Aristokrat Records

Aristokrat Records is a Nigerian record label owned by The Aristokrat Group.^[1] The label operates as a subsidiary of The Aristokrat Group, an African Media & Entertainment company. It units includes; Aristokrat 360, Aristokrat Publishing, and Aristokrat Lifestyle. On 11 May 2020, Universal Music France announced its partnership with Aristokrat Records,^[2] under the watch of The Aristokrat Group, as the label will now distribute under its label services Caroline France,^[3] and publish under Universal Music Publishing Group. As the joint partnership will also help discover and develop exciting new African talent, giving artistes and songwriters the opportunity to reach global audiences with support from Universal Music Group of companies around the world; says Piriye in an interview with This Day.^[4]

Aristokrat Records
Parent company	The Aristokrat Group
Founded	2010 (2010)
Founder	Piriye Isokrari
Status	Active
Distributor(s)	Caroline France Universal Music Publishing Group
Genre	Various
Country of origin	Nigeria
Location	Lagos
Company
Services	Music recording Distribution Merchandising Audiovisual content Music Publishing Branding Management
Owners	960 Music Group (40%) The Aristokrat Group (60%)
Divisions	Aristokrat 360 Aristokrat Publishing Aristokrat Lifestyle
Slogan	Aristokrat

It services includes, music recording, distribution, merchandising, audiovisual content, music publishing, branding, and management.^[5]

The label is home to recording acts, such as Jujuboy Star, T’neeya, and Ria Sean. It also houses producer Saszy Afroshii; a disc jockey DJ Bally,^[6] who also signed a management deal with Aristokrat 360 in 2018. Artists formerly signed to the label, include Burna Boy, LeriQ, Kamar, Mojeed, Ozone, Pucado, Kel-P and DJ Consequence, who served as the first official disc jockey signed to the label. Ariyike Owolagba was their erstwhile director of operations.

The label is currently headed by Enei Apulu Isokrari as CEO and Joseph Dike Abiagom as President/ Label manager

History

Aristokrat Records was founded in 2010 by Piriye Isokrari, under the entertainment company, The Aristokrat Group. It operates as a part of 960 Music Group,^[1] a Nigerian music and entertainment company, is known for acquiring forty percent stake in Aristokrat Records. Piriye Isokrari, signed Afrobeats artist, Burna Boy in 2012, with alternative Afrobeat record producer LeriQ. In 2014, Piriye, signed Kamar, Mojeed, Ozone, and Pucado. In 2015, he signed DJ Consequence,^[7] and T’neeya, joined in 2018, with a worldwide deal.^[8][9] On 13 November 2020, the label unveiled the signing of Jujuboy Star to Aristokrat Records, with a distribution deal with Caroline France.^[10] On 6 June 2021, the label unveiled Ria Sean.^[11]

Artistokrat divisions

Aristokrat 360

The Aristokrat Group founded Aristokrat 360, under Aristokrat Records in 2018, as a division for artist management for Aristokrat. In June 2018, DJ Bally signed a management deal with Aristokrat 360.^[12] In 2020, Seyi Shay,^[13] Saszy Afroshii,^[14] TMXO,^[15] and DJ Obi,^[16] signed a management deal with Aristokrat 360.

Aristokrat Publishing

The Aristokrat Group, and Universal Music Publishing France founded Aristokrat Publishing, under Aristokrat Records via Universal Music France in 2020, as its division for music publishing in Africa. Same year, Saszy Afroshii signed a publishing deal with Aristokrat Publishing,^[14] and Seyi Shay joined her in 2021 via Universal Music Publishing Group.^[17]

Aristokrat Lifestyle

The Aristokrat Group, founded Aristokrat Lifestyle, under Aristokrat Records in 2019, as its division for label branding, and merchandising.

Departures

Burna Boy

Burna Boy's departure surfaced after his two years deal with Aristokrat expired in 2014,^[18] during his stay with the label, he released and promoted, various projects, and singles including "Like To Party", which was his breakthrough single, and the lead single from his debut studio album L.I.F.E in 2013, exclusively produced by LeriQ, and Piriye Isokrari.

Artists

Management

Act	Year signed
DJ Bally	2018
Seyi Shay	2020
Saszy Afroshii
TMXO
DJ Obi

Current acts

Act	Year signed	Releases under the label
T’neeya	2018	—
Jujuboy Star	2020	—
Saszy Afroshii		—
Ria Sean	2021	—

Former acts

Act	Year signed	Year left	Releases under the label
Burna Boy	2012	2014	3
Kamar	2014		1
Mojeed	2014		1
Ozone	2014		1
Pucado	2014		1

Producers

Current producers

• Saszy Afroshii

Former producer

• LeriQ
• Kel-P

Discography

Albums/Mixtape/EP

Artist	Album	Details
Burna Boy	L.I.F.E	Released: August 12, 2013 Chart Position: 7 Certification: —
	Burn Identity	Released: November 11, 2011 Chart Position: — Certification: —
	Burn Notice	Released: April 25, 2011 Chart Position: — Certification: —
Pucado	Pukie The Great E.P.^[19]	Released: April 15, 2014 Chart Position: — Certification: —
Kamar	The Audition E.P.^[20]	Released: June 5, 2014 Chart Position: — Certification: —
Ozone	Superiority Complex^[21]	Released: July 29, 2014 Chart Position: — Certification: —
LeriQ	The Lost Sounds^[22]	Released: August 28, 2015 Chart Position: — Certification: —

References

1. Magazine, Tush (2014-10-26). "The Aristokrat Nation". Tush Magazine. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
2. "This Nigerian Label Just Took a Step Toward Global Success". Billboard. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
3. Idowu, Tomi (2020-05-11). "Aristokrat Group Teams Up With Universal Music Group To Develop Talent". The Culture Custodian. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
4. "Piriye Isokrari: We're Working with UMG to Discover Exciting New African Talents". THISDAYLIVE. 2020-06-06. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
5. "Aristokrat Records". Music In Africa. 2015-07-15. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
6. "Aristokrat Records artiste remixes 'Fourfiveseconds'". Pulse Nigeria. 2015-03-11. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
7. "Aristokrat Records Signs DJ Consequence". Pulse Nigeria. 2014-08-25. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
8. "Aristokrat Records Presents: T'Neeya - Low Battery". NotjustOk. 2018-05-30. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
9. "Young budding singer T'neeya signs with Aristokrats records -". Muse Africa. 2018-05-30. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
10. "Aristokrat Records unveil Jujuboy Star". NotjustOk. 2020-11-13. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
11. "Aristokrat Records' new signee, Ria Sean releases new single, 'Lemonade'". Pulse Nigeria. 2021-06-06. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
12. "#BBNaija's DJ Bally signs Management Deal with Aristokrat 360". BellaNaija. 2018-06-21. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
13. "Aristokrat, UMG Deal Will Attract FDI, Jobs For Nigeria – Isokrari". Leadership News. 2020-06-07. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
14. "Meet Aristokrat 360's First Female Producer – Saszy Afroshii". BellaNaija. 2020-05-12. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
15. "Aristokrat 360 Signs Music Producer TMXO". AccelerateTv. 29 July 2020. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
16. "DJ Obi signs Management Deal with Aristokrat 360". BellaNaija. 3 July 2020. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
17. "Seyi Shay seals deal with Universal Music". Vanguard News. 2021-05-02. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
18. "Burnaboy leaves Aristokrat Records". TheCable. 2014-07-24. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
19. "Aristokrat Records Presents: Pucado – Pukie The Great E.P". Pulse Nigeria. 2014-04-15. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
20. "Aristokrat Records Presents: Kamar - "The Audition" E.P « tooXclusive". tooXclusive. 2014-06-05. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
21. "MIXTAPE: OZone – Superiority Complex". HWING. 2014-06-26. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
22. "LeriQ creates unique art by finding 'The Lost Sounds' of Nigerian Music". Pulse Nigeria. 2015-09-14. Retrieved 26 June 2021.