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Adekunle Gold’s Viral Throwback Sparks National Conversation on What It Means to Be a “LAPO Baby”
Afrobeats star AG Baby has unknowingly become the face of a rising social media movement after a powerful throwback photo of him went viral, reigniting the conversation around the phrase “LAPO baby.”
The term “LAPO baby,” a play on LAPO Microfinance Bank, initially surfaced online as a tongue-in-cheek expression but has since evolved into a badge of honour for many Nigerians who rose from the trenches.
It has been redefined by users as an acronym for “Little Access to Privilege or Opportunity,” a direct contrast to the popular Western term “nepo baby,” which describes individuals who benefit from nepotism and inherited influence.
What started as a joke exploded on Sunday, July 20, after a tweet asking, “Which one be LAPO baby again?” triggered thousands of responses.
Many Nigerians quickly embraced the label, posting childhood photos and sharing stories that echoed a common theme: perseverance against the odds.
Among the most resonant responses came from Adekunle Gold, popularly known as AG Baby, who didn’t offer words but instead let an image from his past speak volumes. The singer simply reposted the viral tweet with a photo of himself as a teenager, asleep on a rough wooden bench beside a roadside kiosk.
The sign in the background revealed the location: Tipper Garage, Lasunwon, in Ikorodu North LGA, Lagos State. The year was 2005, long before the fame, hit records, or sold-out global shows.
In that quiet moment, captured long before his breakthrough, AG Baby gave voice to an entire generation of Nigerians who have had to hustle their way up.
The image was not just a throwback; it was a time capsule of struggle, survival, and a powerful reminder that greatness can come from the most unlikely places.
For many, his silent post hit harder than any motivational speech could. It became a mirror for the masses—young Nigerians grinding daily without wealth, connections, or privilege, yet daring to dream regardless.
Adekunle Gold’s journey from that Ikorodu bench to global music stages now stands as living proof that being a LAPO baby isn’t a setback; it’s a symbol of resilience. His story joins that of many others who have carved out success without inherited advantages, reshaping the narrative around what it means to truly make it in life.
As conversations about access, privilege, and meritocracy grow louder in Nigeria’s socio-cultural space, the LAPO baby trend is allowing ordinary people to reclaim their narratives. It’s a cultural reset, one that values grit over glamour and story over status.
In the end, Adekunle Gold didn’t need a long caption. That photo said it all: no privilege, no shortcut, just hustle, hope, and heart.
2005 https://t.co/BjI87A9sC6 pic.twitter.com/CQqzMD67sj
— BIG FISH 🦈 (@adekunleGOLD) July 20, 2025