Barry Jhay

About Barry Jhay

Barry Jhay is one of the iconic Afro-fusion artists from Nigeria. Born Oluwakayode Junior Balogun in Ibadan on February 13 1993, he is one of the experimental artists that Nigeria has. His late father Sikiru Ayinde Barrister is a Fuji icon and his son grew up listening to this music. Fuji is a famous Yoruba musical genre created from ajisari which loosely translates to "waking up for sari”. The term developed out of its nature of waking up Muslims during the Holy month of Ramadan.

As a young boy, he loved every bit of his father’s work in music and the art of music writing and performing got to him at an early age. While his parents were well-to-do, he schooled up to high school level but never proceeded to university to further his studies. Books were not his thing because music was too deep in his system.

Barry Jhay opted to do music instead – you wouldn’t expect any less with his solid musical background. Somehow, he mixed and mastered songs beautifully which is why he delved into music production and sound engineering after secondary school. He had been mixing and mastering songs ever since he was five years old and his father loved the level of interest his son showed.
Interestingly, he never thought he would end up doing music as much as academics were not his thing. He has in the past revealed that he cried every time any of his family members told him he would become an artist. But as fate would have it, his father’s death sharpened his spirit to pursue music as a career. All the Oyo State native wanted was to continue his father’s legacy.

Due to the dynamics in the music industry, Barry Jhay decided to do something different in music. He infused Afrobeat with Fuji to create a unique sound, Afro-fuji. This was in honour of his father and an avenue to continue his legacy in music. But, he is experimental too and has made a name for himself in Nigeria as hip hop artist. ‘Aiye’ a hip hop song he dropped in 2018 booked him a nomination at The Headies Award under ‘Best Street-Hop Artist’.

Further, 2018 was a good year for him. He was also nominated for the City People Music Award in 2018 under ‘Most Promising Act of the Year’ which he won. In 2019 “Best Street-Hop Artiste” at The Headies Award nomination also came through. He won the “Rookie of The Year” at The Headies Award, 2019. He owes a part of his success to his label, Cash Nation Entertainment where he has a fair share of controversy. For instance, Barry Jhay was arrested in 2021 following the death of the label’s CEO Kashy Godson but was later released.

Even with the negative publicity, his fan base has grown tenfold since 2018 when his star shone brightly. He bounced back with hits such as ‘kabiyesi’ and most recently his new release ‘Story’. He has collaborated with CKay and DJ Consequence.

Barry Jhay Popular Songs
• Olodo
• Go Down
• Normal Level
• Ashe She
• Remember
• Ori
• Under the Duvet
• Ma So Pe
• Pa Mi
• Daddy
• Superstar
• Only You
• Barry Back • 2020
• Money
• D.I.A
• Don Pablo
• Akoredele
• Olodo ft DJ Sound
• Tomorrow
• Melanin
• As
• Ga Ra
• Ashe She

Barry Jhay Albums & EPs
• Son of God
• Barry Back
• TIMZ
• Sacrifice of Life
• Ayewada
• Perfect
• Bobo
• Freaky

Barry Jhay songs and albums are online on Mdundo.com and are available for download in mp3.