Who is he?
A 20-year-old music biz polymath, the Londoner is ready to fill British urban music's yawning Usher and Michael Jackson-shaped solo male singer gap.
Didn't I see him on TV somewhere?
Yes, probably. He had a decent career as model and actor before secondary school – including childhood appearances in Doctors and Holby City – and after comedian Richard Blackwood cast Essien to play a younger version of himself in a video, Essien ended up spending his 11th birthday co-presenting Blackwood's MTV show. He was an extra in the video for Big Brovaz' single OK in 2002 when the Brovaz' producer, Skillz, heard him sing between takes and offered to produce some tracks. The rest, as they say, is history.
And, come to that, didn't I hear him on the radio somewhere?
Almost certainly. Although his first proper single, How We Roll, isn't out until Monday, Essien has already had tastes of chart, radio and YouTube action, appearing on Black Boys with Bashy, Let It Go alongside Sway, and Chipmunk's Beast. He's also had two tracks promoted to clubs – the Stargate-produced Stuttering, which features N-Dubz, and Love Drunk – both of which have also built the playlist profile that has helped get How We Roll on to the Radio 1 A-list.
Where can I hear him?
Pretty much anywhere with a radio. Failing that, head to loickessien.com.
