Sarz
Osabuohien Osaretin (born 17 March 1989),[1] better known by his stage name Sarz, is a Nigerian record producer, mixing engineer and musician. Born in Benin City, Edo State, he is popularly known for the tag Sarz On The Beat/"Really", at the beginning or end of all his music productions.[2]
Sarz | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | Osabuohien Osaretin |
Born | Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria | 17 March 1989
Genres | |
Occupation(s) | Record producer, musician |
Instrument(s) | |
Years active | 2007–present |
Labels | 1789 Entertainment |
His first full credit production work was for Lord of Ajasa's "See Drama" in 2007. He has produced tracks for Wizkid, Naeto C, Banky W, Skales, Shank, Reminisce, Goldie Harvey, eLDee, Wande Coal, YQ, Lojay and Niniola.[3][4] He was formerly signed to Trybe Records, but left the outfit after his contract expired in November 2013.[5]
Musical career
In 2010, Sarz produced the hit single "Jor Oh" and the remix for Jahbless which featured Durella, RuggedMan, Reminisce, Ice Prince and eLDee. The song won "Best Street Hop" and was nominated for "Best Collaboration" at The Headies.[6] In 2011, he produced Shank's "Salute", eLDee's "Today Today" & "Wash Wash", Skales "Mukulu", Goldie Harvey's "Don't Touch my Body" and Reminisce's "Kako Bi Chicken".[7] "Kako Bi Chicken" was nominated for "Best Street Hop" at The Headies, 2012.[8][9] Later that year, he solely produced eLDee's Undeniable album (except "We Made It").[10]
Sarz was nominated for the Nigeria Entertainment Awards 2012 "Producer of the Year" award alongside Don Jazzy. Although Don Jazzy won the award, he ended up giving the award to Sarz.[11] Sarz won "Best New Producer" at the 2012 Dynamix Awards.[12] He went on to release his first single “Beat Of Life (Samba)” featuring Nigerian Artiste, Wizkid from his upcoming album.[13]
In 2013, he produced two songs on Wizkid's Ayo album, "Jaiye Jaiye" featuring Femi Kuti and "Kilofe".[14] He was mentioned as one of the five new music producers giving Don Jazzy a run for his money by the Premium Times Nigeria.[15] Sarz was reported to have signed an endorsement deal with Nike later that Year.[16] Sarz was the executive producer for the official Hennessy Artistry 2014 theme song "Dance Go (Eau de Vie)", which featured Wizkid and 2Face Idibia.[17]
In April 2020, Sarz and Shizzi decided to go live on Instagram for a face off titled "The Battle of Hits" on 30 March 2020, which attracted a peak of 19.2k live viewers across the world.[18]
In 2021 Sarz released "Monalisa" with Lojay. "Monalisa" was certified Silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) in 2023.[19]
Awards and nominations
Year | Event | Prize | Recipient | Result | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2012 | Dynamix Awards | Music Producer of the Year | Himself | Won | [20] |
2013 | City People Awards | Music Producer of the Year | Himself | Won | [21] |
Nigerian Entertainment Awards | Music Producer of the Year | Himself | Nominated | [22] | |
Song Of The Year | "Beat Of Life (Samba)" (featuring Wizkid) |
Nominated | [22] | ||
South South Music Awards | Producer of the Year | Himself | Nominated | [23] | |
2018 | The Headies | Producer of the Year | Himself | Nominated | [24] |
2019 | SoundCity MVP Awards | African Producer of the Year | Himself | Nominated | [25] |
AFRIMA | Music Producer of the Year | Himself | Nominated | [26] | |
Songwriter of the Year | "Trobül" (Sarz & Wurld) | Nominated | [27] | ||
Best RnB Duo | "Trobül" (Sarz & Wurld) | Nominated | [28] | ||
2021 | Afro X Digitals Awards | Music Producer of the Year | Himself | Won | [29] |
AFRIMA | Best Artist, Duo or Group in African Contemporary | "Monalisa" (Sarz x Lojay) | Nominated | [30] | |
2022 | The Headies | Producer of the Year | Himself | Won | [31] |
AFRIMA | African Fans Favourite | Monalisa remix (Sarz x Lojay feat. Chris Brown) | Nominated | [32] |
Discography
Year | Title | Tracks | Contributors / Features | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
2019 | SINYM (Sarz Is Not Your Mate} | Good Morning Riddim | Femi Leye, Leabdro "Dro" Hidalgo, Mizzle, TMX0. | [33] |
Spiritual Riddim | Femi Leye, Leabdro "Dro" Hidalgo. | |||
Celetronic Riddim | Leabdro "Dro" Hidalgo, Lil Kesh, Mizzle. | |||
Inbox Riddim | Leabdro "Dro" Hidalgo, Lil Kesh, Wizkid. | |||
Hello Africa Riddim | Dr. Alban, Flash, Leabdro "Dro" Hidalgo, TMX0. | |||
Legwork Riddim | Leabdro "Dro" Hidalgo, Mizzle. |
Year | Artiste | Body of Work | Tracks |
---|---|---|---|
2019 | Sarz X WurlD | I LOVE GIRLS WITH TROBUL | Prisona |
Trobul | |||
Sweat | |||
Focus | |||
Mad | |||
Nobody Wins Interlude | |||
Ego | |||
Sade | |||
2021 | Lojay X Sarz | LV N ATTN | Tonongo |
LV N ATTN feat. Wizkid | |||
Park O X3 | |||
Panty! | |||
Monalisa | |||
2021 | Sarz X Obongjayar | Sweetness | Sweetness |
Gone Girl | |||
If You Say | |||
Nobody |
Year | Title | Talents | Tracks | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
2020 | MTLF EP (Memories That Last Forever EP) | The Sarz Academy | Gbewa - Dunnie, Niniola | |
Hold Me - Wizkid | ||||
Global - Sarz, Tempoe, Jahblend | ||||
Forever - Tiwa Savage | ||||
Wa Je - P.Priime, Dapo Tuburna, Horsh | ||||
Ma Lo Wa - Zlatan | ||||
2023 | MTLF 2 (Memories That Last Forever 2) Album | The Sarz Academy | Breathe - Perfext | |
Resemble- Fxrtune | ||||
233- Charmaine'L A | ||||
Good To Me- Perfext, Gimba | ||||
Sad Love- Millymay_pod, Syntiat | ||||
Inside Life- Fxrtune | ||||
Only Man- Gimba | ||||
Steady- Charmaine'L A, Gimba | ||||
Rude- Syntiat | ||||
Ready- Fxrtune, Pjstar | ||||
DPWMH- Millymay_pod, Pjstar | ||||
Body Wicked- Millymay_pod | ||||
More- Perfext | ||||
Buga- Fxrtune | ||||
Jam One Kele- Millymay_pod, Gimba, Fxrtune | [34] |
Year | Artiste | Song Title |
---|---|---|
2007 | Ruggedman | Banging |
Lord Of Ajasa | See drama | |
2008 | Shank | King Kong |
2009 | YQ | I Like Girls |
Dagrin | Kondo | |
2010 | Goldie | Don't Touch |
Iceberg Slim | I Made It feat. Da Grin | |
Jahbless | Jor oh! Remix feat. Iceprince, Reminisce, Durella, Ruggedman, Eldee | |
2011 | Skales | Keresimesi |
Shank | Salute | |
Sarz | Badman feat. Wizkid | |
Shank | Ghetto | |
Skales | Mukulu | |
Banky W | Lowkey | |
Michael Word | Pop Sugar feat. Muna | |
Naeto C | Super C Season | |
Reminisce | Kako bi chicken | |
Minjin | So beautiful | |
2012 | Skales | Ko Mo Le |
Sarz | Beat of Life (Samba) feat. Wizkid | |
Wizkid | Dance For Me | |
Skales | My baby | |
Eldee | Higher feat. K9 and Sojay | |
Eldee | Been There Done That | |
Eldee | Today Today | |
Eldee | Always | |
Eldee | Run Down feat. Banky W | |
Eldee | Category | |
Eldee | Wash Wash | |
Eldee | Never let you go feat. Wizkid | |
Eldee | Zombie feat. K9 and Sojay | |
EME | Get Down Tonight | |
2013 | XP | Calabar Remix feat. Reminisce, Skales, Olamide |
Reminisce | Ni’gboro | |
Sarz | Ise Yen feat. Reminisce | |
Sarz | Shoknorris feat. Burna Boy | |
L.O.S | Wish you could stay | |
Omawumi | Warn Yourself feat. Wizkid | |
DJ Neptune | Emi Ni Oba (The King) feat. Phyno, Ruggedman, Pope, Reminisce, Uzi & Dagrin | |
Lynxxx | Eziokwu feat Ikechukwu, Illbliss & Phyno | |
Wizkid | Jaiye Jaiye feat. Femi Kuti | |
Lynxxx | Mr Sexy | |
Reminisce | Fantasi | |
Sarz | Celebration feat. K9 | |
Illrymz | Get the Club Started feat. Reminisce | |
El’vee | Oga Pata Pata feat. Don Jazzy | |
Addiction | Show Your Talent | |
Wizkid, Iyanya, Praiz, Kcee | MTN iPulse | |
2014 | M.I | Shekpe feat Reminisce |
M.I | Rich feat. Koker | |
M.I | Wheel Barrow feat. Beenie Man & Emmy Ace | |
Reminisce | Eleniyan feat. Wizkid | |
Wizkid | Sound It | |
Niniola | Ibadi | |
Tekno | Anything | |
2face Idibia & Wizkid | Dance Go (Eau de Vie) | |
Kach | Get up | |
Reminisce | Fantasi | |
Samad | Low waist | |
K9 | Care about us feat. Sound Sultan | |
Wizkid | Kilofe | |
2015 | Burna Boy | Trance |
Reminisce | Skilashi | |
Wande Coal | Ashimapeyin | |
Wande Coal | Adura | |
Wande Coal | Wanted Remix | |
2016 | 2Baba: Coded Tinz | feat. Phyno |
Reminisce | Asalamalekun | |
Reminisce | Asalamalekun [Remix] feat.Wale | |
Hennessey Artistry | No be Water feat. Praiz, Burna Boy & Vector | |
Reminisce | If E Nobi God feat. Mr. Eazi | |
2017 | Wizkid | Come Closer feat. Drake |
Wizkid | Sweet Love | |
Niniola | Maradona | |
Niniola | Sicker | |
Wizkid | African Bad Girl feat. Chris Brown | |
Sarz: | Get up ft. Flash | |
Niniola | Saro | |
Niniola | Magun | |
Mr Eazi | Accra To Lagos | |
2018 | Dj Enimoney | Diet feat. Reminisce, Slimcase & Tiwa Savage |
Wurld x Sarz | Trobül | |
Skepta & Wizkid | Bad Energy | |
Niniola x DJ Snake | Maradona Riddim | |
Flash | Balanciego | |
Niniola x Busiswa | Magun Remix | |
Mr. Eazi | Ogede | |
Niniola | Bana | |
2019 | SeyiShay | Gimmie Love feat. Runtown |
Reminisce | Oja | |
Reminisce | OGB4IG feat. Naira Marley & Olamide | |
Niniola | Designer feat. Sarz | |
TBD X Wande Coal X Sarz | Tofunmi | |
Wande Coal | Vex | |
2020 | Niniola | Omo Rapala |
The Sarz Academy | Hold Me feat. Wizkid | |
Reminisce | Ogaranya feat. Fireboy DML | |
Shirazee | African Man In New York feat. Sarz | |
Wizkid | Longtime feat. Skepta | |
2021 | Shirazee X Sting | English Man, African Man In New York |
Nao | Antidote feat. Adekunle Gold | |
2022 | Lojay X Sarz | Monalisa remix feat. Chris Brown |
Crayon | Ijo (Laba Laba) | |
Ijo (Laba Laba) remix feat. Camidoh, Costa Titch & Focalistic | ||
2023 | BNXN | Gwagalada feat. Kizz Daniel & Seyi Vibes |
Wurld x Sarz | Location | |
Sarz x Crayon x Skrillex | Yo Fam |
References
- Naija Beatz. "Download Latest Sarz Songs, Albums, Biography, All Music, and Videos". Naija Beatz. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
- Naija Beatz (24 October 2011). "Hottest & Top Nigerian Music Producers Of All Time". Naija Beatz. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
- TooExclusive (14 July 2014). "TOP 10 MUSIC PRODUCERS IN NIGERIA". tooexclusive.com. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
- "Afrobeats is the Nigerian sound taking over pop music". Quartz – via YouTube.
- Naija, Beatz. "New Song: Sarz feat. WurlD Titled Location". Naija Beatz. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
- Bella, Naija. "The 2011 Headies – 2Face Idibia, Wizkid, Dr SID, M.I, Darey, Ice Prince & Sir Shina Peters rule the Winners List!". BellaNaija. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
- "Interview With Sarz!". myacadaxtra.blogspot.co.uk/. 3 August 2013. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
- Naija Beatz. "Listen To Reminisce "Asalamalekun" (Prod. By Sarz)". Naija Beatz. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
- Mgbolu, Charles. "Psquare, Bez lead Headies 2012 nominees list". Vanguard Nigeria. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
- Naija Beatz (2 July 2012). "New Song By Sarz Feat. Reminisce – Ise Yen (Work)". Naija Beatz. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
- Osagie, Alonge. "Don Jazzy Bequeaths His "Producer Of The Year" Award to Sarz!". thenet.ng/. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
- "2012 Dynamix Awards Winner List". siliowhizper.blogspot.co.uk/. 28 December 2012. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
- Qazim. "Single Premiere: Sarz Beat Of Life Feat Wizkid Official Release". 360nobs.com.
- Donnett, Jim (6 September 2014). "Wizkid – AYO (Joy) [Album Art + Tracklisting]". tooxclusive.com. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
- Abimboye, Micheal (23 August 2013). "Five producers giving Don Jazzy a run for his money". Premium Times Nigeria. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
- Onos, O. "BN Exclusive: Global Sportswear Giant Nike Endorses Music Producer Sarz". Bella Naija. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
- LalaBoiy (2 October 2014). "2Face Idibia & Wizkid – Dance Go (Eau de Vie)". Retrieved 2 May 2015.
- "COVID-19: Sarz, Shizzi entertain fans on Instagram". Vanguard News. 4 April 2020. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
- "British certifications – Lojay & Sarz – Monalisa". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
- SilioWhizper (28 December 2012). "Dynamix Awards Winner List". siliowhizper.blogspot.co.uk. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
- Peace Fm Online. "2013 City People Entertainment Awards: Full List of Winners". 2013 City People Entertainment Awards: Full List of Winners. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
- "Nigeria Entertainment Awards 2013 – View Full Nominees List". NotJustOk. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
- LockDown Naija. "SOUTH SOUTH MUSIC AWARDS 2013 NOMINEES LISTS". LockDownNaija.com. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
- "Headies 2018: Full list of nominees".
- Ohunyon. "Here is the complete winners list at the SoundCity MVP Awards". Retrieved 29 August 2019.
- "Tiwa, Burna Boy, Wizkid, 2Baba, two others shine at 6th AFRIMA awards [FULL LIST]".
- "AFRIMAs 2019: All the nominees".
- "Here is the final list of nominees for AFRIMA 2019".
- "Afrodigital Award winners". AfroxDigital.com.
- "All Africa Music Awards 2021: All The Nominees". www.musicinafrica.net. Music In Africa. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
- "2022 Headies: Full list of winners". Guardian Life. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
- "Here Are The Nominees For The 2022 AFRIMA Awards". www,okayafrica.com. Okay Africa.
- "Sarz Still Not Your Mate". Guardian Life. Guardian. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
- Ezema, Patrick. "REVIEW: "MEMORIES THAT LAST FOREVER 2" IS A SHOWCASE OF BRIMMING TALENT". culturecustodian.com. Culture Custodian. Retrieved 24 July 2023.