📍 Quick Facts
- Full Name: Patrick Nnaemeka Okorie
- Stage Name: Patoranking
- Date of Birth: May 27, 1990
- Place of Birth: Ijegun-Egba, Lagos State, Nigeria (originally from Onicha, Ebonyi State)
- Profession: Reggae-Dancehall Singer, Songwriter
- Genres: Reggae, Dancehall, Afrobeat
- Known For: Fusing Caribbean reggae/dancehall with African sounds.
🌱 Early Life
- Grew up in a humble background in Ijegun-Egba Satellite Town, Lagos, with strong ties to his Igbo heritage from Ebonyi State.
- Attended Citizen Comprehensive College, Epe, and later Jibril Martin Memorial Grammar School, Iponri, Lagos.
- Began performing at local shows and street jams before breaking into mainstream music.
🎶 Music Career
🎤 Early Steps
- Started as a street performer and dancer.
- Adopted the stage name “Patoranking”, inspired by Jamaican culture and his childhood nickname.
- First worked with underground acts before gaining recognition through features.
🌟 Breakthrough (2013–2014)
- Featured on “Alubarika” with Timaya in 2013, which became his big break.
- Signed with Foston Musik and released “Girlie O” in 2014, which shot him into the spotlight.
- The remix featuring Tiwa Savage cemented his status as a rising star.
🚀 Career Highlights
- Known for hit singles like:
- “Girlie O” (2014)
- “Daniella Whine” (2015)
- “My Woman, My Everything” (2015) featuring Wande Coal
- “No Kissing Baby” (2016) featuring Sarkodie
- “Available” (2017)
- “Suh Different” (2018)
- “Abule” (2020)
- His 2020 hit “Abule” became a pan-African anthem, celebrating Lagos street culture.
💿 Albums
- God Over Everything (2016) – debut album.
- Wilmer (2019) – named after his daughter, featuring African and international stars.
- Three (2020) – further solidified his global reach.
🌍 International Recognition
- Performed at major global stages including One Africa Music Fest, Reggae Sumfest (Jamaica), and international festivals.
- Collaborated with artists across Africa and beyond: Tiwa Savage, Diamond Platnumz, Sarkodie, Wizkid, Davido, and more.
- Recognized as one of the artists pushing African reggae-dancehall to the world stage.
🏆 Awards & Achievements
- Headies Awards: Next Rated (2014) & multiple wins.
- MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMA).
- Honored at several international music platforms.
- Seen as a pioneer of Afro-Reggae/Dancehall fusion.
🌟 Personal Life & Philanthropy
- Father of a daughter named Wilmer, after whom he named his second album.
- Active in philanthropy, especially in education and empowerment of Nigerian youths.
- Runs scholarship programs and supports street kids — reflecting his own journey from the streets to global stages.
💬 Famous Quote
“My music is a reflection of where I come from, my struggles, and my dreams.”
✅ Conclusion
Patoranking’s rise from the streets of Lagos to international recognition shows the power of resilience, talent, and African creativity. He is more than a dancehall star — he is a voice for the streets, a cultural ambassador, and a role model for Nigerian youth.
