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Lil Kesh Reflects on Olamide’s Role in His Career, Explains Shift from Rap to Pop Music
Nigerian music star Lil Kesh has opened up about his rise to fame and how his rap anthem Lyrically earned him a life-changing record deal with Olamide’s iconic label, YBNL Nation.
Appearing recently on The Esther Show, Lil Kesh detailed the early days of his career, giving fans insight into how he caught the attention of Olamide, aka Baddo.
“Lyrically is one song that got me my record deal,” the rapper-turned-popstar said, referring to his breakout single that made waves across Nigeria and officially announced him to the mainstream in the early 2010s.
Although widely recognized for his bars and flow, Lil Kesh revealed that he deliberately avoids being boxed into the “rapper” category.
“I am a rapper, but I don’t like to identify as a rapper intentionally. I came into the game as a rapper,” he explained.
He attributed this conscious decision to the musical preferences of the Nigerian audience, who lean more towards danceable, party-ready sounds.
“Most of the people who identified as rappers, most of them couldn’t stand the test of time,” Lil Kesh noted, as he reflected on the importance of commercial adaptability.
He pointed to YBNL boss Olamide as one of the rare examples of a rapper who was able to blend genres and evolve with the times, thanks to his embrace of Afrobeats and street-pop sounds.
Watch Lil Kesh’s full interview on The Esther Show below:
Chasing similar success, Lil Kesh switched gears and delivered club-banging hits like Shoki, Efejoku, and Is It Because I Love You—songs that quickly made him one of Nigeria’s top hitmakers by 2015. His street credibility and ability to make danceable records ensured his place at the forefront of Nigerian pop culture.
Now a decade into his mainstream career, the Cause Trouble crooner is showing no signs of slowing down. In April 2025, he returned to the spotlight with a fresh EP titled Forever Getting It, signaling his continued relevance in a fast-moving industry.
With his eyes on longevity, Lil Kesh remains an embodiment of versatility—fusing rap roots with commercial savvy to remain one of the most adaptive voices in Nigerian music.