Skales

Quick to call a career failure when it’s actually a lifetime success but we’re too blinded to see Skales success just hung up on the prospect.

Raoul John Njeng-Njeng, known professionally as Skales (an acronym for “Seek Knowledge Acquire Large Entrepreneurial Skills”), was born on April 1, 1991, in Kaduna State, Nigeria. He is a native of Edo State but was raised in Kaduna by his single mother, who worked menial jobs to support him. Growing up in a church environment, Skales developed an early interest in music while spending time at his mother’s cassette store.

He attended the University of Jos (Unijos), where he met producers Jeremiah Gyang and Jesse Jagz, influential in his early career. Skales participated in the Zain Tru Search competition, winning the North Central region. He later left Unijos during his junior year and enrolled at Lead City University, where he graduated with a degree in Office Management and Technology.

Skales started writing rap songs as early as 2000, showing early dedication to music. Skales has collaborated with notable artists including Akon, Banky W., Wizkid, Davido, and Timaya.

He survived a serious car accident in December 2011 on the Lekki-Epe Expressway, which left one person dead and others injured. In 2014, after a four-year contract with Empire Mates Entertainment (E.M.E), Skales left the label amid reports that the executives felt they were not adequately compensated for their investment in him, leading to a non-renewal of his contract. The transition from a major label to independent status posed challenges, including establishing his own record label and maintaining relevance in a competitive industry.

In May 2014, Skales founded his independent record label, OHK Music, marking a new phase in his career. He released his debut studio album Man of the Year in 2015, which included popular tracks like “Shake Body.” Skales has continued to release hit singles such as “Ajaga” featuring Timaya and Davido, “Fire Waist” featuring Harmonize, and “This Your Body” featuring Davido. Skales has emphasized that being an independent artist means lacking the financial muscle, marketing power, and infrastructure that major labels provide. This has made it harder for him to compete with artists who enjoy such backing, especially in terms of promotion, distribution, and securing lucrative deals. He credits his faith in God as his greatest support system during this phase, stating on social media that despite no “major backing,” he trusts divine guidance to open doors. Skales has reflected on feelings of betrayal and intense competition within the Nigerian music industry. He has hinted at how industry politics, jealousy, and gatekeeping by powerful executives have hindered his progress at times.

This environment has contributed to a form of “cancel culture” where artists without strong backing or alliances can be sidelined or unfairly criticized.

Skales has also faced intense trolling and harassment from Wizkid’s fanbase, popularly known as “Wizkid FC.”. Skales has been accused by fans and trolls of betraying Wizkid by associating with his rivals, which he firmly denied, clarifying that he never “switched on” Wizkid and that their relationship was never close to begin with. He also addressed rumors that he was envious or spiteful, rejecting such claims and affirming his focus on his own journey. He accused Wizkid of turning a blind eye or even enabling the toxic behavior of his fans, which has taken a toll on Skales emotionally and mentally.

Skales has experienced a remarkable resurgence in 2025 with his 2014 hit single “Shake Body”, which has gone viral globally nearly 11 years after its original release. This comeback is largely credited to a viral TikTok video featuring young Barcelona football star Lamine Yamal and teammates Nico Williams and Samu Omorodion dancing to the track during the 2025 Copa del Rey tournament.

The song reached over 2 million monthly listeners on Spotify by May 2025 and debuted at #98 on the Global Spotify Viral Songs chart, trending in more than 30 countries including Spain, Italy, France, and the Netherlands. The renewed popularity of the track led Skales to announce a “Shake Body Summer Europe Tour” in 2025, with performances across major European cities, capitalizing on the song’s viral momentum.

The resurgence of “Shake Body” has reestablished Skales as a key figure in Afrobeat, reminding global audiences of his influence in shaping the genre. He has teased new music inspired by this moment, including a forthcoming single titled “Dance Like Lamine”, dedicated to the Barcelona star who helped revive his hit.

The viral moment has been described by Skales as a “life restart,” expressing gratitude and humility. His story is a testament to resilience and the power of unwavering making him a respected figure in the Afrobeat and hip-hop scenes.