olamide

Biography

Olamide Adedeji, popularly known as Olamide or Olamide Baddo, was born on March 15, 1989, in Bariga, Lagos State, Nigeria. Raised in a modest family, he developed an early interest in music, initially aspiring to be a footballer before discovering his talent for rap at age 11. He attended primary and secondary school in Lagos and later studied Mass Communication at Tai Solarin University of Education.

Olamide's professional music career began in 2010 with the release of his debut single 'Eni Duro,' which quickly gained traction and led to a performance at the Hip-Hop World Awards. His first studio album, 'Rapsodi' (2011), was released under Coded Tunes, and he soon established his own label, YBNL Nation, releasing the influential album 'YBNL' in 2012. Olamide is celebrated for his dynamic blend of hip hop, afrobeats, and indigenous Yoruba lyricism, which has helped popularize the modern Nigerian street sound. Over the years, he has released numerous successful albums, won multiple awards, and become a central figure in Nigeria's music industry.

Beyond his own artistry, Olamide has played a pivotal role in shaping the careers of emerging talents through YBNL Nation, notably launching the careers of Adekunle Gold and Fireboy DML. His legacy is defined by his consistent hit-making ability, cultural influence, and commitment to uplifting new voices in Afrobeats and hip hop.

Fun Facts

• Olamide was the first Nigerian artist to sign an endorsement deal with Cîroc, an international liquor brand.
• He is known for rapping and singing predominantly in Yoruba, making indigenous language mainstream in Nigerian pop music.
• Olamide is nicknamed 'Baddo' or 'BaddoSneh' and is widely regarded as the 'King of the Streets' in Nigerian music.
• He has released at least one album almost every year since his debut, showcasing remarkable consistency.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• ID Cabasa - Producer and founder of Coded Tunes; early mentor and label boss who produced Olamide's debut album. (Rapsodi (2011)) [2010–2011]

Key Collaborators

• Phyno - Frequent collaborator; together they released the joint album '2 Kings' and multiple singles. (2 Kings (2015), various singles) [2013–present]
• Wizkid - Collaborated on several tracks, blending Afrobeats and street-hop styles. (Omo To Shan (2011), Confam Ni (2015)) [2011–2015]
• Tiwa Savage - Featured artist on Olamide's albums and singles. (Standing Ovation (2015)) [2014–2015]
• Fireboy DML - Signed to YBNL Nation; Olamide executive produced and mentored Fireboy's debut. (Laughter, Tears & Goosebumps (2019)) [2018–present]
• Adekunle Gold - Signed and mentored by Olamide under YBNL Nation. (Gold (2016)) [2015–2016]

Artists Influenced

• Fireboy DML - Discovered, signed, and mentored by Olamide; Fireboy credits Olamide for artistic development. (Laughter, Tears & Goosebumps (2019), Apollo (2020)) [2018–present]
• Adekunle Gold - Olamide provided a platform and guidance for his mainstream breakthrough. (Gold (2016)) [2015–2016]
• Lil Kesh - Signed to YBNL Nation; Olamide's mentorship shaped his early sound and career. (YAGI (2016)) [2014–2016]
• Chinko Ekun - Signed to YBNL Nation and influenced by Olamide's street-hop style. (Alejo Oran (2015)) [2014–2016]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Billionaires Club (Olamidé)
2. Free (Olamidé)
3. Infinity (feat. Omah Lay) (Carpe Diem)
4. Hasibunallah (Olamidé)
5. Luvaluvah (Olamidé)
6. WAHALA (feat. Olamide) (EMOTIONS)
7. Amapiano (Work Of Art)
8. Duro (Olamidé)
9. Indika (Olamidé)
10. 99 (feat. Daecolm) (Olamidé)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #afrobeats, #pop-rap