Crayon is a Nigerian Afrobeats singer and songwriter who has built a name for himself with his colourful sound, catchy melodies and energetic performances. Known for songs such as “Ijo (Laba Laba),” “So Fine,” “Overloading (Overdose),” “Jackpot” and “Ngozi,” he is one of the artists associated with the modern generation of Mavin Records.
His story is more than just music. Crayon has spoken about growing up in Lagos, facing financial difficulties, experiencing setbacks in his education and eventually finding an opportunity to pursue music professionally. His journey from the streets of Ojo to the Nigerian mainstream music scene is also reflected in the title of his debut album, Trench to Triumph.
This article covers Crayon’s biography, real name, age, family background, education, music career, popular songs, record label and what is publicly known about his net worth.
Crayon Profile at a Glance
| Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Real name | Charles Chibueze Chukwu |
| Stage name | Crayon |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Profession | Singer and songwriter |
| Music genre | Afropop/Afrobeats |
| Place of birth | Lagos, Nigeria |
| State of origin | Ebonyi State |
| Record label | Mavin Records / Blowtime Entertainment |
| Breakthrough song | “Ijo (Laba Laba)” |
| Debut EP | Cray Cray |
| Second EP | Twelve A.M. |
| Debut album | Trench to Triumph |
Public sources do not agree consistently on Crayon’s exact date of birth. Apple Music lists July 8, 1997, while several Nigerian biography websites have published different years. Because of these conflicting records, it is safer to avoid presenting an unverified birth year as an established fact.
Who Is Crayon?
Crayon is the professional name of Charles Chibueze Chukwu, a Nigerian singer and songwriter associated with Afrobeats and Afropop.
He became more widely known after joining the Mavin music family and releasing music that combined contemporary Afropop with catchy hooks, dance rhythms and personal storytelling. Mavin Records describes him as an Ojo-bred musician whose influences include Nigerian legends and international pop artists.
Unlike artists who become famous overnight, Crayon’s career developed over several years. Before receiving major industry attention, he was already recording and promoting music independently.
His story is particularly interesting because he experienced several disappointments before getting his major opportunity in the music industry.
What Is Crayon’s Real Name?
Crayon’s real name is Charles Chibueze Chukwu.
Before adopting the name Crayon, he used the name July, a name connected to his birth month according to an interview with Pulse Nigeria. During his early music journey, he worked with people including producer Ozedikus and began recording songs before eventually entering the professional music industry.
The stage name Crayon fits the colourful character of his music. His songs often combine upbeat rhythms, melodic vocals and playful expressions, giving his work a distinctive identity within Nigerian Afropop.
Crayon’s Age
Crayon’s exact age has been reported differently across online sources.
Apple Music currently lists his birth date as July 8, 1997, while other biography websites have reported 1998, 2000 and other dates.
This inconsistency is important because many entertainment websites publish celebrity ages without citing a primary source. Rather than repeating an uncertain figure, the most responsible approach is to acknowledge the conflicting public records.
What is well established is that Crayon began attracting serious industry attention as a young artist and was introduced as part of Mavin’s new generation of talent in 2019. Mavin’s own profile describes him as a young Afropop talent who joined the label’s expanding roster during that period.
Crayon’s Early Life and Family Background
Crayon was born in Lagos and has roots in Ebonyi State, southeastern Nigeria.
According to an interview with Pulse Nigeria, he was born in Orile Iganmu and later moved with his family to Ojo, Lagos. His father owned a CD shop, which gave young Charles considerable exposure to music while growing up.
That environment played an important role in developing his interest in music. He grew up listening to different artists and genres, including Nigerian and international music.
Crayon has also spoken about the financial difficulties he experienced while growing up. His background became an important part of his artistic identity and later influenced the themes explored on his debut album, Trench to Triumph.
His family story is therefore not simply a celebrity biography detail. It helps explain why themes such as struggle, perseverance, gratitude and success appear frequently in his music.
Crayon’s Education
Crayon attended school in Lagos, including Treasure Court College in Ojo.
His journey through education was not straightforward. He has spoken publicly about attempting the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination several times without gaining admission to university.
Those setbacks affected him emotionally, but they also contributed to his decision to concentrate more seriously on music.
His experience is one reason his career story resonates with many young Nigerians who face difficulties in education, employment and other traditional routes to success.
How Crayon Started His Music Career
Crayon’s professional music journey began before his major record-label breakthrough.
According to his interview with Pulse, he met producer Ozedikus and began working on music with him and another friend, Nos. At the time, Crayon was using the name July. The group recorded songs and attempted to promote them through radio stations and social media.
The journey eventually brought him into contact with Baby Fresh, a Nigerian music producer associated with Mavin’s wider music structure.
In 2019, Crayon was signed to Blowtime Entertainment, a Mavin Records imprint. That signing provided the platform he needed to move from an upcoming Lagos artist to a nationally recognised Afropop act.
Crayon and Mavin Records
Mavin Records has played a major role in Crayon’s career.
The Nigerian record label, founded by Don Jazzy, has been home to several successful African artists. Crayon joined the label’s new generation of artists around 2019.
His arrival was followed by the release of his debut EP, Cray Cray, a six-track project that introduced listeners to his musical personality.
Mavin Records says the EP produced early favourites including “So Fine” and “Gock Am.” Crayon also received a Rookie of the Year nomination at the 2019 Headies Awards, giving his young career an early industry milestone.
Crayon’s Debut EP: Cray Cray
Crayon released his debut EP, Cray Cray, in 2019.
The project contained six tracks and helped establish his identity as a melodic Afropop singer. Songs associated with the project include:
- “Aye O”
- “Unusual”
- “Confidence”
- “So Fine”
- “Gock Am”
- “Bamiloke”
The EP was important because it introduced Crayon to a larger audience and demonstrated that he could do more than simply provide catchy hooks.
His early recordings also showed the influence of Nigerian Afropop while allowing him to experiment with different melodies and vocal approaches.
Twelve A.M. EP
Crayon followed his debut project with Twelve A.M., released in 2021.
The project marked another stage in his development as an artist. It included collaborations and continued his exploration of Afropop and contemporary African pop.
One of the songs most associated with the project is “Jackpot,” featuring Bella Shmurda.
The collaboration helped connect Crayon’s sound with another popular voice from Nigeria’s new-school music movement.
Crayon’s Breakthrough With Ijo (Laba Laba)
For many listeners, “Ijo (Laba Laba)” was the song that transformed Crayon from a promising artist into a mainstream name.
Released in 2022, the song became a major turning point in his career. It combined a dance-friendly rhythm with a memorable chorus and energetic delivery.
Mavin Records identifies “Ijo (Laba Laba)” as one of the defining moments of Crayon’s career. The song received award nominations and became a charting hit.
The song was also included on his debut album, Trench to Triumph. Streaming platforms list Crayon as the performing artist, with songwriting credits including Charles Chibueze Chukwu and Prince Oghenemine Omoferi.
Overloading (Overdose)
Another major moment in Crayon’s career came with “Overloading (Overdose)”, a Mavin collaboration featuring several members of the label’s artist roster.
Crayon’s contribution to the song helped draw further attention to his ability to create memorable hooks.
The success of “Overloading” came shortly before “Ijo (Laba Laba),” making 2022 an especially important year in his career. Mavin Records describes the period as a defining stage in his development as an artist.
Trench to Triumph Album
In 2023, Crayon released his debut studio album, Trench to Triumph.
The title captures the central idea behind his story: moving from a difficult childhood and uncertain beginnings toward a successful career in music.
The album featured songs including “Ngozi” with Ayra Starr, as well as other tracks that explored celebration, relationships, ambition and gratitude.
Mavin Records describes the album as a celebration of Crayon’s journey, while music critics have highlighted the way his personal experiences shaped the project’s themes.
The album was an important step because it demonstrated that Crayon was capable of carrying a larger body of work rather than relying only on singles and collaborations.
Popular Crayon Songs
Crayon has released and appeared on numerous songs throughout his career. Some of the most recognisable include:
1. Ijo (Laba Laba)
This is arguably Crayon’s signature hit. Its energetic rhythm and easy-to-remember chorus helped introduce his music to a much larger audience.
2. So Fine
“So Fine” was one of the songs that helped establish Crayon during the early stages of his career and appeared on his Cray Cray EP.
3. Overloading (Overdose)
This Mavin collaboration helped showcase Crayon alongside other members of the label’s artist community.
4. Jackpot
“Jackpot,” featuring Bella Shmurda, came from the Twelve A.M. era and remains one of Crayon’s notable collaborations.
5. Ngozi
“Ngozi,” featuring Ayra Starr, appeared on Trench to Triumph and represented another successful collaboration between two Mavin-associated artists.
6. The One (Chop Life)
“The One (Chop Life)” was part of Crayon’s 2023 run of releases and continued his focus on upbeat, celebratory music.
7. Tete
“Tete” showed another side of Crayon’s sound, with a more romantic and melodic direction.
8. Roju
Crayon released “Roju” in 2025 as another upbeat, romantic song. Mavin described it as his second single of that year, following “Bodycon.”
His catalogue continues to expand, with music platforms such as Apple Music listing newer releases and collaborations alongside his earlier work.
What Genre of Music Does Crayon Make?
Crayon is primarily associated with Afrobeats and Afropop.
However, his music does not fit neatly into one sound. His work can include elements of contemporary African pop, dance music, romantic pop and other influences.
Mavin Records has described his influences as including Fela, Wizkid, Drake, Bryson Tiller and Justin Bieber. This mixture helps explain why his music can appeal to listeners who enjoy both African and international pop sounds.
Crayon’s Awards and Recognition
Crayon received a Rookie of the Year nomination at the 2019 Headies Awards, an early recognition of his potential in Nigeria’s music industry.
His breakthrough period brought additional recognition. Mavin Records reports that “Ijo (Laba Laba)” earned nominations at the Headies and Soundcity MVP Awards.
In 2023, Crayon won the African Fan Favorite award at the AFRIMMA Awards.
These achievements show how his career developed from an emerging act into an artist with a broader African audience.
What Is Crayon’s Net Worth?
Crayon’s exact net worth is not publicly verified.
Several entertainment websites have published estimates ranging from tens of thousands of dollars to hundreds of thousands of dollars. However, these figures are estimates rather than audited financial statements.
For example, one biography site has previously estimated his net worth at about $300,000, while other websites have published substantially different figures.
More recent music-industry estimation sites also provide revenue projections, but these are explicitly described as approximations based on publicly available information rather than Crayon’s confirmed personal finances.
For that reason, it would be misleading to claim a precise figure as fact.
Crayon’s potential income sources as a professional musician can include music streaming, live performances, songwriting, royalties, collaborations, endorsements and other commercial opportunities. However, his actual earnings, expenses, contracts and investments are private.
So, the safest answer to “How much is Crayon worth?” is that his exact net worth is unknown, while online figures should be treated as unofficial estimates.
Crayon’s Family and Personal Life
Crayon has spoken publicly about his upbringing, particularly his family’s move from Orile Iganmu to Ojo in Lagos and the financial challenges they faced.
His early family environment also exposed him to music through his father’s CD business.
Beyond these details, Crayon generally keeps many aspects of his private family life away from the public eye. This means that numerous claims about parents, siblings, relationships or other personal matters found on entertainment blogs should be treated carefully unless they can be traced to a reliable interview or direct statement.
This distinction matters because celebrity biographies often repeat information from one another without establishing whether the original claim was accurate.
Why Crayon’s Story Matters
Crayon’s story stands out because his success was not immediate.
He faced educational setbacks, financial challenges and a long period of trying to get his music heard. His meeting with Ozedikus became an important early step, while his eventual connection with Baby Fresh and Mavin Records opened the door to a much bigger career.
His debut album, Trench to Triumph, effectively turned that experience into a musical narrative.
His career also illustrates how modern Nigerian artists can build audiences through a combination of songwriting, collaborations, social media, streaming platforms, record-label support and live performances.
Crayon’s Career Today
Crayon remains active in the Nigerian music industry and continues to release music and collaborate with other artists.
After the success of Trench to Triumph, he continued exploring romantic and feel-good songs. Mavin Records reported that he recorded 195 million streams across platforms in 2024, alongside several feature appearances.
His later releases, including “Bodycon” and “Roju,” demonstrate that he is continuing to develop rather than relying entirely on the success of “Ijo (Laba Laba).”
With a growing catalogue and a recognisable musical identity, Crayon remains an artist to watch within Nigeria’s evolving Afrobeats scene.
Frequently Asked Questions About Crayon
What is Crayon’s real name?
Crayon’s real name is Charles Chibueze Chukwu.
Where is Crayon from?
Crayon was born in Lagos, Nigeria, and has roots in Ebonyi State. He grew up largely in the Ojo area of Lagos.
What is Crayon famous for?
He is best known for songs such as “Ijo (Laba Laba),” “So Fine,” “Overloading (Overdose),” “Jackpot” and “Ngozi.”
Which record label is Crayon signed to?
Crayon is associated with Mavin Records and its Blowtime Entertainment imprint.
What is Crayon’s biggest song?
“Ijo (Laba Laba)” is widely regarded as his major breakthrough and one of his signature songs.
Does Crayon have an album?
Yes. His debut studio album is Trench to Triumph, released in 2023. Before the album, he released the EPs Cray Cray and Twelve A.M.
How old is Crayon?
His exact age is difficult to state with complete confidence because reputable music and entertainment sources have published conflicting birth years. Apple Music lists July 8, 1997, while other sources give different dates.
What is Crayon’s net worth?
There is no publicly verified figure for Crayon’s net worth. Online estimates vary considerably and should not be treated as confirmed financial information.