Tobi Lou
Background information
Birth nameTobi Adeyemi
Also known asWonda
Born (1988-11-03) November 3, 1988
Lagos
OriginChicago
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • rapper
  • record producer
Years active2015–present
Labels
Websitetobilou.com

Tobi Adeyemi (born November 3, 1988), known professionally as Tobi Lou (stylized in lower case), is a Nigerian-American singer, songwriter, rapper and record producer.[1][2]

Early life

Tobi Adeyemi was born in Lagos and raised in Chicago.[3][4] He attended Homewood-Flossmoor High School and Hinsdale Central High School, where he began recording music.[5] He attended SUNY Albany and Florida A&M University, and played baseball for both teams.[6][7] After not getting drafted in the 2011 MLB draft, he played 2 years of semi-pro baseball for the Joliet Slammers as an outfielder before leaving in 2012 due to injury.[4][5] In 2014, he moved to Los Angeles to continue his musical career.[4] While in Los Angeles, he worked as an Uber driver.[8]

Career

2015–2018: Beginnings and tobi lou and the Trilogy

On September 16, 2015, Adeyemi released his first single, "Pretty Please".[9] In 2015, he released the single "Your Baby" under the name Wonda.[4][10] On February 9, 2018, he released his first EP, tobi lou and the Moon.[11] On March 8, 2018, he released the single "Troop" featuring Smino.[12] On March 9, 2018, What So Not released the album Not All the Beautiful Things, which contained the song "Monsters" featuring Adeyemi and Michael Christmas. On April 27, 2018, he released the tobi lou and the Loop EP, which contained the song "Buff Baby", which gained significant traction on TikTok.[13] On June 30, 2020, "Buff Baby" was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America.[14] On August 10, 2018, he released the tobi lou and the Juice EP.[15] On October 6, 2018, he debuted on the Billboard Next Big Sound chart, peaking at position 8.[16] On December 18, 2018, Penomeco released his Garden EP, which featured Adeyemi on the song "Cool".[17] Adeyemi and Marc E. Bassy joined Kyle on his 2018 "Lightspeed" tour.[18]

2019–2022: Live on Ice, Lingo Starr, and Non-Perishable

In 2019, Adeyemi embarked on his first headlining tour, the "Happy + Extra Sad" tour with Liltrxptendo and femdot.[19] The tour began on September 12, 2019 in Minneapolis, and ended on October 20, 2019 in Chicago. On August 2, 2019, he released his debut full-length studio album, Live On Ice, featuring guest appearances from Erica René, Cam O'bi, Rockie Fresh, Soundbwoy, okay(K),[20] Glassface, Vernon, Ryan Destiny, Djemba Djemba, and LeJKeys.[21] The album peaked at 45 on the US Independent Albums Billboard chart and 14 on the US Top Heatseekers chart.[16] On October 19, 2019, he was ranked 50 on the Bandsintown x Billboard US Rising Artists Index.[16] On November 22, 2019, Ryan Destiny released the single "The Same" featuring Adeyemi.[22] Adeyemi was featured on the song "Pray For Real" by Peter CottonTale, alongside Chance the Rapper, on CottonTale's album Catch, which released on April 17, 2020. The song peaked at 24 on the Gospel Airplay chart.[16] Adeyemi was featured on the song "Morocco" by Kota the Friend, on his album Everything, which released on May 22, 2020.[23] On July 3, 2020, he released the Lingo Starr EP.[24] On November 10, 2020, he released the single "Okay" with Dreezy.[25] On November 24, 2020, Saba released the single "Areyoudown? Pt. 2", featuring Adeyemi.[26] On January 23, 2021, he was ranked 2 on the Billboard Top Chicago Emerging R&B/Hip-Hop Artists 2021 chart.[16] On March 11, 2022, his studio album Non-Perishable was released, featuring guest appearances from T-Pain, Jean Deaux, and Chika.[13] The album peaked at 83 on the Billboard US Top Album Sales chart, 46 on the US Top Current Album Sales chart, and 5 on the US Top Heatseekers chart.[16] On April 2, 2021, Rockie Fresh released the album Slid Thru Pt 2, featuring Adeyemi and Jeff Kaale on the song "Gucci".[27] On March 25, 2022, he was ranked 33 on the Billboard Emerging Artists chart.[16] On July 29, 2022, Warren Hue's album Boy of the Year released, featuring Adeyemi on the song "In My Bag."[28]

2023–present: Baggy Weather, Sorry I'm Late, and Decent

On March 31, 2023, he released the album Baggy Weather, featuring guest appearances from Chief Keef and eaJ, as an exclusive on his TobiLoop app.[29] A 'mini-version' of the album was released the same day on streaming services.[30] On May 5, 2023, he released the Sorry I'm Late EP.[31] Adeyemi joined T-Pain on his "Escape From Wiscansin: The Invasion" tour in the summer of 2023.[32] On June 30, 2023, he released the album 'Decent, featuring guest appearances from Dame D.O.L.L.A., Polo G, rä lomac, Glassface, Chief Keef, Saba, and internetboy.[29] In August 2023, he announced the "Perish Blue" tour with grouptherapy. The tour begins on September 21, 2023 in Houston, and ends on October 29, 2023 in Phoenix.[33] On September 15, 2023, he released the single "Cobra" featuring Young Thug.[34] On October 23, 2023, Adeyemi performed as K'Sante in the League of Legends virtual band Heartsteel, alongside Baekhyun, ØZI, and Cal Scruby, in the band's debut single, "Paranoia".[35]

Artistry

Tobi Lou has stated that artists including André 3000, The Notorious B.I.G., Will Smith, Tupac, NSYNC, Timbaland, Frank Ocean, Missy Elliott, Maroon 5, Pharrell Williams, and Kanye West are inspirations for him.[2][3][5]

Discography

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected details
Title Album details Peak chart positions
US Top Album Sales[16] US Top Current Album Sales

[16]

 US Independent Albums[16] US Top Heatseekers[16]
Live On Ice - - 45 14
Non-Perishable
  • Released: March 11, 2022
  • Label: ArtClub, Empire
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
 83 46 - 5
Baggy Weather
(with FARADA)
  • Released: March 31, 2023
  • Label: Free Agency
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
 - - - -
'Decent
(with FARADA)
  • Released: June 30, 2023
  • Label: Free Agency
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
 - - - -

Extended plays

List of extended plays, with selected details
Title Details
tobi lou and the Moon
  • Released: February 9, 2018
  • Label: ArtClub, Empire
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
tobi lou and the Loop
  • Released: April 27, 2018
  • Label: ArtClub, Empire
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
tobi lou and the Juice
  • Released: August 10, 2018
  • Label: ArtClub, Empire
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
Lingo Starr
  • Released: July 3, 2020
  • Label: ArtClub, Empire
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
Sorry I'm Late
(with FARADA)
  • Released: May 4, 2023
  • Label: Free Agency
  • Format: Digital download, streaming

Singles

As lead artist

List of singles, showing year released and album name
Title Year Album
"Pretty Please" 2015 non-album single
"Your Baby"
"New Bish" 2016
"Txt Me"
"Hopefully"
"Game Ova" 2017
"A.R.O.K."
"Preoccupied"
"Your Kind of Love"
"Troop" (feat. Smino) 2018
"Darlin'" tobi lou and the Loop
"Orange" Live On Ice
"Like My Mom" 2019
"Waterboy"
"My Party" (with Tony Bigz)
"Uncle Iroh" non-album single
"Hot Tub Time Machine" 2020
"Hot Tub Dream Machine"
"Skin Care Tutorial 2020"
"Neither Here Nor There"
"Pretty Much"
"Endorphins"
"Student Loans"
"Notice Me" (feat. Mia Gladstone)
"Okay" (feat. Dreezy)
"2hrs" Non-Perishable
"Wide Open" (feat. Jean Deaux) 2021
"Hopeless Romantic" 2022
"Some Things" (with Farada) 2023 TBA
"Fee" (with Farada)
"Roller Coaster" (with Farada)
"Meteorite" (with Farada)
"Caturday" (with Farada)
"Losing You" (with Farada)
"Block" (with Farada)
"Cobra" (with Young Thug & Farada)
"Come See Me Live" (with Farada)

Guest appearances

List of guest appearances, showing song title, year released, other artists and album name
Title Year Artist(s) Album
"Day2Day" 2014 Tunji Ige The Love Project
"Game Ova" 2016 SwuM Woke
"Name" 2017 Jevon Doe Non-album single
"Cool" 2018 Penomeco Garden
"Not the Only One" Michael Christmas Role Model
"Monsters" What So Not, Michael Christmas Not All The Beautiful Things
"The Same" 2019 Ryan Destiny non-album single
"Pray for Real" 2020 Peter CottonTale, Chance the Rapper Catch
"Morocco" Kota the Friend Everything
"Areyoudown? Pt. 2" Saba non-album single
"Gucci" 2021 Rockie Fresh, Jeff Kaale Slid Thru Part 2
"In My Bag" 2022 Warren Hue Boy of the Year
"Paranoia" 2023 Heartsteel, Baekhyun, ØZI, Cal Scruby non-album single

References

  1. ↑ "Tobi Lou Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
  2. 1 2 Wally, Maxine (2020-11-12). "The "Buff Baby" TikTok Dance Gave Tobi Lou a Sign of Career Success". W Magazine. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
  3. 1 2 "tobi lou is A Force to Be Reckoned With". VMan. 2020-08-05. Retrieved 2023-07-11.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Galil, Leor (2018-10-11). "Rapper-singer Tobi Lou left Chicago to become one of its best new hopes". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 2023-07-11.
  5. 1 2 3 Montanez, Elliot (2019-07-23). "Tobi Lou: Chicago's Rising Superhero". Lyrical Lemonade. Retrieved 2023-07-11.
  6. ↑ Williams, Randall (2022-03-14). "The Non-Perishable Power of tobi lou". Boardroom. Retrieved 2023-07-11.
  7. ↑ "Tobi Adeyemi College & Independent Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2023-07-11.
  8. ↑ Nguyen, Martin (2019-06-19). "Meet Tobi Lou: The Pop-Rap Artist You Need To Know". COOLS. Retrieved 2023-09-23.
  9. ↑ Tanners, Jon. "Premiere: Tobi Lou - "Pretty Please"". Complex. Retrieved 2023-07-19.
  10. ↑ Nostro, Lauren. "Premiere: Listen to Wonda's "Your Baby"". Complex. Retrieved 2023-07-11.
  11. ↑ Huynh, Davis (2018-03-02). "tobi lou Declares His Love for Sailor Moon in New Video". Hypebeast. Retrieved 2023-07-19.
  12. ↑ Skelton, Eric (March 6, 2018). "Tobi Lou Is Creating His Own Magical World and He Just Took a Huge Leap Forward". Pigeons & Planes. Complex.
  13. 1 2 Gayler, Max (2022-03-18). "Non-Perishable settles it, it's time to stop sleeping on Tobi Lou". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 2023-07-19.
  14. ↑ "TOBI LOU BUFF BABY". RIAA. Retrieved 2023-07-11.
  15. ↑ Skelton, Eric. "Tobi Lou Lets Loose on Vibrant EP 'Tobi Lou and the Juice'". Complex. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Tobi Lou | Biography, Music & News". Billboard. Retrieved 2023-07-19.
  17. ↑ Jay, Germaine (December 19, 2018). "PENOMECO gives a preview of 1st EP album 'Garden'". Allkpop. Retrieved 2023-07-19.
  18. ↑ Hartshorn, Tori. "Rap Sensation KYLE Announces THE LIGHTSPEED World Tour". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved 2023-07-19.
  19. ↑ Nunez, Steven (October 23, 2019). "Tobi lou wraps up sold-out tour with last stop in his hometown of Chicago". The Columbia Chronicle. Retrieved 2023-07-19.
  20. ↑ Holmquist, Eric (August 2, 2019). "tobi lou: Live on Ice". Album of the Year. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
  21. ↑ Lodewick, Colin (August 8, 2019). "tobi lou: Live on Ice". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2023-07-19.
  22. ↑ Scott, Sydney (2020-11-04). "Ryan Destiny Delivers With Long-Awaited Video For 'The Same'". Essence. Retrieved 2023-09-23.
  23. ↑ Scott, Ruby (May 22, 2020). "Kota the Friend Continues to Pave His Own Path in 'EVERYTHING'". Ones to Watch. Retrieved 2023-09-23.
  24. ↑ Caraan, Sophie (2020-07-09). "tobi lou Shares Cinematic "LINGO STARR" Visual". Hypebeast. Retrieved 2023-07-19.
  25. ↑ Cho, Regina (2020-11-10). "Dreezy assists Tobi Lou on new single "OKAY"". REVOLT. Retrieved 2023-07-19.
  26. ↑ Strauss, Matthew (2020-11-25). "Saba Shares New Songs "So and So" and "Areyoudown? Pt. 2": Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2023-07-19.
  27. ↑ Duong, Paul (2021-04-02). "New Mixtape: Rockie Fresh 'Slide Thru Part 2' - Rap Radar". Rap Radar. Retrieved 2023-07-19.
  28. ↑ Angan, Kara (2022-07-28). "Warren Hue Premieres Debut Album 'Boy Of The Year'". HipHopDX. Retrieved 2023-09-23.
  29. 1 2 Dale, Evan (July 18, 2023). "A Chicago Story // Chief Keef and Tobi Lou Got Each Other Back in their Experimental Bags". RNGLDR Magazine. Retrieved 2023-09-23.
  30. ↑ Horvath, Zachary (2023-08-27). "Tobi Lou And FARADA Team Up For Another Project "Caturday"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 2023-09-23.
  31. ↑ Lee, Cydney; Rouhani, Neena (2023-05-08). "R&B/Hip-Hop Fresh Picks of the Week: JELEEL!, Kirby, BLK ODYSSY & More". Billboard. Retrieved 2023-07-19.
  32. ↑ Corrine, Amber (2023-04-12). "T-Pain Announces Escape From Wiscansin: The Invasion Tour And 2nd Wiscansin Fest". Vibe. Retrieved 2023-09-23.
  33. ↑ Geiger, Amy (2023-08-02). "Tour news: Paul McCartney, tobi lou, Automatic, Mac Sabbath, more". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 2023-09-23.
  34. ↑ Bras Nevares, Gabriel (2023-09-16). "tobi lou & Young Thug's "Cobra" Is Among The Waviest New Singles This Week". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 2023-09-23.
  35. ↑ Peters, Jay (2023-10-16). "The next League of Legends music group is a virtual boy band". The Verge. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
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