Niyi

Adeniyi Adeyemi Adelakun, known professionally as Niyi, was born in Liverpool, England, and established himself as a prominent MC and singer within the London music scene. From Crouch End, North London, Niyi gained recognition for his distinctive flamboyant dress sense and innovative mixing style. His musical journey began after moving to London to study at Central Saint Martins, though he withdrew from his studies twice. Niyi’s early career involved promoting illegal warehouse raves, which he eventually ceased after a major event was shut down by police. He quickly became associated with the East London fashion scene as a producer and DJ.

Throughout his active musical career, which spanned from 2004, Niyi made significant contributions as a DJ, securing guest slots on notable radio stations such as BBC Radio 1, XFM, and German On3-radio. He performed at major clubs like Fabric and toured extensively in Europe with artists such as Adamski. A notable milestone included performing at an event for Lady Gaga’s first UK show and sharing the stage with will.i.am. Niyi also collaborated with artists like Little Boots and the Golden Silvers. His performances were broadcast on television shows such as TRAXX on ARTE, reaching audiences in Germany and France. Niyi’s debut single, “808 Klap,” rapidly sold out within a week of its release. He also intermittently contributed to the UK television program, Big Brother’s Big Mouth. His influence extended to other artists, with individuals like Tyler, The Creator, crediting Niyi as a source of creative inspiration.

In a significant career shift in 2013, at the age of 25, Niyi Adelakun decided to pursue higher education, enrolling to study English at Cambridge University. This move marked a departure from his touring lifestyle and music production. He is currently an academic and educator, furthering his studies with an MPhil in Education at St John’s College, Cambridge, demonstrating a notable progression in his professional path from a music artist to an academic researcher and public speaker. He has also delivered a TEDx talk titled “The Power of the Anomaly” at TEDxCambridgeUniversity in March 2018.