Olamide

Olamide Adedeji, known professionally as Olamide, is a Nigerian rapper and singer from Bariga, a working-class neighborhood in Lagos State. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in modern Nigerian hip hop, notable for rapping predominantly in Yoruba rather than English, which helped popularize indigenous-language rap on a mainstream commercial level in Nigeria. His breakout came with his debut album «Rapsodi», followed by «YBNL», released under his own label imprint YBNL Nation, which he founded to promote his music and later signed and mentored several younger artists.

Olamide's sound blends street-hop, Afrobeats, and pop-leaning R&B influences, often anchored by punchy, rhythmic delivery and beats rooted in Nigerian street culture. Albums such as «Baddest Guy Ever Liveth» cemented his commercial dominance in the early-to-mid 2010s, spawning hit singles that dominated Nigerian radio and clubs. His music captures the energy and slang of Lagos street life while crossing over into more polished pop territory on later projects.

Beyond his solo catalog, Olamide has been a key tastemaker in Nigerian music, helping launch the careers of several artists through YBNL Nation and frequently collaborating across generations of Afrobeats and hip hop performers. He has received numerous honors from Nigerian award bodies including The Headies and the Nigeria Entertainment Awards, and remains a consistent hitmaker decades into his career.