Steering Olamide and ultimately YBNL’s hypersonic era of hits through 2014 to 2016, Young Jonn established himself as one of the most emblematic producers in street-pop music. In 2018, he found his voice as an artist, and in 2022, under the umbrella of Chocolate City, he crested his totem as a wizard of the arts through a barreling run of hit records that has made him one of the most sought-after artists of today.
Young Jonn is late to our shoot, and understandably so. It is three days until Christmas, we are in the thick of Lagos' never-ending December festivities, and Young Jonn is juggling multiple same-day shows across the city. When he finally arrives at the Ikoyi studio, he is full of apologies and maintains a relaxed demeanor, unaffected by the city's bustle and the scheduling chaos handled by his management.
His poise is a sharp contrast to the riveting manner in which his songs have mesmerized the country. Within the twelve-month span marked by the March release of “Dada”, Young Jonn has stockpiled a catalogue of hit records that have typecast him as a staple of Nigerian pop and branded him as one of the fastest rising stars ”I won’t say I saw it coming, and at the same time, I won’t say I didn’t see it coming, because I have been working,” he says of his sharp ascent and pervading appeal.
I won’t say I saw it coming, and at the same time, I won’t say I didn’t see it coming, because I have been working
Young Jonn
Born John Udomboso in Ibadan and raised by missionary parents, Young Jonn grew up accustomed to a life on the move, shuffling between Ibadan and Osogbo before finding succor in Lagos. Through the course of this transient journey, Young Jonn was anchored by his love for music, playing the keyboard and guitar in church, rearing rapper ambitions, and eventually forming a rap group called AVG (Avant-Garde) with his brothers.
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I loved making beats, but it was basically just for us—me and my brothers. I was in University at the time, and I really enjoyed making beats. Music was like an opportunity for me to do this thing continuously.
Young Jonn
Through a happenstance sequence of events, Young Jonn would meet Nigerian hip-hop legend Olamide at the HitFactory studio in Lagos and deservedly earn an opportunity to pursue his dreams on a grand stage, crafting chart-topping anthems alongside producer Pheelz, for the YBNL head honcho.
Pheelz is a genius. He’s very curious, and he does so much research so he knows so much. He is a really big part of my journey
Young Jonn
Between Pheelz and Young Jonn, YBNL unleashed a torrential assault of hit songs that bedazzled the country, sparking the rise of Lil Kesh and Vhiktor, and sealing YBNL's cultural influence as a record label that kept its ears to the streets and put its heart into creating a good time for everyone. At 20 years old, Young Jonn had earned a ‘Producer of The Year’ nomination for the song “Bobo” at the Headies awards amongst legends such as Don Jazzy, Masterkraft, and Cobhams Asuquo “At that point, I won’t say I understood the influence we had, but I understand it now more than I did then.”
At the shoot, things move at a gradual pace, with the production team skeltering equipment around and Young Jonn swankily swaying between outfits—a consolidated effort at meeting his 10 p.m. deadline for a gig twenty minutes away.
The bedrock of Young Jonn’s breakout as an artist is characterized by a similar progressive precipitation. After an unspectacular debut single, Oshey, a fleeting appearance on Naira Marley’s “Ma Fo”, and a forgettable string of singles, Young Jonn finally found the ignition to his desired spark at Nigeria’s foremost Hip-hop label, Chocolate City. “It’s a whole another phase entirely, it’s unfolding beautifully” he remarks of his artistic evolution. The Akwa-Ibom native released his first single, “Dada”, under the label in March 2022, and by April, he followed it with his critically acclaimed debut EP, Love Is Not Enough. However, Young Jonn’s nexus as an artist was stamped by a weighty guest verse on the remix of Dada from Afrobeats superstar, Davido.
I feel like the Dada remix paved the way for a lot of things, I am really grateful for it.
Young Jonn
It’s a whole another phase entirely, it’s unfolding beautifully
Young Jonn
By the September release of “Xtra Cool”, Young Jonn had become a local sensation, dominating charts and airplay locally, and thrilling fans with performances across the continent. In October, he released his sophomore EP, Love Is Not Enough Vol.2 — an extended immersion into his lovestruck universe. “Volume one was a selection of songs we felt sounded like the theme we were trying to go for, and volume two was like an in depth version of that same theme. The same vibe, feel, and atmosphere.”
The deadline for his performances draw near, and the shoot grinds to a halt almost as soon as it starts. Young Jonn remains gracious and calm in spite of the hurried pace around the set, offering more apologies for his lateness. Since the explosion of his artistry, he has earned co-signs from heavyweights Olamide, Tiwa Savage, and Davido, and as a recording artist, he is journeying fans through multiple interpretations of infatuation.
Young Jonn has witnessed the impermanence of the music industry, he is no longer keen on milestones but he is eager to see what is in store for him, taking success in stride and each opportunity to make music as a moment of divine intervention. “I am looking to the next phase, more of everything.” he says before disappearing into the night to dazzle an awestruck audience.
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