MIXTAPE: Bella – BELLA The EP

 BELLA (Mabel Oine Alubo) is the last of four children born to a Professor of Sociology and a high school Proprietress on the 9th of August, 1993. Growing up in Jos, Bella was an exceptional pupil and was very interested in handcrafts and writing

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BELLA was exposed to all kinds of music growing up. One of her earliest musical influences is Eminem. She listened to the ‘Slim shady LP’ in 1999 when she was only 6 years old and can remember reciting his ‘public service announcement’ skit. Her other early musical influences include the Ray Boltz, plantashun boiz, Rkelly, daddy showkey, spice girls and the Danfo drivers.


 BELLA started writing poetry at the age of 12 and proceeded to write rap lyrics at 16 after listening to Lil Wayne’s “tha Carter III” album. She was inspired by the rise of fellow J-town bred artistes – M.I, Jesse Jagz and Iceprince- to keep working on her music when she put out her first freestyle on Kanye West’s “Theraflu” instrumental. At 17, Bella listened to the suggestion of most people to try at modelling and pageantry. In 2010, she won the place of 1st runner up, Miss Tourism Plateau; and 3rd runner up, Miss Plateau in 2011. She got into the University of Jos to study medicine, but decided to switch to Microbiology after year one. 

BELLA graduated with a BSc in microbiology mid 2015, after which she decided to focus more on her music and put out her single ‘No lie’ and another freestyle on Falz’ ‘Karishika’ instrumental which got her a lot of buzz in Jos and beyond. 
 

BELLA decided to use this attention to her benefit and recorded her 1st EP with producer Jxmmy Whxxlxr. 

Bella has developed her skills as a rap artiste and her current musical influences include Angel Haze, Drake and Kunem Slizzle. Her other more prominent works include her cover of Ice prince’s ‘More’, and her single ‘Testify’ featuring hip hop head T.R (formerly known as Terry tha Rapman). BELLA describes herself as “too Ajebutta for the razz kids and too razz for the Ajebutta”, she hopes to become one of the biggest Nigerian rap acts in the near future.

DOWNLOAD: Via Dropbox (Zip)