Locko (born Charles Arthur Locko Samba) is an award-winning Cameroonian Afrobeat and R&B artist who first found success in 2015 with his debut album Skyzo. Since then he has released a string of chart-topping singles, EPs, and albums, including 2019's Cloud Nine (his debut for Universal South Africa), that have helped put him at the fore of the Central African pop scene. Born in Yaoundé, Locko took to music at a young age, becoming proficient on guitar and especially piano, singing in the school choir, and performing covers of popular songs online. In 2014 he released his debut single, "Perfect Girl (feat. Numerica)," and inked a deal with Big Dreams Entertainment, which put out his debut album, Skyzo, the following year. In 2016 he released the hugely popular singles "Ndutu" and "Sawa Romance," and in 2017 he participated in the prestigious pan-African music collaboration show Coke Studio Africa, becoming only the second Cameroonian artist to do so. He released his sophomore full-length effort, The Bridge, the following year, with his major-label debut Cloud Nine arriving in 2019. The Locked Up EP appeared in 2020 and featured guest spots from Gaz Mawete and Charlotte Dipanda. ~ James Christopher Monger