NEWS: The full Album STYL-PLUS EXPRESSIONS IS NOW AVAILABLE! Check out www.cdbaby.com/cd/stylplus2 In 2002, the entire crew of styl-plus (including managers T-Jazz and Joey; and producers SUNKY and Mekoyo) were virtual unknowns in the African music world. Now, STYL-PLUS has become a household name in Nigeria, and is rapidly growing in popularity in the UK, USA and South Africa. Have been called the African " Boys 2 Men", these young maverick have inspired the music world of nigeria, starting from the scratch, without any support; then growing into the most promising group in Nigerian music, in the horizon. Their hit tracks Olufunmi, Runaway and Call My NAme, proved to the world that Nigerian music could be as good as any; with their phenomenal successes on their airwaves in their home country. The group STYL was formed in 1997 a gospel quartet by founding members Shifi Emoefe, Tunde Akinsanmi, Yemi Akinwonmi, and Lanre Faneyi. In 1999 Lanre passed away and Zeal Onyecheme joined the group. The name STYL which was formed by combining the first letters of the first names of the founding members then turned to Styl-Plus, the Plus being used to indicate the new addition to the group. In the year 2001, the groups expanded from singing strictly gospel songs, to inspirational and love songs. In 2002 Yemi left the group to pursue another career. In 2003 the group teamed up with Anthony 'T-Jazz' Ukpong and Joseph 'Joey' Ukpong to form their own record label; Styl-Plus Music. In late October of 2003, under the management of T-jazz and Joey, they released two singles to radio stations . The response was tremendous, and the unprecedented airplay the tracks received fuelled the subsequenlty massive sales of the Singles on Cd and audiotapes Based in Abuja , FCT, the group uses its strong vocals and addictive soundtracks to successfully blend together English and Indigenous languages, on their Pop and R& B tracks. The Motto of the group is "Positive-Cultural-International" and this is evident in the positive messages and the noticeable absence of raunchy and profane lyrics, which characterize most R & B groups. The members of the group are all graduates of FUT Akure (except one in who is in his final year) and are all bachelors in their mid-twenties. Facts: The song Olufunmi was voted song of the year 2003 by listeners on 96.9 Cool FM Abuja . It was the most requested song on every major station in the country, including, Ray Power, Rhythm Fm, Cool Fm, Eko Fm, Brilla Fm, Kapital Fm, and Metro Fm Lagos. Olufunmi and Run Away are the most requested love songs on all the R & B or radio love shows nation wide. Olufunmi has been No1 on every major radio chart show including The Grand Square Countdown (Cool Fm Abuja), Top 7 jams at 7 (Rhythm Fm nationwide), MTN Yello (Stations nationwide). It has also been No1 On numerous magazine and newspaper charts like the Saturday Sun weekly music chart. Styl-Plus has set new records by being the first indigenous group to have 2 songs simultaneously on any chart. In the case of MTN Yello radio show (based on listeners smsing in their choice), for the first time in its history, a group had both the number 1 and number 2 songs (the position was held simultaneously for 4 weeks! As of the 1st of April, Olufunmi had been number 1 for 15 weeks! Their newest single, Call My Name has was released early July and has also started to dominate charts nationwide Notable performances in 2004: Styl-Plus has performed at almost every major university in front of capacity crowds. Styl-Plus performed at the British Council during HRH Queen Elizabeth's commissioning of the Centre during CHOGM October 8th Styl-Plus billed to perform at MTN Yello in Enugu August 6th, 7th, 9th Styl-Plus performs alongside Femi Kuti, 2 Face, Jazzman Olofin, and Rugged Man during the Wyclef Jean Black Gold Concerts in Lagos and Abuja (they are the only indigenous group who performed at 3 out of the 4 concerts) 23rd July, Styl-Plus performs at NAF Club Kaduna. V-Mobile brand re-launch 17th July Performance at wedding of Tunde and Hilda Abebe (Stella Obasanjo's niece) in front of numerous dignitaries 10th July St Moritz Style Awards at Expo centre. Performed alongside Yinka Davis and the Steve Rhodes Orchestra 11th June MTN Yello TV recording along with Da Trybe, Jazzman Olofin, P-Square, and foreign artists 29th May Democracy Day celebration in Abuja alongside Paul Play, Krazee Kulture, Maintain 22nd May Nicon Noga. Gede Foundation (VP wife) launching 1st May Opening act for Yvonne Chaka Chaka at The Dome Night Club, Abuja 25th April Miss Oyo State Pageant. Receives special award for excellence from Governors wife. 16th and 17th April. Played alongside Rugged Man and Paul Play Dairo at the Sean Paul Concert at Ocean View and Expo Centre Lagos