Belfast musician Jordan Adetunji has received a Grammy nomination for best melodic rap performance.
The rapper and singer gained recognition in 2024 with his breakout global hit ‘Kehlani’.
Meanwhile, Irish rock group Fontaines D.C have been nominated for two Grammys: Best Rock Album for their 4th studio release ‘Romance’ and Best Alternative Music Performance for their hit single ‘Starburster’.
Adetunji’s popular breakout single, an ode to the eponymous pop star that was labelled one of TikTok’s songs of the summer, was put together in the bedroom of his mum’s house in Belfast, and dropped nonchalantly on TikTok.
It blew up, and in the space of a few weeks, his artistic inspiration reached out to him, asking for a remix.
In 2023, Adetunji was scouted by Oli Sykes and signed to RCA Records.
In 2024, following the rise in popularity of ‘Kehlani’, Adetunji signed with 300 Entertainment and Warner Records UK.
Adetunji was born in Croydon, London, and is of Nigerian descent.
When he was 10 years old, his mother made the decision to move to Belfast because of how ‘quiet’ it seemed in comparison to Croydon.
He attended Ashfield Boys’ High School, the same high school of Gary Moore, whom he’s inspired by.
Adetunji feels a deep connection with Belfast, partly because of his links with its clubbing and live music scene and partly because of positive encounters he’s had with other Belfast-based musicians such as Kneecap and Snow Patrol’s Gary Lightbody.
But while he emphasises that “Belfast culture has influenced me a lot”, the success of ‘Kehlani’ means the 25-year-old is spending less time in his home city these days.
He’s been living in Los Angeles and feels it is a good fit in terms of his own music and style.