Eedris Abdulkareem

Eedris Turayo Abdulkareem Ajenifuja (born 24 December 1974), popularly known as Eedris Abdulkareem, is a Nigerian singer and rapper. He was the lead rapper of the defunct Nigerian hip hop boy band The Remedies. He is one of the pioneers of Nigerian hip hop and he is regarded as one of the most influential Nigerian Rappers of all time.^[1]

Eedris Abdulkareem
Eedris Abdulkareem at the endSARS protest in Lagos, Nigeria
Background information
Birth name	Eedris Turayo Abdulkareem Ajenifuja
Born	(1974-12-24) 24 December 1974 (age 50) Kano, Nigeria
Origin	Osun State, Nigeria
Genres	R&B pop rap
Occupations	Singer rapper farmer songwriter
Years active	1996–present
Labels	Kennis Music (? – 2005) La Kreem Music (2005 – present)

Early life

He was born in a polygamous family in Kano, Nigeria. His father was from Ilesha in Osun State, and his mother was from Ogun State, all in the south western part of Nigeria, but he adopted Kano State as his state of origin. He lost his father at the age of two and eight of his elder siblings as time went by.^{[2][non-primary source needed]}

Career

Eedris gained national attention in the late 1990s as the lead rapper of The Remedies, alongside Tony Tetuila and Eddy Montana. The group was instrumental in pioneering Nigerian hip-hop, blending local languages and themes with contemporary beats. They disbanded in 2002, leading each member to pursue solo careers.

In 2000, Abdulkareem was among the personalities voted for by the Nigerian public to carry the Olympic torch in a relay through the country.^[3]

In 2002, Eedris launched his solo career with the album “P.A.S.S” (Pains And Stress = Success), followed by “Mr. Lecturer”, which tackled the issue of sexual harassment in Nigerian universities. These works established him as a socially conscious artist unafraid to address pressing societal issues.

Eedris’s 2004 album “Jaga Jaga” became a cultural phenomenon, criticizing corruption and poor governance in Nigeria. The title track was banned from radio by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, but it resonated deeply with the public and remains one of his most iconic songs.

In June 2024, Eedris Addulkareem was in the limelight after he released a new song titled "Emi Lokan". In the song, he was critical of the current and past administrations of Bola Tinubu and Mohammed Buhari respectively following the high cost of living as well as what he perceived as "hypocrisy" of popular religious leader EA Adeboye for not speaking out.^[4]

Clash with 50 Cent

Eedris Abdulkareem and American rapper 50 Cent clashed in 2004 at Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos. Abdulkareem claimed he was asked to evacuate a business class seat for 50 cent which he objected. Subsequently, he was attacked by the American rapper’s crew.^[5]

50 Cent and his team canceled the rest of the Nigerian tour and left the country abruptly. In an interview, 50 cent said Abdulkareem was unprofessional and acted out of line by trying to force himself into a space reserved for G-Unit.

Abdulkareem made a diss track aimed at 50 Cent after the clash. The song is titled “Letter to Mr. President”, released in 2004, and while it wasn’t solely about 50 Cent, he used it to call out the Nigerian government, foreign exploitation, and directly referenced the incident.

Tony Yayo, a member of G-Unit, once addressed the situation during a radio interview. He said “Some dude tried to be funny on the plane. We don’t play that. We handled it.”

Personal life

Eedris Abdulkareem married his wife, Yetunde, in 2004. They celebrated their 19th wedding anniversary in December 2023. They have three children together.

Kidney Transplant

Abdulkareem underwent a successful kidney transplant in August 2022. The surgery took place at St. Nicholas Hospital in Lagos, with his wife, Yetunde, serving as the donor. He publicly expressed profound gratitude to his wife for the life-saving act, noting that her decision to donate her kidney was both shocking and deeply moving for him..^[6]

Discography

Studio albums

• Pass (2001)
• Mr. Lecturer (2002)
• Jaga Jaga (2004)
• Letter to Mr. President (2005)
• King Is Back (2007)
• Unfinished Business (2010)
• Nothing But The Truth (2020)

Singles

• "Wonkere ft Fatai rolling dollar" (2011)
• "Jaga Jaga part 2" (2012)
• "Sekere" ft Vector (2013)
• "Fela ft Femi Kuti" (2013)
• "I Go Whoze You ft Vtek" (2013)
• "Trouble Dey Sleep" ft Konga (2016)
• "Jaga Jaga Reloaded" (2021)
• "Oti Get E" (2021)
• "Emi lokan" (2024)