Read the inspiring biography of Stovaz, a Johannesburg-based hip-hop producer and rap artist. Discover his journey, achievements, and influence on South Africa’s music culture.
Born Christopher Odiley, and raised in the dusty Streets of Egiegi Village in Udu, LGA of Delta State, Nigeria, Stovaz Biography paint a true picture of a young man whose music and songwriting style were and are inspired by true life experiences and lessons learnt growing up with his beloved single mum while dad was away in the City of Jos, Plateau State before he passed while I was 12 years old and about to get into High School.
“Part of the influence in my music is the loneliness felt growing up without a father at the most crucial age of my life. This built lots of emotions in my quest for navigating and trying to understand how life really works” This experience has made me get drawn to DMX and Tupac’s melodic rap music of the late 90s era.
That’s how Stovaz defines his rap/hip-hop music style and influence as a beckon for resilience and fight for survival while at the same time been hopeful with positive altitude. Explore music catalog showcasing his evolution.
“Having passed through the early stages of high school’s music and dance competitions, I became addicted to writings with main focus on poetry. Then as I was growing up listening to Bobby Brown and the New Edition era, I became heavily vested in R&B and rap music.” “And all my poetic writing style was so suitable for both rap music and with the heartfelt melodic rhythms of the 90s R&B music era.” (Stovaz recollected).
Stovaz then, started cutting demo tapes with money gotten from basket craft making in the village, which will be transported to the city of Warri for sale as a source of income for the youth at that time.
Fast forward to after High School, Stovaz independently released his first hip hop/rap album titled Let’s Pray in early 2000. The Eight (8) Tracks album was critically acclaimed and deemed successful across all media platforms such as radio, TV, newspapers in the urban metropolitan cities of Warri, Benin, Port Harcourt, Lagos and others respectively, as the video of the hit Single Money Makes the World was the most played hip hop music video in that part of Nigeria’s urban TV stations and radio stations respectively at that time.
Banking on that success, Stovaz then, again, independently took his music career across the border of Nigeria to Dubai for promotions while seeking greater opportunities for his music career.
Not quite happy with his less than 3 months Dubai trip, Stovaz returned to Nigeria. Having spent just a couple of months in Nigeria after the Dubai trip, the relentless Stovaz, then decided to head up straight to South Africa (the freshest country on the African Continent at the time having gain Freedom in 1994, less than a decade prior) for promotion and seeking record deals, where he later decided to be settled and currently lives. By this time, Stovaz had taken some gap years from music to focus on survival and building a future of a family-man. Although while still holding on to his dream of becoming a successful musician.
After more than a decade has passed by in South Africa, whilst working outside of music but within the creative industry as a talent scout for TV commercials, Voiceover artists agent, and running his own independent recording studio in Johannesburg, Stovaz finally decided to pick up his songs book again. Stovaz then recorded, produced and released his second body of work (hip hop/rap album) titled Frontline in 2012 under his own record label, Mor’geez Records cc.
After shooting the video of the song, Lets Ride in 20 13 and having done some promotions on the video and the Album in South Africa, Stovaz decided to take another break from music again. This time, channeling his energy towards commercial audio and video production under his own SME company, Morgeez Production, officially registered as Mor’geez Records cc.
Stovaz once again, began working behind the scenes, recording, producing and developing young artists while servicing the tv and commercial video production industry both as a production facilitator, talent scout and film location scout. “I really enjoyed those hustles, as I learned a lot about production and the various business opportunities available within the creative media production industry. I can guarantee you that those experiences are the tools I am now using to improve my record label and artistry both as a producer, songwriter, audio recording engineer and all that.” (Stovaz reiterated.)
Come 2024, after a decade of music industry holiday as an artist, Stovaz relaunched his music career with the release of his Single, “Trial of a Homegrown Negro.” A song that reminds Africans about the similarities and commonalities of the challenges they face as a continent collectively. As usual, independently and under Mor’geez Records, his highly cherished independent record label.
Oozing with confidence, resilience and burning desire to fulfil his musical dreams, Stovaz then release a follow up EP on August 31st, 2024 called Rebirth. This EP consists of 4 original tracks and a remix of one of the original songs called Last Soldier. This body of work is a combination of love messages, family orientation and focus on social justice all packed in one. Watch official Stovaz videos
The Stovaz detailed the musician’s passion for community development had propelled him to establish the now-defunct Odiley Music and Business Academy in, Johannesburg, the year, 2007-2009. The independent post Matric and Skills Development Training college was registered under the South African Qualifications Guidelines, for offering trainings and developing of talents in the field of Sound Technology and Performing Arts certificates in NQF Level 4.
Stovaz, also created and ran a talent development/scouting program called Mor’geez Rap Battle Royale in 2021-2022, A Morgeez Talent Development program where he was teaching participants and contestants, music business, performance technics, experiences and sharing knowledge with up-and-coming songwriters, rappers and recording artists.
As a talent scout and talent agent for the tv commercial productions and voiceover industry, Stovaz was so passionate in impacting performance knowledge in young talents, and this passion saw him organizing various training workshops for equipping young talents with performance skills for auditions and on sets performances.
By and large, the above is a summary of who Stovaz really is as a musician, an entrepreneur and a motivator. Let it rest here for now so you can have time to enjoy Stovz music catalog through major global music streaming platforms. See how Stovaz collaborates with brands and artists
“When I look at the world through my sense of reality, I believe there’s so much positivity one can contribute. Hence if one person can find inspiration in my music, then my job is done”. (End quote) Stovaz believe that together, we can eradicate poverty and achieve total economic freedom in the continent of Africa and the Caribbean, achieve global peace, and provide hope for the downtrodden.
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