Nutty Josh: Life, Career and Achievements of the Late Gospel Singer
The Nigerian gospel music community has lost one of its voices, Nutty Josh, following his death after spending weeks in a coma.
The singer, whose music combined gospel messages with elements of rap and contemporary sounds, was known for songs including “Thankful,” “N.U.T.T.Y Definition,” “Ainya,” “Way Maker” and “OMG.”
News of his death has renewed interest in his life, musical career and the body of work he left behind.
Who was Nutty Josh?
Nutty Josh was a Nigerian gospel singer and songwriter whose music career stretched back more than a decade.
Music credits identify his name as Joshua Acheme Edache. His early recorded work includes the song “N.U.T.T.Y Definition,” released in 2010 as part of his Yield album. Apple Music credits Joshua Acheme Edache as the songwriter on the track.
His name also appeared within Nigeria’s gospel music scene in the early 2010s. In 2013, Nutty Josh was listed among the nominees for the Best Gospel Hop/Rap category at the Nigeria Gospel Music Awards.
This reflected the direction of his music, which often brought together Christian themes, rap and contemporary Nigerian sounds.
Nutty Josh’s music career
Nutty Josh built his career around gospel music while maintaining a distinctive rap-influenced style.
One of his notable projects was Yield, which dates back to 2010. His discography later included the album Grace & Ease, released in 2019. Apple Music lists “Ainya,” featuring Owie Abutu, among the songs on the project.
Another song that became part of his catalogue was “Thankful,” featuring gospel singer Onos. A 2016 report on the song described Nutty Josh’s approach as a fusion of rap and worship, highlighting the combination that became part of his musical identity.
His career also saw him collaborate with other Nigerian gospel and Christian music acts. He featured on Obiora Obiwon’s “Follow You”, while his performances and appearances connected him with other gospel artistes and events.
Nutty Josh was also listed as one of the gospel performers at the 2009 Abuja Miracle & Healing Convention organised by Savannah Ministries, showing that his involvement in Christian music dates back to the early years of his career.
Songs and projects
Over the years, Nutty Josh released and featured on several songs.
His catalogue includes “N.U.T.T.Y Definition,” “Thankful,” “Ainya,” “Way Maker,” “Deal,” “Too Much,” “Black, Proud and Beautiful” and “OMG.”
“Way Maker,” released in February 2024, featured Nutty Josh alongside Oba Reengy and Rehmahz. Song credits list Joshua Edache among the songwriters.
He also collaborated with Greatman Takit on “Too Much” and with Gaise Baba and A Mose on “OMG.” The latter was released in November 2025 and was credited to Nutty Josh, Gaise Baba and A Mose.
His more recent work showed that he remained active in music years after his earliest recordings. His catalogue also included “Black, Proud and Beautiful,” released in 2025 with Clinton Flames.
His musical style
A major feature of Nutty Josh’s career was his ability to combine gospel with hip-hop and contemporary music.
Rather than limiting his music to traditional worship arrangements, he used rap and modern production to communicate Christian themes. His collaboration with Onos on “Thankful” is one example of that approach, with the song combining his rap delivery with Onos’ vocals.
His work also crossed into collaborations with artistes from different corners of Nigeria’s contemporary gospel scene.
Nutty Josh’s achievements
One of the documented milestones in Nutty Josh’s career was his nomination in the Best Gospel Hop/Rap category at the 2013 Nigeria Gospel Music Awards. He was listed alongside artistes including IBK Spaceshipboi, Provabs, Gameman, Bouqui and Protek.
His longevity in the Nigerian gospel music scene is another notable part of his career. From Yield in 2010 to releases such as “Way Maker,” “Deal” and “OMG” more than a decade later, his recorded catalogue shows a sustained presence in gospel music.
He also worked with established names in Nigerian gospel music, including Onos and Obiora Obiwon, while continuing to release music under his own name.
Nutty Josh’s final years
Nutty Josh continued releasing music into 2025, with songs including “OMG” and “Black, Proud and Beautiful” appearing in his catalogue.
His death therefore marks the end of a career that had already spanned several generations of Nigeria’s contemporary gospel music.
While details surrounding his final illness remain limited in publicly available sources, reports about his death state that he spent weeks in a coma before passing away.
For listeners who followed his music, his recorded works, collaborations and contribution to gospel rap remain part of the legacy he leaves behind.