P-Square are a Nigerian R&B duo composed of identical twin brothers Peter and Paul Okoye. They produce and release their albums through Square Records. In December 2011, they were also signed to Akon’s Konvict Muzik label. In May 2012, they also signed a record distribution deal with Universal Music South Africa.
The story of P-Square began in St. Murumba secondary school, a small Catholic school in Jos, Nigeria. Identical twins Peter and Paul joined their school music and drama club where they began singing, dancing, and mimicing songs by MC Hammer, Bobby Brown and Michael Jackson. They later formed an a cappella quartet called “MMMPP” (M Clef a.k.a. Itemoh, Michael, Melvin, Peter and Paul). Drawing inspiration from their music idol Michael Jackson, they began break dancing, formed the group called “Smooth Criminals” in 1997.
They dropped M Clef from the group “MMMPP” which later was changed to “MMPP”. Their artistic talent and precise dance routine soon made them household names in the city of Jos, where they performed at school functions and other occasions. Later in 1999, Peter and Paul returned to music school to develop their skills on keyboard, drums, bass and rhythm guitar. Their work includes the soundtracks for a number of films like Tobi, Mama Sunday, Moment of Bitterness and Evas Later in 1999, they applied to the University of Abuja to study Business Administration. The Smooth Criminals disbanded when its members left to various other universities. Subsequently Peter and Paul formed their own group, variously called “Double P”, “P&P”, and “Da Pees”, until they eventually settled on “P Square”. They are managed by Bayo Odusami aka Howie T, a seasoned concert promoter and the CEO of Adrot Nigeria Limited. In 2001, “P-Square” won the “Grab Da Mic” competition, and hence Benson & Hedges sponsored their debut album, titled Last Nite, which was released under Timbuk2 music label. P-Square was also nominated as “Most Promising African Group” in the Kora Awards three months after the release of their debut album. They eventually won the 2003 Amen Award for “Best R&B Group”.
In 2005, P Square released their second album, Get Squared under their own label, Square Records. This album was marketed nationwide by TJoe Enterprises, although they were still managed by Howie T of Adrot Nigeria Limited. The video for the second album held the #1 position on the MTV Base chart for four straight weeks. They have an ever growing fan base across South Africa with a particular stronghold of diehard fans in Cape Town. The group has performed alongside the following international artists like Ginuwine, Sean Paul, Akon and Busola Keshiro. The members of P Square are now located in Lagos. Late in 2007, they released their best selling album so far, Game Over. It has sold 8 million copies worldwide. In 2009, P-Square released their fourth studio album, Danger .
The album features collaborations with 2face Idibia, J Martins and Frenzy. The first single called “Danger” is a hip hop song with cutting synths and a frog bass baseline similar to an Eminem song. The video affirms this with the presence of clowns and staggered movements in front of the camera reminiscent of comical videos by Eminem They are also known for the close resemblance which the twins have to American R&B Superstar, Usher Raymond. On 4 April 2010, P-Square was named the Artist of the Year at the KORA All Africa Music Awards in Ouagadougou, Burkina-Faso while they were in London for a Concert at the Troxy, and they will receive a whopping sum of $1 Million Dollars as the Award Winners, in Ebebiyin City.
Albums
2003: Last Nite
2005: Get Squared
2007: Game Over
2009: Danger
2011: The Invasion International singles 2009 /2012: “E No Easy” (P-Square feat. J. Martins)
2012: “Positif” (Matt Houston feat. P-Square)
2012: “Chop My Money (I Don’t Care)”
2012: Alingo
Won
2006 Hip Hop World Awards: Best R&B Album (Get Squared), Best Music Video (Get Squared), Album of the Year Get Squared), Song of the Year (“Bizzy Body”).
2006 City Mag 9th Awards Show: Best Hip Hop Group
2006 Nigerian Music Awards (NMA): Album of the year (Get Squared), Music Video of the year (Get Squared)
2007 Channel O Music Video Award: Best Duo or Group
2008 Channel O Music Video Awards Best Duo or Group Video of the Year (“Do Me”), MTV Africa Music Awards
2008 – Best Group MTV Africa Music Awards
2009- Best Group 2010 KORA Awards – Artiste of the Year
2010 LIL PERRY PRODUCTIONS Producer of the Year
2012 Channel O Music Video Awards – Best Duo, Group or Featuring Music Video (“Chop My Money” with Akon and May D)
Nominated
BET Awards 2010 – Best International Act
KORA Awards 2003 – Most Promising African Group (Nominated)
MOBO Awards 2006 – Best African Act MOBO Awards 2008 – Best African Act
MTV AFRICAN MUSIC AWARDS- 2008
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Read in the Life and Times 2013 Spring Edition
