Korex.O performed "Fight" during the City of Boston's "Immigrant Heritage Month Virtual Celebration" in June 2020. Learn more about his story:

Korex.O, a 19-year-old world pop artist, was born during a time of political and social turmoil in the Southwest part of Nigeria in early 2000. On the night of his birth, his mother, who was a student in college at the time, had to flee the hospital to be transferred to a safer location through a town riddled with bullets and burning cars.

Amidst this turmoil, and perhaps to escape from it, Korex.O started his musical journey learning how to play the piano at age 6. At age 10 he fell in love with the saxophone. Inspired by his parents' love of afrobeat, Korex.O gravitated towards a wide array of artists including Fela Kuti, Phil Collins, Kanye West and Grover Washington Jr.

At 13, he auditioned for Nigeria’s Got Talent, playing the saxophone. He came in fourth place in a country of over 160 million people. At such a young age, this feat propelled Korex.O into another level of fame and musical success in Nigeria and beyond.

Propelled by this accomplishment, at age 15, Korex.O became one of the youngest members of the African High-Life Allstars Club. A club featuring some of Nigeria’s biggest High-Life and Afrobeat musicians. He performed twice in front of thousands of fans at the Felabration concert which features Africa’s biggest artists like Wizkid, Davido, and Burna Boy. He has graced the stage with various musical legends like Lagbaja, Chris Ajilo, and Banky W. And in 2015, he was honored to perform for the Vice President of Nigeria.

It was around this time that Korex.O began to see himself as a songwriter, as well as a musician. He wanted to use his unique voice to share his story and connect with people through the music he loves. He started writing Afro Pop songs and soon evolved into a fusion of world music, including American pop and Latin. He writes about his struggles, his high moments and low moments, and of course, love.

In 2017, he moved with his parents to Boston, where he met producer Josh Gold. At first, this seemed an odd musical pairing: a 19-year-old Nigerian and a 45-year-old Jewish music producer from Boston. But, that diverse pairing paid off as the two began working on his debut album. As Gold put it, “as soon as he sat down at the piano and sang Heartless Kidz, I was hooked. I was a Korex.O fan.”

The resulting, “Young,” captures the essence of Korex.O. His unmistakable voice delivers universal messages that resonate. And his catchy hooks and melodies are poised to deliver a new sound to pop radio.

When Korex.O is asked what his goal is in music, his response is simple: “To touch the world with my songs.”