Akiode Blessing

Akiode Blessing Mariam, also known as Candy Bleakz is a Nigerian street pop singer, rapper and songwriter. She is currently signed to Chocolate City Music and is famed for her 2022 hit single, Tikuku. The single earned her a spot as the first and only female artist to grace the first issue of the Turntable "Street Pop Singles" chart.

Candy Bleakz was once a member of the now defunct indigenous Yoruba Hip Hop group, Street Billionaires where she was also the only female member. She also got featured on Google's International Women's Day campaign, and their WNBA Women's Month campaign.

Within the same year, she was selected by the Recording Academy for their Global Spin Series, spotlighting Afrobeats. She performed a mash up of her single "Kope" and an unreleased favorite "Kanle"

Early Life and Education

Candy's passion for music started from her early days in the church choir. It was not until she won a school competition while filling in for an absentee performer that her passion for music as a career was sparked. She further began writing lyrics, recording and participating in more talent shows.

She also attended Onabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State where she started studying Medicine but had to move on to pursue a career in music.

Career

Candy won the Lagos Got Talent show, in 2016. Thereafter, she got introduced to MI Abaga- Chocolate City's then CEO. She shared some of the songs that she had recently recorded, and he watched her perform at the Felabration Concert held at the Shrine in honor of the late Fela Anikulapo Kuti where she took home the award as the Best Rapper in her category.

Later that year she got signed to Chocolate City under the imprint Street Billionaires. Candy soon became the leading lady of the indigenous Yoruba Hip Hop Group, the "Street Billionaires". In February 2019, she took a stab at a solo single, OWO OSU featuring Naira Marley and Zlatan Ibile.

After the merger with Warner Music, the Label revised its roster, and the Street Billionaires imprint was affected by the downsizing.

Candy Bleakz was however retained as a solo act and unveiled in 2020 with her first single under the new deal. Later that year, she released "Won La", which got her nominated for Best Female rapper at the Africa Music Magazine Awards (AFRIMMA), and has since been licensed on the Showtime Comedy TV Series, "Flatbush Misdemeanors" Ep 103.

Discography