Before “Paparazzi” was officially released on January 2, 2026, Shoday had already been posting snippets of it online. According to Music in Africa, those clips inspired nearly 50,000 user-generated TikTok videos before the song was even available on streaming platforms. Three days after release it debuted at number three on Nigeria’s Top 100, and the following week it reached number one.
The singer behind it is Shodade Solomon Segun, known as Shoday. He was born in 2000, raised in Lagos and hails from Ogun State. He had spent more than four years releasing music before that breakthrough: a first single in October 2021, a viral hit called “Caution” in 2022, an EP in 2024 and a run of collaborations in 2025 that included “Hey Jago” with Poco Lee and Rahman Jago. In February 2026 he released his debut album, HYBRID.
He is 25 or 26 years old; his exact birth date is not published in any source used here. This is his full biography.
Shoday Biography Facts at a Glance
| Full Name | Shodade Solomon Segun |
| Stage Name | Shoday |
| Name Meaning | “Shodade” means “the sorcerer has a crown on” in Yoruba, according to Wikipedia |
| Year of Birth | 2000 (exact date not published) |
| Age | 25 or 26 (as of October 2026) |
| Place of Birth | Lagos (Apple Music’s album write-up calls him “Agege-born”) |
| State of Origin | Ogun State |
| Ethnicity | Yoruba |
| Education | Building Technology, Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) |
| Occupation | Singer and songwriter |
| Genres | Afropop, Afrobeat, Amapiano, dancehall; Apple Music places his work in a street-pop lineage with highlife, R&B and soul influences |
| Years Active | 2021 to present |
| Labels | 5K Records and Canny Consults, working with Sony Music UK |
| Breakout Song | “Caution” (2022); TCSN Gold certified |
| Biggest Hit | “Paparazzi” with FOLA (2026): number 1 on the Nigeria Top 100 |
| Debut Album | HYBRID (February 6, 2026); peaked at number 4 on the Nigerian albums chart |
| Net Worth | No verified figure |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
Early Life and Education
Shoday was born in 2000 and raised in Lagos, and he hails from Ogun State. Wikipedia cites a piece in The49thStreet for his Lagos upbringing and Music in Africa for his Ogun State roots. Apple Music’s editorial text for his debut album describes him as “Agege-born,” which places his birthplace in Agege, one of Lagos’s densely populated districts. He is Yoruba, and his first name, Shodade, means “the sorcerer has a crown on,” according to Wikipedia.
He studied Building Technology at the Yaba College of Technology, according to a June 2025 Urban Central profile that Wikipedia cites. His exact date of birth does not appear in any of the sources used for this article, which is why his age is given as 25 or 26.
Starting Out: “Dey4you” and “For You” (2021 to 2022)
Shoday began releasing music in 2021. On October 31, 2021 he put out “Dey4you” independently, and on January 26, 2022 he released “For You” through Azuri. A TikTok video shows Don Jazzy vibing to “For You” in its first week; Wikipedia relays this as a co-sign but flags that it needs a better source, so it is reported here only as a TikTok clip of Don Jazzy listening to the song.
“Caution”: The TikTok Breakthrough (2022)
On August 10, 2022, he released “Caution” through Yung Musik Empire. According to Pulse Nigeria, he then started making videos featuring his songs “Dey4you,” “Sweet Year” and “Caution” and posting them daily on TikTok until they went viral. Pulse’s September 2025 interview headline puts the number at 60 videos a day: “Fame doesn’t come easy, Shoday used to post 60 videos daily on TikTok before he blew up.”
The strategy paid off. “Caution” entered the Nigeria Top 100 on October 31, 2022 at number 89 and peaked at number 38 on December 5, 2022. It earned him his first TCSN Nigeria Gold certification. A remix featuring Skiibii followed on December 1, 2022. In January 2023, TurnTable magazine named him one of 14 artistes to watch out for in 2023. He followed with “Maradona” in February 2023, which peaked at number 94.
BRKFST EP and Apple Music (2024)
On February 16, 2024, Shoday released his first extended play, BRKFST, featuring Bella Shmurda. NotJustOk describes it as a six-track project. A week later, Apple Music announced him as its Up Next artist in Nigeria, according to the Nigerian Tribune.
Later in 2024 he released “Casanova” (June 21), “Queen N More” with Batife (September 14, TCSN Silver) and “Casablanca” with Ayo Maff (October 24), which peaked at number 22 on the Nigeria Top 100 and earned a TCSN Gold certification. “Kolorado” with Billionboi followed on December 12. As a featured artist, he also appeared on Bj Show’s “FINEE,” which peaked at number 63 and was certified TCSN Silver.
2025: “Hey Jago,” Collaborations and a Davido Stage
His 2025 output was heavy on collaboration. In January he released “Blessings (Alubarika)” with Soundz (peak 54), and in February “Screaming Beauty” with the Ghanaian artist OliveTheBoy (peak 53). On March 19, 2025, he joined Poco Lee and Rahman Jago on “Hey Jago,” which peaked at number 16 on the Nigeria Top 100. Poco Lee also appears in the story of Portable, whose “Zazoo Zehh” remix featured her. On April 15 he released “PURR” with Ayo Maff (peak 74).
On April 20, 2025, he opened for Davido at Our Homecoming, according to Deeds Magazine’s recap. Later singles included “Shoday Kilode” (August 15, peak 61), “Ring” with Joeboy (October 9), and “A1” with Kizz Daniel (October 17, peak 97). In October 2025, TheCable reported his songs “Gaddem” and “Sweet” at numbers 3 and 8 on TikTok Nigeria’s Songs of the Summer chart.
His year ended with a run of high-profile collaborations. On November 28, 2025, he joined TxC and Mavo on “Welele.” On December 12, he joined TxC, Davido and Scotts Maphuma on “Nakupenda,” featuring Zlatan and AI Xapo, which peaked at number 3 on the Nigeria Top 100. On December 19 he joined Nektunez, Tiwa Savage and Ciza on “Baddi Ah.” TheCable reported in December 2025 that he was set to perform at the GOtv Boxing Night Jam in Lagos, The Nation listed him among the headliners of Goldberg’s Golden Xmas concert in Ibadan, and Coke Studio Africa announced him in the line-up for its season “We Outside.”
“Paparazzi” with FOLA (2026)
“Paparazzi,” a duet with FOLA, was released on January 2, 2026, as the lead single from his upcoming album. The song, written by Shoday and Folarin Odunlami (FOLA), runs just 2 minutes 27 seconds. It was accompanied by a video directed by Perliks. According to Music in Africa, the two singers exchange lines as they try to impress a love interest.
The chart performance was strong:
- Nigeria Top 100 (TurnTable): debuted at number 3 on January 5, 2026 and reached number 1 the following week
- Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs: debuted at number 7 on January 13, 2026
- UK Official Afrobeats Chart: debuted at number 12 on January 17, 2026
- Radio: TheCable’s radio picks had it climbing to sixth place in late January 2026
On January 17, 2026, during the Africa Cup of Nations third-place match between Egypt and Nigeria, Goldberg hosted a live viewing event in Lagos titled Goldberg’s Festival of Drums and Light, with performances by Shoday and Small Doctor, as reported by Premium Times.
HYBRID: The Debut Album (February 2026)
Shoday announced his debut album, HYBRID, on January 29, 2026, and released it on February 6, 2026 through 5K Records, Canny Consults and Sony Music UK. Wikipedia lists its peak position on the Nigerian albums chart as number 4. The Deezer listing shows a running time of about 35 minutes. Songs on the album include “Glam and Fame,” “Joy,” “Somebody,” “Paparazzi,” “Shoday Kilode,” “OBT” (featuring BhadBoi OML), “Postcode,” “Figure 8” (featuring Pozer), “A1” (featuring Kizz Daniel), “Screaming Beauty,” “Bad and Boujee” (featuring Taves), “Halle” and “Casablanca” (featuring Ayo Maff).
Apple Music’s editorial description says he weaves highlife, R&B and soul influences into a street-pop lineage and that the album arrives on the back of his 2025 run, which included “Hey Jago,” “Gaddem” and “Nakupenda.” An Afrocritik review called the record a sign that his artistry had solidified, noting that the consistent throughline is Shoday himself and the strength of his vocal work. NotJustOk described it as one of the year’s most significant debut albums, and said it explores his journey from hopeful dreamer to someone navigating sudden fame.
Shoday’s Net Worth in 2026
There is no verified figure for Shoday’s net worth, and none of the sources used gives one, so this article does not publish one. His income plausibly comes from streaming, live performances and brand work, but none of this is documented in the sources used.
Discography Highlights
| Year | Title | Notes |
| 2021 | “Dey4you” | First independent single (October 31) |
| 2022 | “For You”; “Caution”; “Caution (remix)” ft. Skiibii | “Caution” peaked at #38 and is TCSN Gold |
| 2023 | “Maradona” | Peaked at #94 |
| 2024 | BRKFST (EP); “Casanova”; “Queen N More”; “Casablanca” ft. Ayo Maff; “Kolorado” | “Casablanca” peaked at #22 and is TCSN Gold |
| 2025 | “Blessings (Alubarika)”; “Screaming Beauty”; “Hey Jago”; “PURR”; “Shoday Kilode”; “A1”; “Gaddem”; “Nakupenda” | “Hey Jago” peaked at #16; “Nakupenda” at #3 |
| 2026 | “Paparazzi” with FOLA; HYBRID (album) | “Paparazzi” reached #1; HYBRID peaked at #4 on the albums chart |
Career Timeline
| Year | Milestone |
| 2000 | Born; raised in Lagos; family from Ogun State |
| 2021 | Releases “Dey4you” (October 31) |
| 2022 | “For You” (January 26); “Caution” (August 10) goes viral on TikTok |
| January 2023 | Named one of TurnTable’s 14 artistes to watch |
| February 2024 | BRKFST EP; named Apple Music Up Next in Nigeria |
| March 2025 | “Hey Jago” with Poco Lee and Rahman Jago |
| April 2025 | Opens for Davido at Our Homecoming |
| December 2025 | “Nakupenda” reaches number 3; named in the Coke Studio Africa line-up |
| January 2026 | “Paparazzi” with FOLA reaches number 1 in Nigeria |
| February 6, 2026 | Debut album HYBRID released |
| 2026 | 25 or 26 years old |
What Sources Disagree On
- Age. Wikipedia gives only “2000 (age 25 to 26)”. No source gives a full birth date, so this article gives a range.
- Birthplace. Wikipedia says Lagos; Apple Music’s editorial text says Agege, which is part of Lagos.
- Don Jazzy co-sign. Wikipedia says Don Jazzy co-signed “For You” in its first week but flags the source as needing improvement.
- “Ring” chart position. Wikipedia’s text puts its Nigeria Top 100 peak at 61, while its table lists 34.
- Net worth. No reliable figure exists.
Why Shoday Matters
Pulse’s reporting shows that TikTok-first promotion drove Shoday’s early breakthrough: he posted his songs repeatedly until they spread. From a first Gold certification in 2022, his documented path runs through a Top 100 hit with “Hey Jago,” a Davido support slot in 2025 and, in January 2026, a Nigeria number one that also reached the Billboard and UK Afrobeats charts.
Collaboration is a large part of his record. His 2025 credits include Poco Lee, Ayo Maff, Joeboy, Kizz Daniel, Davido, Tiwa Savage and Zlatan.
Frequently Asked Questions About Shoday
What is Shoday’s real name?
His real name is Shodade Solomon Segun. “Shodade” means “the sorcerer has a crown on” in Yoruba.
How old is Shoday?
Shoday is 25 or 26 years old as of October 2026. He was born in 2000, but the sources used for this article do not give an exact birth date.
What is Shoday’s state of origin?
He hails from Ogun State, was born and raised in Lagos, and is Yoruba.
What did Shoday study?
He studied Building Technology at the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), according to a 2025 Urban Central profile.
What is “Hey Jago”?
“Hey Jago” is a March 19, 2025 song credited to Poco Lee and Shoday, featuring Rahman Jago. It peaked at number 16 on the Nigeria Top 100.
What is Shoday’s biggest song?
His biggest hit is “Paparazzi” with FOLA (January 2, 2026). It reached number 1 on the Nigeria Top 100, number 7 on Billboard’s U.S. Afrobeats Songs and number 12 on the UK Afrobeats chart.
What is Shoday’s debut album?
His debut album is HYBRID, released on February 6, 2026 through 5K Records, Canny Consults and Sony Music UK. It peaked at number 4 on the Nigerian albums chart.
Which label is Shoday signed to?
He is signed to 5K Records and Canny Consults, which work with Sony Music UK.
What is Shoday’s net worth in 2026?
There is no verified figure, so this article does not publish one.
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