] {{dead link|date=May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nigeriafilms.com/celebrity-gossips/124-nollywood-biz/15957-eldee-picks-rapper-eva-alordiah-as-first-lady|title=Eldee Picks Rapper, Eva Alordiah As First Lady|website=Nigeriafilms.com|access-date=May 21, 2018|archive-date=June 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210615224945/https://www.nigeriafilms.com/celebrity-gossips/124-nollywood-biz/15957-eldee-picks-rapper-eva-alordiah-as-first-lady|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://thenet.ng/wizkid-eldee-dprince-see-nets-list-of-5-acts-who-dumped-rap-for-pop-music/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|title=TheNET.ng – Nigeria's Top Website for News, Gossip, Comedy, Videos, Blogs, Events, Weddings, Nollywood, Celebs, Scoop and Games|newspaper=The NET|access-date=May 21, 2018|archive-url=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/|archive-date=August 13, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://dailypost.ng/2012/05/31/eldee-signs-female-rapper-eva-alordiah-to-tribes-records-v-20/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|title=Eldee signs female rapper, Eva Alordiah to Tribes Records v.20 – Daily Post Nigeria|date=May 31, 2012|newspaper=Daily Post|access-date=May 21, 2018}}</ref>
He is a member of the band 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.<ref>{{Cite news|title=I don't regret leaving music –Eldee|url=https://punchng.com/i-dont-regret-leaving-music-eldee/|access-date=2021-02-26|newspaper=The Punch|language=en-US}}</ref> On October 1, 2016, 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, for monitoring music consumption on radio.<ref>{{Cite news |title=56 greatest Nigerian entertainers of all time |url=https://thenet.ng/56-greatest-nigerian-entertainers-of-all-time/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|newspaper=The NET|access-date=12 April 2022 |date=1 October 2016}}</ref>
==Early life== eLDee was born on May 23, 1977, in Kaduna state, a northern geopolitical zone of Nigeria. He is originally from Lagos Island in Lagos State of Nigeria.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-05-13 |title=eLDee – Today Today (Mp3 Download) |url=https://playmp3.com.ng/?p=14440 |access-date=2026-05-13 |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Education == He attended Command Children School kaduna and Essence International School before Moving to Lagos for his higher education. He has a master's degree in Architecture from the University of Lagos, Nigeria in 2001.
== Career == eLDee is credited as one of the pioneers of the afrobeats music genre. In 1998, he started a band called Trybesmen which went on to be one of the music groups that popularized the fusion of hip-hop, highlife, pop and traditional 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. 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 in New York City.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Eldee|url=http://afrobios.com/-Eldee|website=afrobios.com|access-date=May 25, 2020}}</ref> His subsequent albums are ''Big Boy'' (2008), originally titled ''Evolution,'' ''Is it your money Vol.1'' (2010) and ''Undeniable'' (2012).
eLDee has worked as an artist, producer, director, and interactive media consultant.
==Personal life== "Lanre" is a derivative of the Yoruba name "Olanrewaju" (which translates to "''Wealth is moving forward''").<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nigerian.name/w/index.php?title=Olanrewaju|title=Olanrewaju - Nigerian.Name|website=Nigerian.name|access-date=May 21, 2018}}</ref>
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 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.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/12/rapper-eldee-advocates-gay-rights-fans-go-bonkers/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|title=Rapper Eldee advocates for gay rights, as fans go wild! – Vanguard News|date=December 26, 2013|newspaper=Vanguard|access-date=May 21, 2018}}</ref>
==Discography== {{Main|eLDee discography}}
===Studio albums=== *''Long Time Coming'' (2004) *''Return of the King'' (2006) *''Big Boy'' (2008) *''Is It Your Money'' (2010) *''Undeniable'' (2012)
===Compilation albums=== *''L.A.G Style'' by Trybesmen (2000) *''The Big Picture'' (2004) *''The Champion: The Hits'' (2009)
==See also== * African hip hop * Nigerian hip hop * Music of Nigeria
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.tryberecords.com/ Official Website] * [http://www.nigerianentertainment.com/NEMar05/eldee.htm Interview with Eldee] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20121102191436/http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/world/onyourstreet/ram/aoys_plenty.ram Listen to a clip of a Trybesmen single from the BBC Website]
{{authority control}}
Category:1977 births Category:Living people Category:Nigerian songwriters Category:Nigerian male rappers Category:American people of Yoruba descent Category:Yoruba architects Category:Yoruba musicians Category:Nigerian hip-hop singers Category:University of Lagos alumni Category:People from Kaduna Category:Rappers from Lagos Category:Nigerian emigrants to the United States Category:The Headies winners Category:Nigerian music industry executives Category:English-language Nigerian singers Category:Yoruba-language Nigerian singers Category:20th-century Nigerian musicians Category:21st-century Nigerian rappers Category:Nigerian hip-hop record producers Category:21st-century Nigerian architects Category:20th-century Nigerian male musicians Category:21st-century Nigerian male musicians Category:Nigerian Afrobeats musicians