Olamide Gbenga Adedeji is a Nigerian rapper and singer who goes by the stage names, Olamide Baddo, BaddoSneh, or simply Baddo. He is one of the most well-known and influential musicians in Africa. He sings in Yoruba as well as English.
Biography
Olamide Gbenga Adedeji was born in Bariga, Lagos State, on March 15, 1989. Pa Adedeji, his father, has three children with his mother, Ronke Osisanya Adedeji, who is his second wife. Olamide has two siblings, TemmyGold and Eniola Olamilekan, also known as DJ Enimoney.
Olamide debuted in the music industry in 2010 with the release of Eni Duro, his first single. He also performed at the Hip Hop World Awards in the same year. He studied mass communication at Tai Solarin University, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, but dropped out due to financial concerns.
Career
Critics were full of praise for Eni Duro, Olamide’s 2010 debut single and he became well-known as a result. He was also invited to perform at the Hip-Hop World Awards the following year. His debut studio album, Rapsodi, was released in 2011.
Omo To Shan, his hit song with Wizkid, charted on several Lagos and Nigerian radio stations. Wizkid, ID Cabasa, 9ice, Reminisce, and D’banj, among others, collaborated on Olamide’s debut album.
Olamide’s second studio album, YBNL (Yahoo Boy No Laptop), was released in November 2012. The project’s production was overseen by Tyrone (producer), Samklef, 2 Kriss, Pheelz, and ID Cabasa. The album features cameos by Davido, Tiwa Savage, Kayswitch, Dammy Krane, Reminisce, Samklef, Buckwylla, Minus 2, and Base One.
Some of the album’s hit hits included Ilefo Illuminati, First of All, Stupid Love, and Voice of the Street.
Baddest Guy Ever Liveth is Olamide’s third studio album. It was released on November 7, 2013, by YBNL Nation. Olamide’s album, recorded between 2012 and 2013, featured guest artists like Pheelz, Buckwyla, Ketchup, Ice Prince, Pepenazi, Endia, Viktoh, B.Banks, Phyno, Pele Pele, and Bez. Pheelz produced the entire album except for the thirteenth tune, Sitting on the Throne.
Durosoke, Turn Up, Yemi My Lover, and Eleda Mi O were released as singles in support of the album Baddest Guy Ever Liveth. The album was named one of the top five yet-to-be-released Nigerian albums of 2013 by Premium Times newspaper. It was named 12th on Afrikka Radio’s selection of the top 12 finest Nigerian albums of 2013. In 2014, Baddest Guy Ever Liveth was nominated for Rap Album of the Year at the City People Entertainment Awards, and it won Best Album of the Year at the Nigeria Entertainment Awards. It won Best Rap Album and Album of the Year at the 2014 Headies.
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Olamide’s fourth album, Street OT, was released under YBNL Nation on November 14, 2014. His Baddest Guy Ever Liveth album was released in 2013, and this is the follow-up. Pasuma, Lil Kesh, Chinko Ekun, Phyno, Don Jazzy, and Reminisce make guest appearances on Street OT, preceded by the singles Story For The Gods and Goons MI produced by Pheelz, B-Banks, and Young Jonn. The album’s title is meant to celebrate and demonstrate Olamide’s love for the streets, albeit it not a phrase he is familiar with.
Olamide and Phyno collaborated on the album 2 Kings in 2015. With little fanfare, Penthauze Music and YBNL Nation released it on Cloud 9 and the iTunes Store on April 1, 2015. Producers and guest musicians on the album include Wizkid, Lil Kesh, Storm Rex, Pheelz, Major Bangz, B.Banks, and Young John.
Before recording the album, Olamide and Phyno collaborated on several tracks, including Ghost Mode and Dope Money. Une and Confam ni were among the album’s hits, both released in the months leading up to its release.
Olamide’s fifth studio album, Eyan Mayweather, was released on November 23, 2015. Eyan Mayweather is Olamide and Phyno’s follow-up to their collaborative album 2 Kings, which was released by YBNL Nation and featured studio production from Pheelz, Young Jonn, B Banks, and I.D. Cabasa. There were no guest appearances on the album’s 21 tracks.
On December 23, 2016, Olamide’s sixth studio album, The Glory, was released. For YBNL Nation, Pheelz produced the music in the studio. Artists such as Phyno, Wande Coal, Burna Boy, Akuchi, and Davolee have all contributed to the album.
Olamide’s eleventh album, Carpe Diem, was released on October 8, 2020. Carpe Diem features Omah Lay, Fireboy DML, Peruzzi, Bad Boy Timz, Bella Shmurda, and Phyno, and was produced by Young John, Pheelz, P.Prime, Idcabass, and VStix. According to the Olamide Music Chart on Twitter, the album reached 500 million listens on June 1, 2021.
On March 16, 2021, Olamide announced that he had finished work on a new album. On April 18, he announced the album UY Scuti, which was released on June 18. The title, UY Scuti, was inspired by Olamide’s son.
On February 5, 2022, Olamide declared his retirement after the release of his 12th album.
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Songs
Olamide has released many hit songs. Here are some of his songs.
- Eni Duro
- Stupid Love
- First of All
- Abule Sowo
- Pon Pon
- Durosoke
- Eru
- Green Light
- Triumphant
- Yemi My Lover
- Lagos Boys
- Eleda Mi O
- Science Students
- Melo Melo
- Anifowose
- Story for the Gods
- Bobo
- Loading
- Motigbana
- Don’t Stop
- Wo
- Infinity
Albums
- Rapsodi (2011)
- YBNL (2012)
- Baddest Guy Ever Liveth (2013)
- Street OT (2014)
- 2 Kings (2015)
- Ryan Mayweather (2015)
- The Glory (2016)
- Lagos Nawa (2017)
- Double (2019)
- 999 (2020)
- Carpe Diem (2020)
- UY Scuti (2021)
Olamide record label
Olamide Adedeji founded the Yahoo Boy No Laptop (YBNL) Nation label in 2012. The name is slang for a small fellow who brings in income and has no illegal dealings. Lil Kesh, Chinko Ekun, Adekunle Gold, DJ Enimoney, Picazo, Temmie Ovwasa, and others, including Fireboy DML, were all signed to the label. While Adekunle Gold, Lil Kesh, Chinko Ekun, Lyta, Limerick, Picazo Rhap, and Yomi Blaze have all departed the label, Fireboy DML, and others remain.
The label won the City People Entertainment Award for best record mark of the year in 2016.
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Olamide family
The rapper is married to Adebukunmi Aisha. Their sons are Maximilian Boluwatife and Tunrepin Myles. He also reportedly had a love child with Maria Okanrende, who worked at The Beat 99.9 FM.
Olamide net worth
Olamide has progressed from one of Nigeria’s most popular musicians to one of the country’s most powerful music executives.
He makes a lot of money through his singing career, but he also makes a lot of money from his stake in YBNL Records.
His net worth is between N6.25 billion ($15m) and N8.3 billion ($20m) , making him one of the richest musicians in Nigeria.
Awards
Olamide is one of the most awarded musicians in the country. He has been nominated and has won several awards, some of which include:
- Nigeria Entertainment Awards, Best Indigenous Artiste, 2013.
- Headies, Album of the Year, 2013.
- Headies, Best Album of the Year, 2013.
- Channel O Music Video Awards, Most Gifted West, 2014.
- Too Exclusive Awards, Album of the Year, 2015.
Conclusion
Olamide’s ability to keep out of scandals and his great work ethic have both helped him stay afloat in his musical career. This is demonstrated by the number of albums he has been able to release in such a short period after beginning his musical career.
He also teaches young artists that it doesn’t matter your background or financial status, anything is possible if you put your mind and hands to work.
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