For more than a decade, Olamide Adedeji, rap icon, hitmaker, and the powerhouse behind YBNL, has carried two heavy crowns: one as a chart-topping artist and another as a relentless architect of new talent.
But now, for the first time in a long while, he’s letting the world in on a quiet transformation taking shape behind the scenes.
During a candid conversation on Flow 98.7 FM, Olamide spoke with a clarity that suggested deep reflection. He revealed that he has reached a point where he is intentionally stepping back from the constant grind of building others, choosing instead to finally pour that same energy inward.
“Right now, I’m at that phase in my life where I’m really trying to give myself undivided attention,” he shared—words that landed with unexpected weight for fans who have watched him tirelessly nurture rising acts while maintaining his own legendary run.
Olamide admitted that his journey has always been a delicate balancing act. He’s been the big brother, the mentor, the label boss, even while crafting his own legacy. “All my life I’ve been trying to be there for people and also trying to do my stuff. But right now, I’m really just trying to focus on myself 100 per cent,” he said.
It’s a striking shift from the man whose fingerprints are all over modern Nigerian music.
Through YBNL, he has ushered in an entire generation of stars—Lil Kesh, Young Jonn, Pheelz, Fireboy DML, Lyta, Asake, Adekunle Gold. And even beyond the label, his co-signs have turned once-unknown voices into household names. Zlatan, Naira Marley, Portable, and Bella Shmurda—they all felt the ripple of Olamide’s influence.
But this moment feels different. After years of being the engine that powered others forward, Olamide is stepping into a more introspective chapter—one marked by self-prioritisation, slow breathing, and a return to his own center.
It’s not a retreat—it’s a recalibration. And for an artist who has spent years shaping the soundscape of an entire culture, this next phase may be his most personal evolution yet.
“Right now, I’m at the phase in my life where I’m really trying to give myself undivided attention. All my life I’ve been trying to be there for people but right now I’m really just trying to focus on myself 100%”
– Olamide pic.twitter.com/xRxJXntPRa
— OLAMIDE 🌸💖 (@Olamide0fficial) December 3, 2025