YBNL’s Asake taking over as singer’s Yoruba slang appeal to Naija music lovers

The Nigerian music scene has seen a plethora of talents, one of the latest being Olamide’s Asake, who didn’t waste any time in topping the charts almost immediately after releasing his album titled “Mr. Money With The Vibe” on September 8th 2022, through “YBNL Nation/Empire.”

Without a doubt, Nigeria’s music industry is booming, and it also seems to be quite profitable.

In addition to being a profitable venture, it is also a difficult and competitive space to break into. Celebrities frequently enjoy fame for a brief period of time before being dethroned by a newer, younger artist. Despite these difficulties, some Nigerian performers have adhered to the saying “we rise by lifting orders.”

Olamide Adedeji, a popular Nigerian music star, is one artiste who has undeniably great talent and has been able to spot great talents by giving “dim” stars a chance to shine brightly through his record label. Even though he began as a struggling artist, the young man was able to advance through the ranks and become one of the nation’s biggest stars and label owner.

In February 2022, the music executive/legendary rapper announced a young singer (Asake) to the world in what was dubbed “Omo Ope.” In a short period of time, Asake went from being an up-and-coming artist to possibly the most popular and well-respected in Nigeria.

Asake is currently signed to Olamide’s Empire-distributed YBNL label, which also houses the equally talented Fireboy DML. Olamide is quite skilled at fusing the sonic components that serve as the foundation for Asake’s own artistic style.

Who is Asake, and what are his achievements so far?

Asake, who was born Ahmed Ololade, entered the music industry abruptly. He graduated from the Department of Drama at Obafemi Awolowo University. As a matter of fact, his mother’s name is Asake. He is a very creative singer who has won the hearts—or, if you prefer, the ears—of his fans using the Yoruba language, which is his primary form of expression.

He uses slang from the streets as well as expressions made popular by Fuji and the Isale Eko as a whole. His music fuses hip-hop, amapiano, fuji, and other fusions. He also combines panegyrics, street hop, and praise singing to produce an upbeat chorus.

However, the song “Lady” by Asake, his first commercial release, came out in 2020, but it didn’t really herald a major change in Nigeria’s thriving Afrobeats scene.

The 27-year-old Nigerian rapper and singer who crosses genres has a lighthearted demeanour and tongue-in-cheek delivery. He creates meaningless, self-deprecating rhymes with consumerist themes influenced by hip-hop.

In September 2022, “Mr. Money With The Vibe,” a scorching 30-minute album, was released. It’s a fascinating mash-up of musical genres, personalities, and attitudes that shows a depth of ambition that music fans have not seen in a while. His ascent to international prominence was cemented by sold-out performances in Atlanta and London, as well as a collaboration on the hit song “Loaded” with Nigerian singer Tiwa Savage.

His 12-track album is the fruit of Olamide’s nurturing of his artistic development, and his impressive string of back-to-back hits earned him a spot on the stage at the 15th Headies Awards in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

After reaching the second spot on the Billboard World Album Chart, “Mr. Money With The Vibe” attained a new peak.

‘MMWTV’ peaked at No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart and at No. 1 on the Apple Music Album Chart in 26 countries, including 6 European nations.

Just recently, the music star imbed another major milestone in his carer by selling out the O2 Arena in the UK.

Why Nigerian music lovers cannot get enough of Asake?

It’s incredible how well Asake can transform street slang and lingo like Trabaye, Omo Ope, Palazzo, and Sungba into euphoric beats.

His street slang and Yoruba phrases continue to appeal to all music-listening audiences from around the globe because the beat is always accompanied by euphoria and ecstasy.

Fans also can’t get enough of the cinematic videos by master cinematographer TG Omori, including Sungba, Bandana, Terminator, and Joha.

Due to his skilled singing, upbeat choruses that make people want to party, and incorporation of religious terms into his music, Asake is adored everywhere and on the streets alike.

According to Music plugger Olaitan Salaudeen, “To Be Honest, there are literally no skips! His album is such a vibe, that it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly what makes this album so great.”

In Asake’s words, “Dem never see me coming,” it is safe to say that no one anticipated the young singer’s current status as Nigeria’s favorite and even a favorite among international music fans.