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Olamide receives Billboard power player recognition for the 2nd year
Nigerian rap titan and visionary music mogul Olamide has once again claimed his spot on Billboard’s 2025 Global Power Players list, cementing his legacy as one of the most influential forces shaping the future of music, both at home and abroad.
This marks the second time the YBNL boss has earned this prestigious recognition, having first appeared on the list in 2023. Far from a one-time accolade, this back-to-back recognition speaks volumes about his staying power and his ever-growing impact on the global stage.
Billboard’s annual list honors the architects of modern music—executives, artists, and innovators who are not just keeping pace with the industry, but reshaping it.
Olamide’s inclusion is a testament to his multifaceted genius as a hitmaker, talent scout, label executive, and an unapologetic ambassador of African sound and culture.
From his gritty beginnings in Bariga to the helm of YBNL Nation, Olamide has consistently set the standard. His label has become a launchpad for some of the most exciting names in Nigerian music today—Fireboy DML, Asake, and others—thanks to his keen eye for raw talent and unmatched instinct for market trends.
Congratulations to @Olamide for his recognition on Billboard’s 2025 Global Power Players 🔥🏆 pic.twitter.com/9WFOudMyxx
— EMPIRE (@EMPIRE) May 20, 2025
But Olamide isn’t just nurturing stars—he’s building empires. Under his leadership, YBNL has evolved into one of Africa’s most revered independent music powerhouses. His vision? Globalize Afrobeats without watering it down. And it’s working.
With high-profile collaborations, strategic partnerships, and a consistent streak of chart-topping hits, Olamide is playing chess in a checkers world—helping push African music into new territories and onto bigger stages.
This latest honor isn’t just another feather in his cap—it’s a reminder that Olamide’s journey is far from over. More than a rapper or executive, he’s a cultural force. A blueprint. A bridge between the streets of Lagos and the bright lights of the global music arena.
As Billboard once again acknowledges his game-changing contributions, Olamide’s story continues to inspire a new generation of African creatives determined to go global without losing their roots.
From Bariga to Billboard—twice. Olamide isn’t just making music history. He’s writing the future.