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Tag: Olamide

  • How I begged Olamide for two years to sign me – Asake

    How I begged Olamide for two years to sign me – Asake

    Nigeria’s rave of the moment, Ahmed Ololade, popularly known as Asake, has revealed that he begged YBNL CEO, Olamide to two years before he accepted to sign him to the record label.

    According to the singer, Olamide invited him to his house one day and asked him whether he would like to join his record label, and he accepted with hesitation.

    He said Olamide asked him to employ the services of a lawyer and study the nature of the contract, but he was too excited and signed immediately.

    Speaking in an interview with Hip TV, Asake said, “Before he [Olamide] signed me, I’ve been begging Baddo [Olamide] since 2020 to sign me.

    “One day, I got to his house, then he asked me… This part burst my head. This is how he signed me. He said, ‘How are you, Asake?’ I said I’m fine. And he asked me, ‘Would you like to join YBNL?’

    “You don’t understand, for somebody you look up to, somebody you respect, somebody you’ve been longing to see, to ask you that question. I told him that I’m ready. He said, ‘Go and think about it. Go and look for a lawyer.’ I said, ‘Baba, sign me now now now. I don’t want any lawyer. Because I love the [YBNL] family so much even from afar.”

    Asake signed to YBNL Nation in February 2022. That same month, he released his debut extended play, Ololade, which featured his breakthrough song ‘Omo Ope’ featuring Olamide and the single ‘Sungba.’

  • Singer Lyta begs Olamide to re-admit him at YBNL

    Singer Lyta begs Olamide to re-admit him at YBNL

    Upcoming artiste, Opeyemi Rahim, famously known as Lyta has again come out to say that he would love to return to his former record label, Olamide’s YBNL.

    While featuring on  Ginger Yourself Podcast, the singer explained that he didnt leave YBNL “intentionally.”

    He said, “I want to be back with YBNL, what I did back then [leaving YBNL Nation] wasn’t intentional. I didn’t hear from Olamide before leaving and after I left, he just locked up. But I’ve spoken to him since leaving. I chatted with him via Instagram on his birthday and he responded.”

    Asked if Olamide is following him on Instagram, the ‘Monalisa’ crooner said, “No. He is not following anybody on Instagram.”

    Recalls that Lyta left YBNL Nation in 2019 after falling out with the record label boss, Olamide.

    He disclosed in an interview in 2022 that he left YBNL Nation because he “heard a lot of things from friends and people in the industry.”

    He added that he “didn’t know who or what to believe and some people eventually got into my head.”

  • Grammy Awards: Burna Boy, Ayra Star, Olamide set new records

    Grammy Awards: Burna Boy, Ayra Star, Olamide set new records

    Nigeria’s music trio of Olamide, Ayra Star and Burna Boy have set new records following their nominations for the 66th edition of the Grammy Awards.

    Burna Boy got four nominations to be the only Nigerian artist with the highest nominations in the history of the award (10).

    He also becomes the first Nigerian artist to earn a Grammy nomination in 5 consecutive years (2019-2023).

    Burna Boy’s ‘Sittin’ On Top of The World’ becomes the first African song to earn a nomination in the Rap category. It was nominated in the Best Melodic Rap Performance category.

    The song will contest the gong with Doja Cat’s ‘Attention’, Drake & 21 Savage’s ‘Spin Bout U’, SZA’s ‘Low’, and Lil Durk and J. Cole’s ‘All My Life.’

    However, Olamide  made history as the first Nigerian rapper to bag a Grammy nomination. His collaborative song with Asake, ‘Amapiano’ was nominated in the maiden Best African Music Performance category at the 66th Grammys.

    ‘Amapiano’ will contest the award with Davido’s ‘Unavailable’, Ayra Starr’s ‘Rush’ Burna Boy’s ‘City Boys’, and Tyla’s ‘Water.’

    Similarly, 21-year-old Ayra Starr has made history as the youngest Nigerian to bag a Grammy nomination. Her hit song ‘Rush’ was nominated in the inaugural Best African Music Performance category at the 66th Grammys.

  • How Olamide inspired my lyrics game – Mayorkun

    How Olamide inspired my lyrics game – Mayorkun

    Afrobeats singer, Adewale Mayowa Emmanuel fondly called  Mayorkun, has revealed that his pen game was inspired by his colleague Olamide.

    Sharing a video of himself freestyling via Snapchat recently, the ‘Cheche’ crooner said Olamide inspired how he writes his music.

    While acknowledging the YBNL boss’s influence in his penmanship, the former DMW signee said Baddo made him understand that good songwriting doesn’t necessarily have to be in the English language.

    He captioned the video: “Na Baddo Olamide make me know say pen game no be by English o! IYKVK.”

  • Streams: Olamide, Odumodublvck, Blaqbonez battle for top spots on Spotify

    Streams: Olamide, Odumodublvck, Blaqbonez battle for top spots on Spotify

    Spotify, global online streaming platform, says Olamide, Odumodublvck, Blaqbonez, Zlatan and Ice Prince are most streamed Nigerian Hip hop artistes on its platform.

    Victor Okpala, Spotify’s Artiste and Label Partnerships Manager for West Africa, disclosed this in a statement on Friday.

    According to Okpala, Hip Hop has achieved global prominence and this triumph extends to Nigeria where it has profoundly influenced the evolution of afrobeats.

    He said it was not surprising that Nigeria occupies a significant position within Africa’s Hip hop listenership landscape, securing the second spot after South Africa.

    He noted that this position underscored the genre’s popularity within the country and reflected the widespread impact of Nigerian Hip hop on the African  music scene.

    “The spotlight falls on Olamide, Odumodublvck, Blaqbonez, Zlatan and Ice Prince as the most streamed within the realm of Nigerian Hip hop.

    “Nigeria’s patriotism in music is evident as most streamed Hip hop artistes are Nigerians, unlike regions such as Kenya and South Africa where international hit-man, Drake, leads.

    “Hip hop is one of the most popular music genres in the world and it continues to have an input in newer genres and music movements springing up in Nigeria and around the world.

    “Its ability to evolve and stay relevant is a testament to its power as a form of artistic expression that resonates with listeners worldwide,” he said.

    Okpala said according to Spotify’s data, Nigerian Gen Z individuals aged between 18 and 24 constituted a sizable segment of Hip hop listeners, accounting for 55 per cent of the total streams.

    He said this is followed by listeners aged 25 to 29, contributing 19 per cent of the streams.

    According to him, the age brackets of 0 to 17 and 30 to 34 both hold a nine per cent share.

    He said from a gender perspective, Nigerian Hip hop music predominantly resonates with males, commanding a substantial 75 per cent of the recorded streams, while females account for 24 per cent.

    “Nigerian Hip hop gained popularity in the 1990s with artistes such as Modenine, Naeto C, Bouqui, Ruggedman, Gino, Eedris Abdulkareem, eLDee, Sasha P, Ikechukwu and a whole lot more.

    “These artistes pioneered the sounds and culture of Hip hop that have influenced Nigerian tracks and has grown to gain substantial traction within the continent.

    “It is interesting to see how Nigerian listeners who are Hip hop enthusiasts are contributing to the elevation of the Hip hop genre and the sounds that tapped influences from it.

    “The Gen Z demographic is playing a significant role in this trend,” he said.

    According to Okpala, Hip hop has continued to thrive in the streaming era as a new crop of rappers are creating rap music that appeals to Gen Z consumers.

    He said accessibility of streaming platforms like Spotify had enabled Gen Z to explore and embrace music from around the world, with Nigerian Hip hop resonating strongly due to its energetic, relatable lyrics, and cultural authenticity.

  • Why I established YBNL – Olamide

    Why I established YBNL – Olamide

    Nigerian rapper Olamide Adedeji, fondly called Olamide, has revealed why he established a record label.

    Olamide said he started a record label so he can spend his money which is “becoming too much” on young artistes’ careers.

    He disclosed this in an interview with Apple Music’s Ebro Darden.

    He said, “I just started stacking up money and the money was becoming too much for me. I’m like, yo, I don’t have anything to do with all this money, mehn, I need to sign new guys. Let me spend money on people, you know.

    “It is just like my own little way of giving back to the community.”

    Olamide’s YBNL Nation is home to two of the hottest new generational afrobeats artists in the country; Fireboy DML and Asake.

  • Olamide in surprise mood as signee, Asake sold out London O2 Arena on Sunday

    Olamide in surprise mood as signee, Asake sold out London O2 Arena on Sunday

    Indigenous rapper  and YBNL boss, Olamide Adedeji, professionally  known as Olamide, has congratulated his signee, Asake, for selling out the 20,000-capacity O2 Arena in London, United Kingdom over the weekend.

    Recall that Asake sold out the iconic London arena on Sunday night, making history in the process as the first Nigerian newbie to do so.

    Olamide, Tiwa Savage, Fireboy and a host of others joined Asake on stage to thrill the crowd.

    Meanwhile, the Eko crooner took to his social media pages to express love to his signee, saying he has really impressed amd amazed him.

     

    Olamide wrote, “@asakemusik Congratulations Mr Mon£y! Thank God for crowning your efforts.. you put in so much work it d muzz me.”

  • I introduced singer Asake to Olamide – Yhemolee

    I introduced singer Asake to Olamide – Yhemolee

    Popular actor and singer, Idowu Adeyemi, aka Yhemolee, has explained how he introduced singer Asake to YBNL boss, Olamide in 2022, saying it was his greatest achievement of the year.

    Yhemolee while granting an interview with media personality, Chude Jideonwo said he was the person who introduced Asake to Olamide, who later signed him to his YBNL record label last year.

    The host, Jideonwo, said the story of how Yhemolee introduced Asake to the YBNL boss has become a legend, adding that people now use it as a prayer point.

    Yhemolee recalled how he shed tears of joy after seeing the exploits Asake was making at his sold-out concert at Brixton Academy in London, United Kingdom.

    He said, “I said something on his [Asake’s] birthday. I said, ‘My greatest achievement in 2022 is Asake.’

    “Me and that guy have been together way back 13 years. On day 2 of his London concert, I cried. I was like, in February, we were just in my house trying to push ‘Omope’. Fast forward 10 months, and we are in London. It was really touching for me.”

  • Chinko Ekun speaks on rift with Olamide

    Chinko Ekun speaks on rift with Olamide

    Hip-hop artiste,  Oladipupo Olajide popularly known as Chinko Ekun, has finally spoken on his relationship with his former record label boss, Olamide.

    The artiste said that there was no rancour between him and Olamide, saying that their relationship is sweet as usual.

    The ‘Able God’ crooner added that he can never fight Olamide, noting that he gave him the platform to achieve his breakthrough as a musician.

    He, however, said he likes the fact that many think he is fighting Olamide.

    Ekun stated this in a recent interview with Hip TV.

    He said: “I wonder how people think I will fight Olamide Baddo. How? E dey always burst my head, like, he practically gave me a platform on the go. And you think I’m gonna fight that same person? How?

    “I also love the fear of the unknown. I like the fact that I’ve not come out to say anything on that. I like the fact that a lot of people can assume so. So, I’m saying it here, there was never a fight, there will not be fight, there can never be a fight unless he steals my kpomo [laughs].”

  • Why I apologised to headies, Olamide in 2015 – Don Jazzy

    Why I apologised to headies, Olamide in 2015 – Don Jazzy

    Nigerian music producer and singer, Michael Collins Ajereh, popularly known as Don Jazzy, has explained that he ever regret his confrontation with his colleague, Olamide, at the 2015 Headies Awards

    Recall that there was mild drama at the 2015 Headies Awards event after Don Jazzy’s signee, Reekado Banks, was announced the winner of the highly coveted Next Rated category, which Olamide rejected, saying his YBNL-protégé, Lil Kesh deserved it more.

    According to Don Jazzy what transpired back then was not his usual character.

    The music producer made this confession while Speaking on the recent episode of Doyin’s Corner podcast hosted by former Big Brother Naija housemate, Doyin, saying he wasn’t his usual self on the night.

    He said, “There was the Headies incident [my alteration with Olamide]. That one was also out of character. I regretted that like instantly as soon as I came down from the stage.”

    He said he had already apologized to the organisers and Olamide.