King Olamide is one of the pioneers of dialect rap singers of Yoruba language and pidgin English in Nigeria, arguably resurrected a sub-genre called ‘Street hop’.
Olamide was a rapper who revolutionized the Nigerian rap industry, practically infused English with his native dialect, a Nigerian hip-hop sub-genre known as the king of the street.
Obviously, the impact and influence of Indigenous rappers like Da Grin, Lord of Ajasa, and I.D Cabasa cannot be underestimated or left out when talking about the sub-genre, as those were really inspiring good times for the street, serving us a lot of gems that help popularise it to other parts of the country and laid the foundation for what the culture is today.
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Olamide infiltrates the industry in 2010 after his groundbreaking viral ‘Eni Duro‘ then full takeoff began in 2011 when he released his debut album ‘Rapsodi’ and then released the visuals for Omo to Shan featuring Wizkid.
It was the rave of the moment as it charted on several radio stations in Lagos and across Nigeria then.
Olamide appeared and tore the landscape of Nigerian hip-hop and yet so far steady delivering hits.
The debut album ‘Rapsodi’ was the resurrection and the rebirth of the renowned sub-genre that has become globally acclaimed.
Olamide continues to strive and diversify into other genres, diving into almost every genre, from afrobeat, juju, fuji, Street hop, Dancehall, R&B, Trap, Reggae Fusion, and Afro Pop.
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Factually, Olamide is one of the most versatile artists in the Nigerian music industry, evolving to maintain longevity since hip-hop in Nigeria has passed through several phases over a decade now.
Crucially, added to his mastery and unarguable aptitude, Olamide formed the YBNL record label as early as 2012, seeking a new platform to realign and leverage his highlighted practicality and potentials.
However, it was rare exploits in the Nigerian music industry, becoming the youngest to ever own a label, after parting with Coded Tunes record label owned by ID Cabasa.
Olamide annually releases one or more projects, and to date has more projects than any artistes in the last decade, totaling eight (8) studio solid albums and about three (3) collaborative albums and EPs.
In 2014, Olamide discovered Lil Kesh and signed him into the YBNL record label, other artists that have signed under the label include Lil Kesh, Adekunle Gold, Chinko Ekun, Viktoh, Davolee, Fireboy DML.
In 2015, Olamide was untouchable and the blueprint to Nigeria street hop, releasing street anthems like ‘Melo Melo’, ‘Lagos Boys’, ‘ladi’ and ‘Eyan Mayweather’, and Sold-out Eko Hotel at Olamide live in concert (OLIC), becoming the first Nigerian artiste to have a sold-out concert in Eko Hotel and also the first to introduce the annual concert culture.
Olamide obviously influences every street hop artist of this decade, from Zlatan Ibile to Naira Marley, Bella Smurda, Small Doctor, Lil Kesh, Davolee, and others.
Fast forward 2020, a decade and more, Olamide is still a chart-topper and having one of the best albums of the new decade, Carpe Diem, a hit-studded studio album.