Rotimi Alakija (born 16 October 1980), better known as DJ Xclusive, is a

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. * British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...

Nigerian Nigerians or the Nigerian people are citizens of Nigeria or people with ancestry from Nigeria. The name Nigeria was derived from the Niger River running through the country. This name was allegedly coined in the late 19th century by British jo ...

disc jockey, record producer and recording artist.

Early life

Rotimi Alakija was born in

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

to Nigerian parents. At an early age, he moved back to

Nigeria Nigeria, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean to the south. It covers an area of . With Demographics of Nigeria, ...

to pursue a high school education at

King's College, Lagos King's College, Lagos (KCL) is a secondary school in Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria. It was founded on 20 September 1909 with 10 students at Lagos Island, adjacent to Tafawa Balewa Square. The school admits only boys as pupils, although prior to ...

. Rotimi Alakija moved back to the UK to study Physics and Computer Science at

Reading University The University of Reading is a public research university in Reading, Berkshire, England. It was founded in 1892 as the University Extension College, Reading, an extension college of Christchurch College, Oxford, and became University College, ...

, where he earned a Bachelor's degree. He later studied Financial Computing at

Brunel University London Brunel University of London (BUL) is a Public university, public Research universities, research university located in the Uxbridge area of London, England. It is named after Isambard Kingdom Brunel, a Victorian era, Victorian engineer and pione ...

Career

DJ Xclusive started his professional disc jockey career in 2003 by performing at various night clubs, including Aura Mayfair, Penthouse, Funky Buddha and Jalouse. During the course of his career, DJ Xclusive has performed with acts like

Ne-Yo Shaffer Chimere Smith (born October 18, 1979), known professionally as Ne-Yo ( ), is an American singer and songwriter. Regarded as a leading figure of Contemporary R&B#2000s, 2000s R&B music, he is the recipient of numerous accolades, includi ...

Rihanna Robyn Rihanna Fenty ( ; born February 20, 1988) is a Barbadian singer, businesswoman, and actress. One of the List of music artists by net worth, wealthiest musicians in the world, List of awards and nominations received by Rihanna, her vario ...

Mario Winans Mario Mendell Winans ( Brown; born August 29, 1974) is an American R&B singer, songwriter, and record producer from South Carolina. An extended member of the Winans musical family, he is best known for his 2004 single " I Don't Wanna Know" (f ...

, Brick and Lace,

Nas Nas (born 1973) is the stage name of American rapper Nasir Jones. Nas, NaS, or NAS may also refer to: Aviation * Nasair, a low-cost airline carrier and subsidiary based in Eritrea * National Air Services, an airline in Saudi Arabia ** Nas Air (S ...

and

Fat Joe Joseph Antonio Cartagena (born August 19, 1970), better known by his stage name Fat Joe, is an American rapper. He began recording as a member of Hip-hop, hip hop group D.I.T.C., Diggin' in the Crates Crew (D.I.T.C.) in 1992, and pursued a sol ...

. At the 2010 edition of the

Nigeria Entertainment Awards The Nigerian Entertainment Awards were established in New York City in January 2006. The awards recognize the contributions of African entertainers with a special focus on Nigerians. Ceremonies * 2006 Nigeria Entertainment Awards * 2007 Nigeria ...

, held in the United States, DJ Xclusive won World Best DJ. He was nominated for Best DJ at the 2011 edition of the BEFFTA Awards. He was also featured at the 2013 '' Big Brother'' House Party. In 2011, DJ Xclusive became the

resident DJ In the DJ culture, a resident DJ or local DJ is a DJ who is employed by a dance club, unlike a guest artist, who works as freelancer and therefore play at several clubs. Obtaining a residency implies being part of the salaried staff of a co ...

for CoolFM 96.9 and also joined Empire Mates Entertainment as

Wizkid Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun (born 16 July 1990), better known as Wizkid, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter. Born in the Ojuelegba suburb of Surulere, Lagos, Wizkid is a voice in the emerging Afrobeats movement. His music is a blend of Afrobea ...

's official DJ. DJ Xclusive released a single "I'm Xclusive" alongside UK-Nigerian artist Mo Eazy. In 2015, DJ Xclusive featured on Evelle's debut single "Waiting" alongside renowned producer Masterkraft. The song served as Evelle's first official release after winning Nigerian Idol 2014.

Personal life

DJ Xclusive married Tinuke Ogundero in 2015. He is also the nephew of Nigerian billionaire Folorunsho Alakija.

Discography

Singles

*"Pangolo" (featuring

Timaya Inetimi Alfred Odon (born 15 August 1980), known by his stage name Timaya, is a Nigerian singer-songwriter. Being from Odi, Bayelsa State, Nigeria, Timaya is known for combining Nigerian pop with elements of dancehall, hip-hop, and Soca music, s ...

) (2013) *"Ibebe" (featuring

Olamide Olamide Gbenga Adedeji (born 15 March 1989) is a Nigerian rapper, singer, songwriter, and record executive. He is regarded as one of the most influential artists in Nigeria and Africa and has been crucial to the creative and commercial succe ...

) (2013) *"Gal Bad" (featuring

D'Prince Charles Enebeli (born 23 October 1986), known by his stage name D'Prince, is a Nigerian Grammy Awards, Grammy-67th Annual Grammy Awards, nominated music executive, singer, songwriter, entrepreneur, Promoter (entertainment), promoter, and philant ...

and

) (2014) *"Jeje" (featuring Wizkid (2014) *"Fatasi" (featuring Terry G) (2014) *"Tonight" (featuring

Banky W Olubankole Wellington (born 27 March 1981), popularly known by his stage name Banky W and credited in film as Banky Wellington, is a Nigerian-American singer, rapper, actor, entrepreneur and politician. Early life Olubankole Wellington was bo ...

and Niyola) (2014) *"Shaba" (featuring

Kcee KCEE is a commercial radio station located in Tucson, Arizona, broadcasting on 690 AM. KCEE airs a Christian format and is owned by Calvary Chapel of Tucson, Inc. By day, KCEE is powered at 250 watts; as 690 AM is a clear channel frequency ...

and

Patoranking Patrick Nnaemeka Okorie (born 27 May 1990), better known by his stage name Patoranking, is a Nigerian Afrobeats and reggae-dancehall singer and songwriter. Born and raised in Ebute Metta community of Lagos, he grew up sharing one room with his ...

) (2014) *"Dami Si" (featuring Lil Kesh and CDQ) (2015) *"Oyoyo" (featuring Burna Boy) (2016) *"Shawarma" (featuring Masterkraft) (2016) * "Pose" (featuring

Tiwa Savage Tiwatope Omolara Savage (born 5 February 1980), known professionally as Tiwa Savage (), is a Nigerian singer, songwriter and actress. Savage sings in English, Nigerian Pidgin and Yoruba; her music is a blend of afrobeats, R&B, afropop, p ...

)(2017) * Gbomo Gbomo (featuring Zlatan Ibile)(2019) *"Mad O" (2020) *"Buga" (featuring T-Classic) (2020) *"Sweet 16" (featuring Soft)) (2020) *"Pariwo" (featuring Dotman)(2020)

Videography

Albums

* ''According to X'' (2015)

EPs

* ''The XFiles EP Session 1'' (2020)

Compilation albums

* '' Empire Mates State of Mind'' (2012)

References

External links

The official Dj Xclusive website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Xclusive, DJ 1980 births 21st-century British musicians Alakija family Alumni of Brunel University London Alumni of the University of Reading Black British DJs English people of Nigerian descent English people of Yoruba descent King's College, Lagos alumni Living people Nigerian hip-hop DJs Yoruba musicians Yoruba-language singers from the United Kingdom Nigerian DJs