Dice Ailes

Nigerian singer, songwriter, and rapper Dice Ailes rose to popularity in the late 2010s with a series of singles that mixed bright R&B-inspired Afro-pop with cool hip-hop swagger. Born and raised in Nigeria, Shasha Damilola Alesh began singing as a young boy and by his teenage years, he'd developed into a budding artist, recording his first song at the age of 15. A year later his family emigrated to Canada where he studied at York University while continuing to write music on the side. A 2013 trip back to Nigeria put Alesh in contact with rap star M.I. Abanga, who helped him land a deal with the popular Chocolate City label the following year. Using the stage name Dice Ailes, Alesh began issuing a steady stream of singles for the label including the 2016 breakout hit "Miracle." A nomination for Rookie of the Year at the 2016 Headies in Lagos raised his profile significantly, and over the next few years Ailes' star continued to rise with songs like "Ella" and "Otedola." The 2019 Falz collaboration "Alakora" blended smooth pop grooves with moody rap, and was followed in early 2020 with the like-minded "Pim Pim," featuring Olamide. ~ Timothy Monger