Tobe Nwigwe: Home Is Where The Hood Is

Tobe Nwigwe is a visionary, multi-hyphenate who is creating his own worlds in music, fashion, film and beyond.

The autobiographical lyrics and tone of his music tell the story of a difficult upbringing as a first-generation Nigerian kid in the Alief neighborhood of Houston, TX. The authenticity in his work is palpable. The same songs that describe the harsh realities of his upbringing also speak on the power of his beliefs and the importance of purpose.

Overcoming those realities, Tobe has emerged with one overarching goal in life: "to make purpose popular," and he has been well on his way in doing so.

His work has garnered wide acclaim and a bevy of notable co-signs, including First Lady Michelle Obama, who placed his song “I'm Dope” on her coveted workout playlist; fellow hometown icon Beyoncé, who featured Tobe prominently on billboards, commercials, and in-store placements nationally for her Adidas x IVY PARK Rodeo campaign; and Pharrell Williams, who has tapped Tobe to lead global campaigns for Moncler including curating, creative directing, and performing for Moncler’s Genius Show at Milan Fashion Week 2023.

Tobe continues to build on his resume that defies the odds of what a fully independent artist can accomplish including being nominated for Best New Artist 2023 GRAMMYs, supporting role in blockbuster movie: Transformers Rise Of The Beasts, multi-year partnership with Reebok to launch collections of footwear and apparel, standout performances at Coachella Music Festival, 3x NAACP Image Awards Winner, leading voiceover on Beats By Dre “You Love Me” campaign earning Emmy nomination for Best Commercial, reaching No. 4 on Billboard Digital Song Sales chart with viral song “Try Jesus”, and best-of performance for NPR's Tiny Desk among many other monumental moments.

Tobe’s greatest accomplishment has been building everything he has to date with his wife, Fat, and his family of five kids currently all aged five and under; Ivory, Sage, Chu Chu, Chiko and Jah Jah. Tobe’s art is literally inseparable from his family, who appear with him in nearly every song, music video, and public appearance.

Having collaborated with heavy-weight artists across the board such as Justin Timberlake, Nas, Pharrell, Black Thought, Erykah Badu, and 2 Chainz, Tobe’s latest music project, Hood Hymns, released 8.30.2024, was diligently curated with key features including Fantasia, Jay Electronica, Chance The Rapper, Anthony Hamilton, Andra Day and the list goes on.

Hood Hymns has been Tobe’s most ambitious and important work to date. It’s his prayer for people who came up like him and an overall true culmination of his purpose wrapped in one project.