THE ADENUGAS: THE UK’S POWERHOUSE FAMILY
Meaning ‘the crown has a foundation’ there have been many Adenuga’s who have become foundations of greatness in their own right. Take Mike Adenuga, billionaire businessman or Victor Adenuga, Agricultural scientist and professor of Ibadan university.
From the Meridian Estate in Tottenham, the residing Adenuga family set foundations that will leave a long lasting legacy on the music industry. A powerful trinity of siblings that have each individually gained worldwide acclaim for their contributions to the music scene, with a good 50 years in the industry between them.
If you’re going to know any of the Adenuga siblings, chances are it’s Joseph ‘Skepta’ Adenuga. Present for 15+ years within the UK Music scene, he’s undeniably one of the pioneers of UK Grime and continues to grow his presence within music in the UK and the wider world. To just pigeonhole him as a musician would be a misjustice to the leaps and bounds he continually makes within the fashion industry. Seen linking up with some of the biggest names in fashion, a limited Off-White tee in celebration of Nigerian icon Fela Kuti and a thriving shoe partnership with Nike under the SK AIR brand are just some of the milestones Skepta has powered through during his tenure at the top of the game.
He shows no sign of letting up, moving from strength to strength, Konnichiwa to Ignorance is Bliss, the Amuludun of Odo-Aje (a title acquired from receiving chieftaincy in Ogun State, Nigeria) continues to be pivotal in the progression of UK Music, being the facilitator of many US-UK linkups, most notably with Drake, ASAP Rocky, and Playboi Carti.
As if Skepta the artist doesn’t have an impressive enough discography, his producer credits just reaffirm why he’s managed to stay at the top for so long. A recent drubbing of JAE5 over Instagram live just showed that solely as Skepta the producer, he could hold his own in any clash, which is no surprise considering the come up from ‘Lord of the Mics’.
You can’t mention BBK without mentioning it’s as important founder, Skepta’s younger brother and fellow musician Jamie ‘JME’ Adenuga. And although their lifestyles couldn’t differ more, they’ve impacted the scene in equal effect. With distinct sounds, lyrics that place him in the elite, it’d be crazy to undermine JME’s contribution to the UK scene.
He’s always looked to do things his own way. A self proclaimed vegan, and teetotaler, he stands in a unique class that has, instead of moving with trends, he continuously sets them.
Getting behind the Labour Party’s Jeremy Corbyn in the 2017 general election as part of the #Grime4Corbyn movement, JME and other rap counterparts were able to get younger voters out in their masses to swing many seats in the favour of the Labour Party. Interviewing Corbyn and offering his support on Twitter was undoubtedly an integral part in the rise in young voters and a quite shockingly close election that was predicted initially as a Conservative landslide. Trends? Man Don’t Care about all that. JME has continuously stayed moving the country in ways beyond music.
Last but definitely not least, a recent meteoric rise after countless hours put in behind closed doors, Julie Adenuga continues to inscript herself into the culture. Not only commentating on, but shaping the culture that we’re a part of.
Most famed for her 5 year tenure as a leading host for Apple’s Beats 1 Radio, she’s constantly been a facilitating force in both the music and party scene. A cultural tastemaker if we ever knew one, Julie has constantly aided the forward movement of the UK scene - in 2014, shining a light on up and coming rappers, and utilising that musical knowledge to interview all of our favourite artists on behalf of Beats 1 Radio.
Perhaps because of her elite musical knowledge, or just because she knows what a good turn up consists of, her ‘Don’t @ ME’ parties were seasonal highlights. Constantly bringing lovers of UK Music all together, free of charge, Ray BLK, Chip, the Compozers, Ghetts are all artists to have graced a ‘Don’t @ Me’ stage and felt the energy of one of London’s best club nights.
I don’t think it was ever in doubt, but in the unlikelihood it was, there’s no question as to whether Skepta, JME and Julie are living up the weighted ‘Adenuga’ surname.