Olamide

One of Nigeria’s most popular and prolific rappers, Olamide frequently scores radio hits and wins awards in his home country. Singing and rapping mainly in Yoruba and English, his music blends Afropop, dancehall, hip-hop, and other styles. The founder and CEO of record label and event management company YBNL Nation, Olamide has signed several major endorsement deals with drink companies, in addition to other investments and assets, making him one of the wealthiest musicians in the country. After finding national success with 2013′s Baddest Guy Ever Liveth and 2015′s Eyan Mayweather, he began releasing music in America through Empire Distribution. His first widespread release was 2020′s Carpe Diem, followed by 2021′s UY Scuti. The EP Ikigai appeared in 2024. Olamide Adedeji was born in Bariga, Lagos State in 1989. He decided to become a musician in 2000, and he started his career a decade later, signing to Coded Tunes and releasing the single “Eni Duro” in 2010. The song became a hit, and Olamide performed at the Hip Hop World Awards (later renamed the Headies) in 2010. His debut album, Rapsodi, was released in 2011, featuring guest appearances by Wizkid, Pheelz, 9ice, and other Nigerian stars. Olamide left Coded Tunes and founded his own company, YBNL Nation, in 2012. His second album, also called YBNL (short for Yahoo Boy No Laptop), was the label’s first release, and it proved to be another success, winning top honors at both the Headies and the Nigeria Entertainment Awards. Third album Baddest Guy Ever Liveth (2013) repeated this feat, in addition to featuring the major hit “Durosoke,” which won awards in its own right. Street OT was released in late 2014, winning Olamide another Album of the Year award at the Headies. In 2015, Olamide released 2 Kings, a collaboration with Phyno, as well as his fifth solo effort, Eyan Mayweather, another Album of the Year recipient at the NEAs. Sixth album The Glory appeared in 2016, followed a year later by Lagos Nawa. Numerous non-album singles and freestyles appeared throughout the remainder of the 2010s. Olamide’s first major work of the next decade was 2020′s Carpe Diem, which also served as his first American release on Empire Distribution. He followed it a year later with another full-length, UY Scuti, before pairing with CKay for 2023′s “Trumpet.” He was also featured on Asake’s “Amapiano,” a breakthrough hit which helped introduce the genre of the same name to worldwide listeners. The full-length Unruly was released in 2023, followed by the 2024 EP Ikigai. ~ Paul Simpson