Rotimi Alakija professionally known as DJ Xclusive is a British Nigerian DJ, record producer and recording artist. He began his professional career in 2003 in the UK before coming to Nigeria in 2011.
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With the zeal to effect a change in the music industry, DJ Xclusive has become one of the most popular and highly rated DJs in the world. He is also one of the disc jockeys raising the bar in the Nigerian music industry.
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DJ Xclusive Early Career
Rotimi Alakija was born on October 16 1980, in United Kingdom to Nigerian parents. He later came back to Nigeria and attended King’s College, Lagos. Thereafter, in 2000, he returned to UK and attended Reading University. At Reading, he bagged a bachelor’s degree in Physics and Computer Science. Subsequently, he attended Brunel University where he studied Financial Computing.
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DJ Xclusive Early Career
DJ Xclusive began his career fully as a DJ in some celebrity clubs in London. Before then, he worked for a year and half at Bank HSBC, UK. He would work as a DJ at night and in the bank during the day. His interest in music grew each passing day. So, he had to quit his day job to pursue his musical career. That was when he started playing in celebrity night clubs like Vendome, Tribeca, e.t.c.
Today, he is one of the most creative DJs who is good at blending different genres of music such as Urban Funky house, Rnb, Hip-Hop, Soca, Pop and Urban Chart.
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Record Deal In Nigeria
Watching the music space from afar, he felt he had more to offer and could change the way DJs are perceived. Therefore, he decided to move back to Nigeria in June 2011. Luckily, on the 25th of same month, he got a job with Cool FM 96.9 as a resident DJ. Also, in August 2011, he became the official DJ to the ace musician, Wizkid. And April 2012, he officially signed a deal with E.M.E, the label to which Wizkid was signed to at the time.
DJ Xclusive is good at what he does and has worked with A-List Artistes across the world such as: Jeremiah, Rihanna, Mario Winans, Nas, NeYo, Fat Joe, Ray J, Brick and Lace, e.t.c.
Also, DJ Xclusive made a cameo appearance in the compilation album of E.M.E – Empire Mates State of Mind (2012). And in 2015, he released his debut studio album, According to X (2015). He also released several singles and have featured A-list Nigerian musicians like Banky W, Wizkid, Tekno, Mo Eazy, Vector, Phyno, e.t.c.
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Personal Life
DJ Xclusive is married. He tied the knot with Tinuke Ogundero in October 2015. Additionally, he is related to one of Africa’s richest woman, Folorunsho Alakija. His hobbies include; watching football, playing basketball, eating, sleeping, cooking, playing table tennis and swimming.
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Songs
Some of his songs include;
- Pangolo ft Timaya & 2Face
- Ibebe ft Olamide, 2013
- Gal Bad ft D’Prince & Wizkid, 2014
- Jeje ft Wizkid, 2014
- Fatasi ft Terry G, 2014
- Tonight ft Banky W & Niyola, 2014
- Shaba ft Kcee & Patoranking, 2014
- Dami Si ft Lil Kesh & CDQ, 2015
- Promise ft Ice Prince, 2015
- Gone Are The Days ft Olamide & Pepenazi, 2015
- Rasta ft Fiesta Black, 2015
- Party Tonight ft Seyi Shay & Ajebutter 22, 2015
- You Sabi Xclusive ft Bovi, 2015
- All I See is Me ft Phyno, 2015
- No Time ft Skales, May D, Tillaman, 2015
- Alhaji ft Tiwa Savage, Tekno & Trafic, 2015
- Oyoyo ft Burna Boy, 2016
- Sharwama ft Masterkraft, 2016
- Pose ft Tiwa Savage, 2017
- Belle, 2017
- Gbomo Gbomo ft Zlatan Ibile, 2019
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DJ Xclusive Net Worth
Austinemedia.com estimated his net worth at $2.1 million. He is one of the richest and most influential disc jockeys both local and international.
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Awards And Recognition
- World Best DJ, Nigeria Entertainment Awards, 2010
- Outstanding Nigerian Doing Great Things In the Hip Hop World, LoverBall Awards, 2010
- Best DJ, Black Entertainment Film Fashion Television Awards (BEFFTA Awards), 2011 (Nominated)
- Best Nigerian DJ, Nigerian Broadcaster Merit Awards, 2014
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DJ Xclusive Quotes
“In anything you do, try to always push your limits.”
“Music is truly spiritual and amazing.”
“Even a mad man thinks Nigerians are mad.”
“Greatness can never be rushed! Change is only constant!”
“As a DJ, it’s good to have an education. Education is the key that would take you places.”
“Education is a big key, some people might not think it is but it helps you with the business side of the game.”
“Don’t be fooled by what you see, don’t think it’s all rosy. Just keep your head straight.”
“As a DJ, you should be able to deliver to any type of crowd…the deal is to know how to read the crowd and feed them with what they want.”
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Entrepreneurial Lessons From The Life Of DJ Xclusive
Passion
One of the reasons DJ Xclusive is successful today is because of the passion and zeal he brings into his career. According to him, the passion have always been there. He only took it serious when people started seeing him in that light. He believes that anyone who is not passionate about his/her career cannot manifest his dreams.
This is a lesson for entrepreneurs. You need to be passionate about your venture. Passion is a driving force that brings other entrepreneurial characteristics in you to light.
Education is important
Some years back, being a DJ was not lucrative neither was the profession respected as much. Nowadays, things have changed as we have high profiled and educated people becoming disc jockeys. DJ Xclusive is one of the people who helped to change this narrative in Nigeria. He believes that personal branding and education is very important for career growth.
As an entrepreneur, you cannot underestimate the importance of personal development and branding for the growth of your business. What is your brand saying? The way you brand yourself is the way people are going to perceive and price you.
