Ogi

Ogi emerged as a singer and songwriter shaped by Midwestern roots yet anchored on the West Coast, cultivating a self-assured strain of forward-thinking R&B. Though her understated yet supple voice could sit comfortably beside an acoustic jazz trio, every track she has released to date has been shaped, either solely or in tandem, by longtime rap and R&B producer No I.D. working in a restrained, finely etched manner. She arrived on record in 2022 via two initial singles that paved the way for the Monologues EP, issued through the major-label imprint Atlantic.

Born in Wisconsin as Ogi Ifediora, she grew up absorbing an eclectic mix that ranged from sacred and secular Nigerian traditions carried by her parents to reggae, modern gospel, and both classic and present-day R&B. During her school years she took up viola, sang in a jazz choir, and later added piano and guitar. While pursuing a law degree at Northwestern University she participated in an a cappella ensemble and began experimenting with music production independently. Instagram clips of her cover performances caught the ear of No I.D., whose résumé includes work with Common, Jay-Z, and Jhené Aiko. After finishing her studies she relocated to Los Angeles to develop original songs alongside the producer. Her first single, “I Got It,” surfaced in February 2022, followed in March by “Envy.” That May she delivered the Monologues EP, which gathered the two earlier tracks plus four additional cuts, nearly all crafted by No I.D.