Born Patrick Nnaemeka Okorie on 27 May 1990 in Ijegun-Egba Satellite Town, Lagos State, Patoranking has become one of Nigeria’s most distinctive musical voices. Raised in the Ebute Metta area of Lagos, he began his career as a street jam and carnival dancer before transitioning into music.
His breakthrough came in September 2013 with the single Alubarika, featuring Timaya. The track showcased his signature fusion of Jamaican dancehall rhythms with African fuji, Afrobeats and soul, a style that would come to define his sound.
Patoranking’s debut album, God Over Everything, debuted at number four on the Billboard Reggae Charts in August 2016, making him the first Nigerian act to achieve that feat. Subsequent releases include Wilmer (2019), Three (2020) and World Best (2023), featuring collaborations with artists such as Tiwa Savage, Sauti Sol and Ludacris.
His catalogue includes well-known songs such as My Woman, My Everything and Abule. In September 2026, he won Best Male Reggae/Dancehall at the AFRIMMA Awards.
Beyond music, Patoranking has channelled his success into philanthropy through the Patoranking Foundation, which has directly impacted over 5,000 young people and awarded more than 250 scholarships.
In October 2025, he received the Baobab Award in Entertainment at the Best of Africa Awards in London, remarking that it was his first honour for “doing good”.
