Jesse Jagz Biography and Net Worth

Jesse Garba Abaga popularly known by his stage name as Jesse Jagz is a famous Nigerian hip hop reggae rapper, record producer, singer, songwriter, stage performer and a recording artist. He was born on 10th August 1984 in Jos, Plateau State in the northern part of Nigeria. He is currently 34 years old. He is very gifted, skillful and talented.

Jesse Jagz has been described as Nigeria’s Kanye West because of his flirtatious experimentation with different genres of music from R&B to roots reggae to pop all built on a predominantly hip hop foundation. Jesse Jagz is a native of Jukun in Taraba State in the northern part of Nigeria, but grew up in Jos, Plateau State in the northern part of Nigeria.

He was born in a music-filled environment. At the age of 7 years old, his parents gave him access to join the church choir and from there he started playing different set of drums. He is currently the immediate younger brother to Nigeria’s greatest rapper MI Abaga.

Jesse Jagz recorded his first album with a group of artists named “Gospel Insanity”. Unfortunately, the album never got released due to fallout of some of the members. After the failure of the album, Jesse Jagz started producing beats professionally and formed another group called “Eleven Thirty” which quickly became a huge success in Jos, the capital city of Plateau State in the northern part of Nigeria.

In 2004, Jesse Jagz hooked up with his elder brother Jude Abaga popularly known as MI and together they started Inner Hub Studios. In 2006, Jesse Jagz started a solo career with a debut hit single “Africa” a song that remained at number 1 on the Cool FM chart for several months.

Between 2006 and 2007 respectively, Jesse Jagz had three songs simultaneously dominating the top 10 charts on Cool FM, RayPower FM as well as Rhythm FM and finally becoming street anthems in and around the northern part of Nigeria.

In April 2015, Jesse Jagz re-signed a record deal contract with Chocolate City after leaving the label in May 2012 to establish his own imprint record label known as Jagz Nation.

Jesse Jagz hit singles include Nobody Test Me, Bend Down Low, Sugar Cane Baby and The Greatest, amongst others. In 2008, his hit single “My Brother” was selected as part of the International Music Entrepreneur of the Year.

In February 2009, Jesse Jagz was selected to represent Nigeria at the 2009 edition of Sauti Za Busara Music Festival, a yearly international festival celebrating East African music and features top-quality musical performances by more than 400 established and upcoming artists and over the years has established itself as one of Africa’s leading music festivals which is held annually in Zanzibar, Tanzania.

Jesse Jagz has collaborated with top artists like M.I, Ice Prince, Banky W, Flavour, Wizkid, Davido, Brymo, Faze, Ruby, Olamide, amongst others. In 2009, his debut music video “Pump It Up” was released in November 2009 and got him positive reviews. In 2010, he released his first debut studio album “Jag of all Tradez” which received critical acclaim globally.

In 2013, he released the hit singles “Murder them” and “Redemption” after parting ways with Chocolate City Music group which is currently headed by MI and Ice Prince. The singles “Murder them” and “Redemption” was later released under his new imprint and record label “Jagz Nation”.

In June 2013, Jesse Jagz released his second album “Jagz Nation Vol 1; Thy Nation Come” under his record label “Jagz Nation” after leaving Chocolate City. With him rapping, singing and handling most of the production on his first album, Jesse Jagz chose to seek the help of other producers such as Samklef, Shady and Kid Konnect on his second album instead. The album features collaborations from Brymo and Wizkid. On 8th April 2015, Jesse Jagz returned back to Chocolate City and renewed his contract.

Jesse Jagz in the cause of his career as a hip hop reggae rapper has received several awards and nominations. In 2008, he won Best Rap Single and Best Producer of the Year at the Splurge Magazine. In 2010, he won Producer of the Year at The Future Awards. In 2014, he won Lyricist on the Roll at the Hip Hop World Awards and The Headies Awards.

In 2007, he was nominated for Most Top Ten Hits on Cool FM. In 2008, he nominated for Best Dance Single at the Nigeria Entertainment Awards. In 2009, he was nominated for Producer of the Year at the Hip Hop World Awards. In 2010, he was nominated for Producer of the Year at the Future Awards.

Jesse Jagz is currently one of the richest and most influential hip hop reggae rapper and artist in Nigeria with an estimated net worth of $1.7 million.