Olamide Adedeji, popularly known by his stage name Olamide, is a Nigerian hip hop recording artist from Bariga, Lagos State. He records mostly in Yoruba, his native tongue. Olamide was born on the 15th of March 1989 in Bariga, Lagos State. In 2000, he decided to pursue a career in music. When asked why music, he said;
I found out I was gifted in it so I had to explore it, it’s my life, my hustle, my world”.
In 2010, Olamide performed at The Hip Hop World Awards. He studied mass communication at Tai Solarin University of Education. In 2011, he released his debut studio album titled Rapsodi.
Olamide’s debut album, Rapsodi, was released in 2011. The album’s lead single “Eni Duro” charted on several radio stations in Lagos. Olamide’s debut offering led to collaborations with numerous artists, including Wizkid, ID Cabasa, 9ice, Reminisce and D’banj.
He was signed to ID Cabasa’s Coded Tunes record label and was managed by Toni Payne. In 2012, he left Coded Tunes and started his own record label YBNL Nation.
Olamide’s second studio album, YBNL, was released in November 2012. The album’s production was handled by Tyrone, Samklef, 2 Kriss, Pheelz and ID Cabasa. It features guest appearances from Davido, Tiwa Savage, Kayswitch, Dammy Krane, Reminisce, Samklef, Buckwylla, Minus 2 and Base One. The album was supported by the singles “Ilefo Illuminati”, “First of All”, “Stupid Love” and “Voice of the Street”.
In May 2013, it was reported that Olamide signed a record deal with DB Records. Olamide took to twitter to debunk the reports. In an interview with Toolz on NdaniTV’s The Juice, he said that it is too late for anyone to sign him.
On 17 July 2013, Olamide became the first Nigerian to sign an endorsement deal with Cîroc. On 24 October 2013, he signed a multi-million Naira deal with Guinness. In November 2013, he became an ambassador for Etisalat alongside Ice Prince. On 7 November 2013, he released his third studio album Baddest Guy Ever Liveth. The album’s singles include “Durosoke” and “Yemi My Lover”.
On 31 August 2014, Olamide became an ambassador of Guinness Nigeria’s Made of Black campaign alongside Phyno and Eva Alordiah. He performed at the campaign’s launch and was featured in the campaign’s television commercial.
The Yoruba version of Phyno (brothers from different tribes), Olamide has been featured recently by a lot of artistes. He even featured Don Jazzy in his song ‘Skelemba’. His ‘Story for the Gods’ was as much a great hit as ‘Durosoke’ and this nigga ain’t smiling.
He has been nominated and has won several awards;
- Nigeria Music Video Awards for Best Afro Hip-Hop Video and Best Street Hip-Hop Artiste 2014
- Nigeria Entertainment Awards for Best Indigenous artiste, Best Album of the year and Best Collabo 2013.
- The Headies for Best Rap Album and Album of the year 2013 and Best Rap Album & Album of the year 2014
- 2014 Channel O Music Video Awards for Most Gifted West.
The King of the West Coast (NAIJA) is so awesome that his crown remains with him forever,his collaborative album with East Coast’s King, Phyno titled ‘2 Kings’, was released on 1 April 2015. Being the original Badoo, his street credibility is on high alert and his flow in the hood is to die for.There cannot be another Oba Olamide, Music Royalty extraordinaire.
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