IllRymz

Illrymz (born Olowu Bardia Adebola; 3 December 1985) is a Nigerian television host, radio personality, writer, producer, Event MC, artiste and former model. He is the Creator of the sensational daily Instagram news show #SELFIENEWS and CEO of Contagious Collective, A creative media content company that has produced hit syndicated radio shows such as: Radio Outloud with Nokia & ILL, The JUMIA WHAT AM I? Radio Show, Nunu Super Kids, and 0809ja_Radio, To name a few. Popularly known as the #GQmc, Illie's Television Credits include; The Host of Nigerian Idol, Co-Host of StarGist, Soundcity, and Nigezie. 'In 2016 he became the host of the Coke Studio Radio Hour produced out of Los Angeles USA. 'Nigerian Idol

Illrymz was born in Lagos to a Persian mother and Yoruba father. At the age of 3, he was already introduced to lights and cameras as a baby model for an American beauty product. From an early age he sang in the church choir, and always had a lead or major role in the church drama. The name 'ILL' was created in his final years of High School at King's College, Lagos in 2000–2001, when his peers would comment on his flows by saying they were 'ILL'. 'The name came as a relief to me for real' Illrymz said. 'My family called me Bardia but my friends at school all called me Bola because it was easier to pronounce I guess lol'. Putting two and two together he picked up on the tag and started using the pseudo name 'Illrymz' meaning 'Sick rhymes', 'Dope rapper', "the Illest' etc.

Fresh out of high school and still filled with passion for freestyling, drumming on desks and writing music,he met Emmanuel Essien( aka Mannie) of Cool FM by chance, while working on a radio commercial for Gold Circle condoms. The two bonded as Mannie was a music composer and Illrymz was learning how to use his rhymes to write copy for advertising agencies. Immediately work on his first album started. However, the album was never completed. Shortly after this, he was introduced to another Emmanuel by his brother, this time a tongue twisting rapper called Mannie-X.

They were later joined by Leo Abulu( aka Luvdaddy) who was a close friend of Mannie. They became a Gospel Group called SOL later in the year. After recording four songs, the group decided to rebrand and started working on a new album under a new name KONFUSED. Once again, six songs into the album, the project was abandoned.

The first time he was in the spotlight nationally however, was in 2003 when he appeared in television and print commercials for Coca- Cola. He went on to model for Benson and Hedges, MTN, and other top Nigerian brands, as well as appearing on the runway on big shows such as the Nigerian Fashion Show and Fashion Week.

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