Meet Candy Bleakz, The Androgynous Street Music Prodigy 

Street music has become one of the defining sounds in the Nigerian music industry over the past decade. Its appeal lies in the fact that it is an indigenous adaptation of the western hip-hop genre. The subgenre continues to undergo evolution as the music tastemakers experiment and infuse other sounds. Nevertheless, it remains a sound the people have a deep connection to with its quick tempo serving as a cool distraction from the harsh realities of Nigeria even as the lyrics capture the truths of our daily lives.

While the position of the king of street music in Nigeria is still up for debate, the “Queen of the Streets” title is firmly and undoubtedly occupied by none other than Candy Bleakz, the hottest in the game right now. Born Akiode Blessing, but now popularly known as Ladies’ Dragon on and off the streets she rules, she first announced herself to the mainstream audience in 2019 with her viral song Owo Osu featuring Naira Marley and Zlatan. Prior to this, she had spent several years honing her skills, participating in several talent shows and winning more often than not.

With her massive talent and the support of a record label as huge as Chocolate City Music, her career has quickly accelerated. Her resume now includes hits like Won La, Baba Nla, Kelegbe, Virus, and Kope. She stands out for her energetic flow and quotable lyrics. She understands her audience, so she brings the exact kind of vibes needed to get the streets hyped up. Outside the music, she has a unique personality that extends to her androgynous fashion sense and lifestyle. It would be hard to replicate her persona and certainly be harder to replicate her achievements. She seldom brags about it, but Won La was featured on the American TV series Flatbush Misdemeanors. Then, there are the multiple award nominations and wins she has garnered so far.

Yet, the most impressive thing about Candy Bleakz is how she is daring to challenge the status quo by using her talents to spearhead female representation on the street music scene that is notoriously lacking in women. It gives the “Ladies’ Dragon” moniker even more significance because she has shown herself to be just as fearless as the mythical creature is known to be. Her next step to greatness is the release of her long-awaited debut EP. Teasing the forthcoming project, she has put out a street record produced by Rexxie titled Tikuku. The new song is getting great numbers across streaming platforms and already has an ongoing #tikukuchallenge on TikTok and Instagram; proving once again that Candy Bleakz is indeed a street music prodigy.