SPECIAL REPORT; The Humble and inspiring story of OLAMIDE, Setting an Example for Nigerian Youths
By; Al Humphrey Onyanabo
Olamide Adedeji, popularly known as Olamide, is a Nigerian afro beat artiste who has gained massive success in the music industry. Despite his extraordinary success, Olamide remains a humble artiste who lives a low-key lifestyle. He is also a music label owner who signs on upcoming Artistes without stringent conditions and helps other acts by supporting their music free of charge.
Olamide’s extraordinary success in the music industry and his humble lifestyle is a source of inspiration to Nigerian youths.
Olamide’s Music Career
Olamide started his music career in 2010 with the release of his debut single ‘Eni Duro.’ The song was an instant hit and earned him a spot in the Nigerian music industry. Since then, Olamide has released several hit singles, including ‘Durosoke,’ ‘Eleda Mi,’ ‘Bobo,’ and ‘Wo.’ He has also released several albums, including ‘Rapsodi,’ ‘Baddest Guy Ever Liveth,’ ‘Eyan Mayweather,’ and ‘Lagos Nawa.’ Olamide’s music style is a fusion of Yoruba language, Pidgin English, and English. His music is enjoyed by music lovers across Nigeria and beyond.
Olamide’s Humble Lifestyle
Despite his extraordinary success in the music industry, Olamide lives a low-key lifestyle. He keeps his family life private and away from the public space. He rarely flaunts his wealth and lives in a modest apartment. Olamide’s humble lifestyle is a source of inspiration to Nigerian youths who are often caught up in the pressure of flaunting wealth and living a lavish lifestyle. Olamide shows that success can be achieved without compromising on one’s values and principles.
Olamide’s Music Label
Olamide is also a music label owner. He founded ‘YBNL Nation’ in 2012, a record label that has signed on several artistes, including Lil Kesh, Adekunle Gold, Fireboy DML, and Temmie Ovwasa. Unlike other record labels, YBNL Nation does not have stringent conditions for signing on artistes. Olamide believes in giving opportunities to upcoming artistes who might not have access to the music industry. He also lets his artistes go after four years to go into the world on their own. Olamide’s approach to music label management is a breath of fresh air in the Nigerian music industry, where artistes often struggle to get signed on to record labels.
Olamide’s Support for Upcoming Artistes
Olamide is also known for his support for upcoming artistes. He collaborates with upcoming artistes to promote their music free of charge. Olamide’s collaborations with upcoming artistes have helped to launch their music careers and gain recognition in the music industry. Olamide’s support for upcoming artistes is an encouragement to other established artistes to support the growth of the Nigerian music industry.
The Ashake story
Whenever I watch the Ashake video where he talks about how OLAMIDE signed him on. It brings me to tears. OLAMIDE sees and appreciates talent and uses his resources and network to push them to as far as they can push themselves.
Ashake has been selling out internationally for months. It’s all OLAMIDE. He let him shine. He did not hug the spotlight with him as some other bosses would do. He stays in the background like a true godfather directing the affairs while letting the world see the greatness and uniqueness of his artiste. That is the high road of honour. OLAMIDE is blessed and lives with the peace that passeth all understanding because he sows love into the lives of people. He elevates others and the rewards come back to him in many more ways than material resources. And that’s why he does not need to feel on top of the world flaunting wealth. He is just cool as he is. That’s the place to be. It does not come easy.
Portable, the Agege based singer hit the limelights because OLAMIDE agreed to do a collabo with him. Since then it has been one deal after another.
Fireboy DML is another young act doing great things. OLAMIDE picked him out and signed him on. He too is doing pretty well and going places.
The Slavery of Record label owners;
Record labels in Nigeria have a long history of enslaving their artistes. They sign them on when they are young, ignorant and hungry for fame and money. The Artistes are usually in a hurry believing that the world is living them behind. They forget there is a tomorrow that is pregnant with promise. Sunny Ade suffered same. Majek Fashek suffered as well. Polygram Records and Tabansi still have the master tapes of most of their Artistes till date. Some of them are still tied to them. The conditions being too stringent. Most of the big name Artistes were once slaves to their record labels, owned stock and barrel.
OLAMIDE is in a class of distinction among record label owners, and I don’t know where he got that from. Street boys are usually hard and mean, but he different. He is generous and soft.
Before OLAMIDE signs you onto his label, he gives you a contract to take home to study. Most of the boys are usually too excited to leave his presence with the contract. He takes advantage of no one. He sees their hunger and passion, he has been there. He can smell it.
They know how long they dreamed, prayed and waited to see him, to have a conversation about being signed on. They are prepared to sign anything and just start. The fear is that once they leave, they might not be able to see him again. But he assures them that their place is waiting and reserved. They must take the contract home to their parents and lawyer to look through before they bring it back to him signed. No Artiste under his label suffers enslavement of any kind. Usually I am informed he signs them on a 3/4 year contract and there after he cuts them loose to go and make a do of their carear on their own terms. Some people might call him foolish. Why invest so much in an artiste and set him free in his prime? People I know are wired differently and OLAMIDE is not your run of the mill record label owner or singer. If he was, I won’t be doing this Special Report about him and he won’t also be counted amongst the StoryTeller Icons for a New Nigeria. That list is distinctive; owing a private jet, Rolls royce or one million dollar diamond neck chains or an island in the sea does not get you on that list. Only those who through their humanity lift up others in words and deeds are invited to this elite group.
By; Al Humphrey Onyanabo
(The StoryTeller)
Tel; +2347054674906
Email; Nigeria360online@gmail.com