BIOGRAPHY

Olamide Gbenga Adedeji (born March 15, 1989) is one of Afrobeats’ biggest ambassadors, who has helped shape the genre’s culture on the global scene. Known professionally by the monikers, Olamide or Olamide Baddo, the leading Nigerian artiste wears the hat of a singer, rapper, and music executive. Specializing in indigenous rap (Yoruba), Olamide rose to stardom with the release of his highly successful debut studio album, Raspodi, in 2011. He followed it up by dropping another great album titled YBNL, which is home to hit singles like Stupid Love, Voice Of The Street, and Ilefo Illuminati.

n 2011, he released his first album titled ‘Rapsodi’ in which he featured several top Nigerian artists like ID Cabasa, Wizkid, Dbanj, Reminisce, and 9ice. It’s needless to say that the album was a huge success.

Olamide didn’t rest on his oars after the success of his first album, in 2012; he went on to release another album titled YBNL. The album had several hit singles like ‘First of All’, ‘Voice of the street’, ‘Ilefo Iluminati’ ‘Stupid love’ ‘Durosoke’ and ‘Owotabua’. Once again, the album which featured several major Nigerian artists like Tiwa Savage, Dammy Krane, Kayswitch, Samklef, Davido, and a couple of up-and-coming artists, was well received.

Another album titled “Baddest Guy Ever Liveth’ was released in 2013 which featured hit singles like ‘Anifowose’ ‘Story for the Gods and ‘Yemi my Lover’ and in 2014, he released his latest album, Street OT, in which he featured Don Jazzy for ‘Skelemba’ and Viktoh for ‘Up in the Club.

CAREER AND EARLY LIFE 

After he dropped out of the university, Olamide did not waste time going into any other field of endeavor but pursued his passion for music straight away. He was first signed to the record label Coded Tunes managed by Toni Payne, and under the label, he released his debut single, Eni Duro. Even though Eni Duro was his first official release, the song would reveal him to the world. It received wide critical acclaim and therefore launched him into the limelight.

He subsequently dropped numerous singles, which continue to make waves in the country. Some of which include Apa Ti Jabo, Stupid Love, Omo To Shan, First of All, Yemi My Lover, Melo Melo, Matters Arising, Eleda Mi, and many others. One of his popular songs is the 2020 trending hit, Infinity, featuring Omah Lay. The video of the song currently has gathered over 46 million views on YouTube, and it grossly contributed to catapulting him onto more fame. One notable aspect of the music done by Olamide is the fast-paced rap. This type of music genre has not been very familiar in Nigeria, where a majority of the people prefer high-energy, fast-paced party popping jams. However, Olamide has managed to bring change by incorporating new skills into his rap music. He is versatile as an artist and can easily blend different tunes and beats. Although he majorly raps in Yoruba, Nigerian slang, and Pidgin English, Olamide has produced a few tracks in English.

YBNL NATION JOURNEY

Olamide’s record label Yahoo Boy No Laptop (YBNL) Nation Label is an independent record label he founded in 2012. The label’s name is slang referring to young boys making money with no illegal approaches. After his first studio album, all other subsequent works of the rapper were released under YBNL Nation. His second studio album, which was the first label’s release, proved to be a huge success, winning top awards at the Nigeria Entertainment Awards and The Headies. YBNL has signed many prominent Nigerian artists like Lil Kesh, Temi Ovwasa, Adekunle Gold, and many more. In 2016, YBNL won the record label of the year in the City People Entertainment Award.

FAMILY AND EDUCATION HISTORY

Olamide had his primary and secondary schools in Lagos before proceeding with his university education. It was while in the university that he developed a passion for music. He attended the Tai Solarin University of Education in Ijagun, where he studied Mass Communication. Regardless of his course of study, he decided to go for music, so it is safe to say that what he learned in the university did not shape him into the career path he is now. When asked why he chose music, Olamide responded that he found out he was highly gifted in it, so he decided to explore it. Meanwhile, it was recorded that he dropped out of the university due to financial constraints.

Adedeji Gbenga Olamide was born and raised in Bariga, in Lagos, on 15th March 1989. He goes by the stage names “Baddo, YNBL, Young Erikina, and Baddest Boy Ever Liveth.” Olamide is the second out of the three children born to his parents Pa Adedeji and his second wife, Ronke Osisanya Adedeji. His two other siblings are Emmy Gold and Eniola Olamilekan, best known as DJ Enimoney. DJ Enimoney is also a popular name in the Nigerian entertainment industry. He is the official DJ of the YBNL record label. In April 2021, DJ Enimoney dropped new music titled Sugar Daddy, featuring his elder brother and boss Olamide.

NET WORTH

The Eni Duro crooner Olamide has grown from one of the country’s top music acts into one of the most prominent music executives in the country. Besides the money he makes from his music career, he also generates high returns from his investment in YBNL Records. Thus, Olamide is estimated to have a net worth of US$15 million to US$20 million.

MARRIAGE LIFE/ RELATIONSHIP

Olamide is a family man, and he is happily married to Mrs. Adebukunmi Aisha Suleiman Adedeji. Their union has been blessed with two children, who are boys. The first is named Maximilian Boluwatife, while the second is named Tunrepin Myles. The Adedejis live a very comfortable lifestyle in one of the highbrow neighborhoods in Lagos Island. Olamide has influenced pop culture in Nigeria with his music sound and fashion sense, and he is known to have propagated specific street phrases, which were popular while they lasted. In 2020, Olamide and YBNL Records signed a collaborative deal with Empire, an international distribution company. Artistes signed under him are also benefitting from the agreement. Olamide has been involved with Adebunkunmi Aisha Suleiman well before he rose to fame in the music business. He proposed to her in March 2018.

Some of Olamide’s famous songs include:

• Infinity
• Jale
• Confession Aiye
• Triumphant
• Loading
• Apa Ti Jabo
• Green Light
• Awon Goons Mi
• Up in the Club
• Plenty
• Unconditionally
• Another Level
• Oja Majemi
• Take Rich
• Famous Vision

He Has Released 8 Studio Albums So Far

So far, Olamide has released 8 studio albums, 3 collaborations and EPs, and numerous hit singles. The Eni Duro crooner has managed to stay afloat in the music scene given his hard work ethic and ability to stay out of scandal. This is evident in the number of albums he has released over a short time of launching his music career. Below are the albums he has under her belt and how successful they wee

Rapsodi (2011)

Olamide’s debut studio album Rapsodi was released in 2011, while he was still under the Coded Tunes label. The tracklist of 16 singles, Rapsodi, is a hip-hop album performed in the Yoruba language. In the album, Olamide featured many A-list Nigerian artists like Wizkid, ID Cabasa, Dbanj, 9ice, Reminisce, Jumoke, etc., and it turned out to be a huge success. The album’s lead single, Omo To Shan, charted on various radio stations in Lagos and across the country.

YBNL (2012)

After the success of his first album, Olamide didn’t take a break but went on to release his second album titled YBNL. He left the Coded Tunes in 2012 to start his own YBNL Nation (Yahoo Boys No Laptop), and his second album was its first release. YBNL, released on 12th November 2012, was produced by Tyrone. The album featured guest appearances like Davido, Kay Switch, Tiwa Savage, Dammy Krane, and Reminisce. Some singles in the album are I lefo Illuminati, First of All, Stupid Love, Durosoke, Voice of the Street, and Owotabua. 

Baddest Guy Ever Liveth (2013)

Olamide started recording his third studio album titled Baddest Guy Ever Liveth in 2012 and released it on 7th November 2013. It featured Don Jazzy, Pheelz, B.Banks, Phyno, Viktoh, and others as guest artists. The singles in the album include Turn Up, Yemi My Lover, Eleda Mi O, and Anifowose. Baddest Guy Ever Liveth was ranked 12th on Afrikka Radio’s list of the top 12 best Nigerian albums of 2013. It won three different awards in 2014 and was nominated for Rap Album of the Year at the City People Entertainment Awards in the same year.

Street OT (2014)

Following the third album the next year, Olamide dropped his fourth studio album, Street OT. The album follows the 2013 Baddest Guy Ever Liveth album and features guest appearances such as Pasuma, Lil Kesh, Phyno, Reminisce, Don Jazzy. Two popular singles in the album are Goons Mi and Story for the Gods. The album is a combination of hip-hop, afrobeat, and rap, and the language used is English, Yoruba, and Igbo language. The album’s lyrics are focused on the “street” where the singer was raised and his love for God.

Eyan Mayweather (2015)

Olamide’s fifth studio album was produced by Pheelz, B-Banks, ID Cabasa, and Young John and released on 23rd November 2015. It comprises 21 tracks which include Bobo, Matters Arising, Lagos Boys, and Melo Melo.

The Glory (2016)

The Nigerian rapper released his sixth album, The Glory, on 23rd December 2016. It contains 16 songs featuring artists like Phyno, Burna Boy, Wande Coal, and Akuchi. In the following year, he released the album Lagos Nawa (2017).

UY Scuti (2021)

On 18th April, Olamide announced that he was done working on his eighth and latest studio album and released it on 18th June 2021. He said that one of his sons inspired the title of the album UY Scuti.

CARPE DIEM

On 8th October 2020, Olamide released Carpe Diem, his first body of work under American label and distribution company Empire Distribution. Carpe Diem contains 12 tracks featuring Fireboy DML, Bad Boy Timz, Omah Lay, Phyno, Peruzzi, and Bella Shmurda as guest appearances.