Olamide Gbenga Adedeji (born 15 March 1989) is a Nigerian rapper, singer, songwriter, and record executive. He is regarded as one of the most influential artists in Nigeria and Africa and has been crucial to the creative and commercial success of several Afrobeats music stars, and is consistently praised for his role in elevating street pop to mainstream recognition as a distinct music genre.He is the most followed African rapper on Instagram and X formerly Twitter. Olamide is the most subscribed African rapper on YouTube, and also the most followed African rapper on Facebook He records in Yoruba language and English. In 2011, he released his debut studio album Rapsodi while signed to Coded Tunes. YBNL, his follow-up album, was released under his label imprint "Yahoo Boy No Laptop", also known as YBNL Nation. The album was supported by the singles "First of All", "Voice of the Street", "Stupid Love", and "Ilefo Illuminati". 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 17 July 2013, Olamide became the first Nigerian to sign an endorsement deal with Cîroc.
In November 2023, He received his first nomination at the 66th Annual Grammy Award for the song "Amapiano" alongside his signee Asake making him the first and only Nigeria/Africa rapper nominated in the history of the prestigious award. In 2025, Billboard magazine listed Olamide as one of its Global Power Players.
Olamide started his career when he released the debut single, "Eni Duro", in 2010. In the same year, he performed at The Headies. He studied mass communication at Tai Solarin University but dropped out due to financial problems.
Adedeji is married to Adebukunmi Aisha Suleiman. They have three children together, two boys, Batifeori Maximilliano Adedeji and Tunrepin Myles Adedeji, and a daughter, Mowaririfunoluwa Celine Adedeji. Olamide allegedly had a love child with Maria Okanrende, who at the time worked at The Beat 99.9 FM.
Baddest Guy Ever Liveth was supported by four singles: "Durosoke", "Turn Up", "Yemi My Lover" and "Eleda Mi O". Premium Times newspaper included the album on its list of the five yet to be released Nigerian albums of 2013. It was ranked 12th on Afrikka Radio's list of the top 12 best Nigerian albums of 2013. Baddest Guy Ever Liveth won Best Album of the Year at the 2014 Nigeria Entertainment Awards, and was nominated for Rap Album of the Year at the 2014 City People Entertainment Awards. It won Best Rap Album and Album of the Year at The Headies 2014.
In May 2013, it was reported that Olamide had 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 was "too late" for anyone to sign him.
Olamide's fifth studio album Eyan Mayweather was released on 23 November 2015. Released through YBNL Nation with studio production from Pheelz, Young Jonn, B Banks and ID Cabasa, Eyan Mayweather is the follow-up to 2 Kings, a collaborative album by Olamide and Phyno. The album boasted of having 21 tracks with no single feature.
Olamide revealed to the public on 18 February 2020 that his record label, YBNL Nation, has signed a joint venture deal with an international distribution company Empire. He further stated that Fireboy DML and any new artist signed to YBNL Nation will join him to benefit from the deal. Olamide's eleventh album Carpe Diem was released on 8 October 2020. Carpe Diem contains 12 tracks and features Omah Lay, Fireboy DML, Peruzzi, Bad Boy Timz, Bella Shmurda and Phyno, with production credits to Young John, Pheelz, P.Priime, ID Cabasa and VStix.
On 5 February 2022, Olamide hinted at retirement after the release of his 12th studio album.
2025 | Billboard | Global Power Player | Himself | ||
2024 | Image Award(NAACP) | Outstanding International Song | Amapiano | ||
2023 | Grammy | Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance | Amapiano | ||
2022 | The Headies | Carpe Diem | Best Rap Album | ||
Headies Viewer's Choice | "Infinity" | ||||
Album of the Year | Carpe Diem | ||||
Best Male Artist | Himself | ||||
Best Rap Single | Loading | ||||
2021 | All Africa Music Awards | Song of the Year | "Infinity" | ||
Best West African artiste (male) | Himself | ||||
Album of the year | Carpe Diem | ||||
Net Honours | Most played Hip Hop song | "Loading" | |||
Most Searched Musician (male) | Himself | ||||
2020 | Soundcity MVP Awards Festival | Listeners' Choice | Oil & Gas | ||
2018 | The Headies | Best Street-Hop Artiste | Wo | ||
Best Rap Album | The Glory | ||||
Artiste of the Year | Himself | ||||
Song of the Year | Wo | ||||
Headies' Viewer's Choice | |||||
2016 | Nigerian Entertainment Awards (NEAs) | Album of the Year | Eyan Mayweather | ||
Rap Act of the Year | Himself | ||||
2016 | Mobo Award | Africa Act of the Year | Himself | ||
2015 | City People Entertainment Awards | Rap Artist of the Year | Himself | ||
Afrima | West Africa Artist of the Year | ||||
The Headies 2015 | Best Street-Hop Artiste | ||||
Artiste of The Year | |||||
Best Pop Single | "Bobo" | ||||
TooXclusive Awards 2015 | Certified Banger of The Year | Shakiti Bobo | |||
Video Wonder of The Year | Melo Melo | ||||
Artiste of The Year | Himself | ||||
Male Artiste of The Year | Himself | ||||
Best Street Hop Track | Shakiti Bobo | ||||
"Reggae Blues" (HarrySong featuring Olamide, KCee, Iyanya & Orezi) | |||||
"Ladi" (Olamide & Phyno featuring Lil Kesh) | |||||
Best Hip-Hop Track | "Local Rappers" (Reminisce featuring Olamide & Phyno) | ||||
Mixtape of The Year | '2 Kings' (Olamide & Phyno) | ||||
Album of The Year | Street OT | ||||
2014 | The Headies 2014 | Artiste of the Year | Himself | ||
Best Rap Album | Baddest Guy Ever Liveth | ||||
Album of the Year | |||||
Best Rap Single | "Dope Money" (featuring Phyno) | ||||
2014 Channel O Music Video Awards | Most Gifted West | "Turn Up" | |||
2014 Nigeria Entertainment Awards | Best Rap Act of the Year | Himself | |||
MTV Africa Music Awards 2014 | Best Hip Hop | ||||
City People Entertainment Awards | Musician of the Year (Male) | ||||
Rap Artiste of the Year | |||||
Most Popular Song of the Year | "Eleda Mi" | ||||
Rap Album of the Year | Baddest Guy Ever Liveth | ||||
World Music Awards | World's Best Male Artist | Himself | |||
World's Best Live Act | |||||
World's Best Entertainer of the Year | |||||
2013 | Nigeria Music Video Awards | Video of the Year | "Durosoke" | ||
Best Afro Hip Hop Video | |||||
The Headies 2013 | Song of the Year | ||||
Best Street Hip-Hop Artiste | |||||
Best Rap Single | |||||
"Ghost Mode" (Phyno featuring Olamide) | |||||
Artiste of the Year | Himself | ||||
Lyricist on the Roll | "Voice of the Streets" | ||||
Best Rap Album | YBNL | ||||
Album of the Year | |||||
2013 Nigeria Entertainment Awards | Best Album of the Year | ||||
Best Rap Act of the Year | Himself | ||||
Music Video of the Year | "Voice of the Street" | ||||
Best Indigenous Artiste | Himself | ||||
Best Collabo | "Ghost Mode" (Phyno featuring Olamide) | ||||
2012 | The Headies 2012 | Hip Hop World Revelation of the Year | Himself | ||
Best Rap Single | "Young Erikina" | ||||
Best Rap Album | Rapsodi | ||||
2011 | The Headies 2011 | Next Rated | Himself |
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