Tochukwu Young Umezulike // , better known as Toks Asher Young, is a Nigerian talent manager, entrepreneur and executive producer.[1] He is also the author of the book, DEUCES: An Anthology of WORDS, RHYMES & POEMS.[2]

Tochukwu Young Umezulike
Born
NationalityNigerian
Alma materNnamdi Azikiwe University
Occupations
  • Talent manager
  • entrepreneur
  • executive producer
  • author

Early life and education edit

Toks Asher Young was born in Adazi, Anambra State and raised in Enugu State. Toks hails from Umueji, Ufuma, in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State. He is a graduate of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka in Anambra State, where he studied Electro Mechanics and was later posted to Ise Orun Council, Ekiti State for his one year national service.[3][4]

Career edit

In 2007/2008, Juju, a dancehall artiste living in Amsterdam, made Toks his manager after he had helped him secure a collaboration with 2baba, plan his album launch, and debut into the Nigerian Music industry.[citation needed]

The following year, Toks became the manager to General Pype and realized he could do talent management as a career, causing his career as a talent manager to start. As well as being Pype’s manager Toks was also General Manager and co-founder at Podium Worldwide (also known as Podium Vybez).[5][6]

In 2009, he and Storm Records executive produced Champion by dancehall artist General Pype.[7][8]

In June 2014, Umezulike got a contract from former Etisalat, now known as 9Mobile, to be the talent manager for their Cloud Nine musical event series held in Port Harcourt and Abuja, Nigeria.[9][10]

In 2017, he was the resident judge for the first edition of THE GROUNDED TALENT SEARCH which was won by BShine, an indigenous hiphop artist based in Enugu State, Nigeria.[11]

He also modeled for Zlni Couture’s 2017 Summer collection.[12]

He has worked with some public figures like Kenny Keke Ogungbe, Dayo D1 Adeneye, Obi Asika, and Ayo Rotimi, who also mentored him on his career.[citation needed]

He is the manager for Naeto C, Yung6ix, Kollydee and Grindha.[13][14]

Production credit edit

In 2010, the "Champion (Remix)" video executively produced by Toks won the Channel O Music Video Awards as the Best Ragga Dancehall Video.[15]

Awards edit

Year Award Category Result Notes
2016 Scream All Youth Awards[16] Talent Manager Of The Year Nominated
2017 Nigerian Campus Choice Awards[17] Entertainment Personality Of The Year Nominated
African Entertainemnt Awards USA[18] Best Manager Award Nominated
2018 Nigeria Hype Awards 2018[19] ARTIST MANAGER OF THE YEAR Won
2019 The Intellects Awards (TIA) Best Publicist Nominated
2021 Nelson Mandela Leadership Award Of Excellence and Integrity[20][21] ECOWAS YOUTH AMBASSADOR Won

References edit

  1. ^ "Meet entertainment maestro, Toks Asher Young". Vanguard. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  2. ^ "A case for chivalry and romance". Vanguard. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  3. ^ "Seven major things artiste needs to do good music – Toks". New Telegraph. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  4. ^ "Toks Asher Young: 7 Things An Artiste Needs to Make Good Music". Eelive. 2 December 2019. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  5. ^ "General Pype Lands Supersport Licensing Deal", New Telegraph, July 6, 2022.
  6. ^ "General Pype signs mega licensing deal with Supersports", The Nation, July 6, 2022
  7. ^ "Champion Remix by General Pype wins big At The CHOMVA 2010", Vanguard, July 6, 2022.
  8. ^ "Tochukwu Umezulike: A Quintessential Artiste Manager", This Day, July 6, 2022
  9. ^ "Etisalat takes cloudnine sessions to Port-Harcourt", The Nation, July 7, 2022
  10. ^ "Harrow Park Golf Club Abuja Hosts Etisalat Cloud Nine", New Telegraph, July 7, 2022.
  11. ^ "Meet the First Winner of Grounded Talent Search 2017, Celebrities that showed up and lots more!". Blueprint Afric. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  12. ^ "Zini couture unveils its 2017 summer collection", The Guardian, July 12, 2022.
  13. ^ "Award winner, Toks Asher soars". The Sun. 6 December 2019. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  14. ^ "Toks Asher Music is my first love". The Guardian. 17 November 2019. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  15. ^ "Toks' Artist General Pype Bags Channel O Award". The Sun. 9 December 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  16. ^ "Scream All Youth Awards 2016 Nominees List". NgDailyNews. 11 October 2016. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  17. ^ "Nigeria Campus Choice Award 2017 Youth&Entertainment Nominee List". Nigeria Campus Choice Award. 17 February 2017. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  18. ^ "AEAUSA AWARDS 2017 NOMINEES". EverSto. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  19. ^ "NIGERIA HYPE AWARDS 2018: SEE FULL LIST OF WINNERS". Olodoempire. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  20. ^ "Toks Asher Young Honoured With Leadership Award And Appointed ECOWAS Youth Ambassador". The Daily Times. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  21. ^ "Working with youths across Africa earned me ECOWAS Youth ambassadorial role ― Tochukwu Umezulike". Nigerian Tribune. May 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2021.