In 2008, 9ice dropped his successful sophomore album, ‘Gongo Aso‘. Behind the successful production of that album was one man in the person of Olumide Ogunade, a.k.a ID Cabasa.
ID Cabasa started music back in the 80s as a teenager but professionally started in 2003 after leaving the university.
He started his record Label, Coded Tunes in his house that same year but before the record label came to be, he was in a music group called Smiling Head Soldier which was headed by 2phat and comprising of him, 2phat, Lord of Ajasa and MC Spako.
Under Coded Tunes, Cabasa helped contribute to the success of some indigenous rappers that laid the foundation of the sub-genre.
He has been responsible for producing songs for artists like Lord of Ajasa, Olamide, Reminisce, Banky W, Faze, Durella, Ruggedman.
The reserved beat-maker is instrumental in adding musicality to sounds emerging from the Bariga side of Lagos.
Artists I.D. Cabasa help make Famous;
Just like Iconic Music personalities like Kenny Ogungbe of Kennis Music, Don Jazzy, Obi Asika of Storm records, ID Cabasa is one of the few Music icons that played a huge role in Nigerian Music scene.
Lord Ajasa
ID and Lord Ajasa are credited as the people who helped lay the foundation of Indigenous rap in the Nigerian Music scene.
English/Pidgin rappers were the frontliners of rap in The Nigerian Music scene in the 90s until the 2000s when Lord of Ajasa started gaining prominence with Yoruba-fused rap songs.
Born Segun Osaniyi, he was given the stage name ‘Lord of Ajasa’ (Lord of Flavor) in his polytechnic days in Ondo State, where he majored in Quantity Survey.
As a potent lyricist, Lord of Ajasa made hip to rap trendy in Yoruba dialect, inspiring many upcoming acts to follow in his footsteps. Ajasa hit the limelight with the track, “Ma yi lo” in 2000.
Lord of Ajasa then came through with hit singles, Otiya, Esa lo bade, Ara Awe, Otiya and Le fe nuso, featuring Nigerian singer, 9ice
Most of his songs back then were produced by ID Cabasa.
9ice
9ice had met Cabasa through Lord of Ajasa and got signed to Coded Tunes. He also founded his own label, Alapomeji Records but this did not kill his relationship with ID.
ID produced 9ice’s sophomore album, ‘Gongo Aso‘ which is one of Nigeria’s best albums of the decade.
The success of the album did not only shoot 9ice to fame but also Cabasa one of the hottest music producers of that time.
The relation of the two went beyond friendship to brotherhood with 9ice naming his 2016 after the iconic music producer.
Jah Bless
Owoloye Olatunde Oluwabukunmi popularly known as Jah Bless stormed the music scene with his absurd/unique style of rapping.
Just like his friend, 9ice, Jahbless was ambitious to make music. He released his first single titled ‘Like This, Like That‘ featuring Lord Of Ajasa. Cabasa was essential to Jahbless’s music career.
Reminisce
Reminisce was discovered by ID Cabasa and would change around in the Coded Tunes studios where he had the opportunity to meet 9ice, Jah Bless & Lord of Ajasa.
He recorded an album that was never released due to parental pressure, the rapper had to take a temporary break from music.
In 2008, Reminisce marked his return with his appearance on his old pal, 9ice’s ‘GONGO ASO’ album.
Olamide
Olamide was discovered by ID Cabasa at the age of 14. According to ID Cabasa in an interview with The Nation, Olamide came with a friend to record in his studio who was featuring him and he was impressed with his talent.
When Coded Label launched as a proper studio, Olamide was the first alongside Seriki and Kayefi to be signed. He released his debut album, ‘Rapsodi‘ under the label. After a year the label to establish his own label, YBNL records.
Pheelz
Rappers and singers weren’t the only ones ID Cabasa tutored, Music Producer, Pheelz was also another person who had the luck of learning from the iconic music producer. Pheelz was signed under the Coded Tunes umbrella. He followed Olamide in the establishment of YBNL.