The first time I heard Olamide was in 2011. He felt like a breath of fresh air, reminds me of the late Dagrin but with his own spin: a fusion of indigenous rap and pop taste. From Rapsodi to The Glory, he soundtracked my teenage years. Growing up in Osun State, Olamide was one of the reasons I discovered so many artists. He was among the few top-tier artists who embraced collaborations widely. His feature run was, and still is, nothing short of impeccable.

You start to wonder, is it a Bariga thing? A result of being mentored by ID Cabasa? Or is it simply who he is, someone deeply empathetic, wired to uplift?

Olamide achieved and sustained significant success in Nigeria’s music scene, often mentioned in the same breath as Davido and Wizkid during their early breakout years. But unlike most, he seemed more invested in building from within. He didn’t just chase success, he built infrastructure. When he founded YBNL (Yahoo Boy No Laptop), the name alone sparked conversations. As usual, Olamide was unapologetically bold with it.

Before signing anyone, he was already leaving his mark with powerful guest verses and backing artists. But in 2014, when he signed Lil Kesh, it was a game changer. At the time, only a few artists were in a position, or mindset, to do that. From Kesh’s debut single, success followed. And even now, Olamide continues to lend his voice to rising talents.

Lil Kesh, Viktoh, Chinko Ekun, Adekunle Gold, all emerged under YBNL in its early days, before its joint venture with EMPIRE. NotjustOk once published a list of artists whose rise is directly or indirectly linked to Olamide’s influence. It was YCee who said on the Jagaban (Remix), “Olamide just put me on, you know what that feels like?” That says it all.

But his impact wasn’t limited to artists. He’s nurtured producers and video directors too. For years, Pheelz and Young Jonn were his go-to producers, and they credit him as a crucial part of their journey. Directors like Unlimited LA crafted visuals for Olamide’s major hits from 2015 to 2018, and their success too was boosted by his consistency. TG Omori’s resurgence in 2019? That was Olamide again, a platform, a spark.

Then came February 18, 2020, a major turning point. YBNL signed a joint venture with EMPIRE. Fireboy DML was already a rising star, and this deal amplified the label’s international outlook. But interestingly, Olamide himself didn’t chase global validation the way many expected. He didn’t pivot for Western audiences. He stuck with his roots, working with local event organizers, designers, and producers, staying grounded even while his label soared globally.

Fireboy landed collaborations with D Smoke, Madonna, and more. Then came Asake, ushering in a whole new level of global success for YBNL. Three albums in, Asake now boasts Grammy nominations, billions of streams, and international awards.

Despite this, Olamide’s focus remained local. It’s not that his music didn’t travel, it did. In 2020, Infinity with Omah Lay became a smash hit, approaching 200 million streams on Spotify. His Grammy-nominated feature on Amapiano with Asake cemented his global relevance. He’s toured Europe and the U.S., but his heart has always been with the people. Last year alone, he featured on over 20 songs, not just with Afrobeats stars like Zlatan, Peruzzi, CKay, Shallipopi but also with Gimba, Liya, Alpha P, Khaid and many others. No other A-list artist in the world engages with the grassroots this consistently.

This is one of the greatest gifts Afrobeats has received.

Now in 2025, Olamide just made an appearance on Aktivated TV, a Nigerian platform that champions emerging African talents. He performed Hasibunallah, an unreleased song from his upcoming album Olamidé. Again, he’s the only artist of his stature showing this level of commitment to local platforms, and it’s incredibly refreshing.

With his upcoming album, anticipation is high. The tracklist features contributions from artists like Wizkid, Fadi, Fxrtune, Seyi Vibez and others. Behind the scenes, he’s worked with some of the country’s finest creatives, Jyde Ajala on video direction, TG Omori, Dara Banjo on photography, and Dayo Cyrus on art direction. Olamide is building something timeless.

And whatever he delivers next, one thing is certain, it’ll be done his way – grounded, original, and rooted in love for his people.