
Olamide Gbenga Adedeji (born 15 March 1989) is a Nigerian rapper, singer, songwriter, and record executive. Baddo is one of the most influential artists in Africa.
Olamide has been pivotal to the creative and commercial success of severalΒ Afrobeats music stars and is consistently praised for his role in elevating Street Pop to mainstream recognition as a distinct music genre.
Now we are going to have a look at a list of artists who achieved their limelight and were brought to fame by the music megastar. In this article, we shine a spotlight on twenty artists who have received Olamideβs valuable co-sign and benefited from his support, as he played a significant role in their rise to stardom.
1. Adekunle Gold

Adekunle Goldβs success story is incomplete without Olamideβs contribution. Throwing backlight on how the YBNL boss impacted his music career, Adekunle Gold once said,
βGetting signed to YBNL took me to London for the first time. That was in 2015. So, YBNL changed everything for me. I am grateful to Olamide for all the support and inspiration.β
2. Zlatan Ibile

When the ‘Oganigwe’ crooner, Zlatan Ibile, needed to leverage on a more established artiste to break into the industry, it was Olamide he featured in his song, βMy Bodyβ. In an interview, Zlatan noted that Olamide inspired him in the early days of his career.
The song ‘My Body’Β saw a guest verse from Olamide which helped catapult the song to the mainstream giving both artists a hit record at the time.
Zlatan himself brought this to light in a once-viral video, sharing that the YBNL boss personally reached out to him, orchestrating the recording of his first song and even accompanying him to another state to make it happen. Typical of Olamide, he provided this assistance quietly, without ever mentioning it in public.
3. Naira Marley

Although Naira Marleyβs prominence in the music industry is associated with the Lil Kesh and Olamide collaboration on βIssa Goal,β his initial breakthrough occurred in 2016 with βKo Si Werey,β a track featuring none other than the YBNL boss. βIssa Goalβ was undeniably a more significant record, serving as the official single for the Super Eagles during the 2018 World Cup and subsequently earning Naira Marley a Coca-Cola sponsorship deal.
4. Asake

Asake, rave of the moment. Olamideβs impact on Asakeβs career is nothing short of immense. Asake himself recognized the significance when he received the legendβs verse for his breakthrough track βOmo Ope.β
A viral video captured the moment when Asake listened to it for the first time, shedding tears of joy. Following this pivotal moment, the impact on Asakeβs career was substantial, ultimately leading to his signing with YBNL and a remarkable rise to prominence.
5. Bella Shmurda

After being introduced to Olamide by Dancer, Poco Lee in 2019, Bella Shmurda featured Olamide on the remix of his song, βVision 2020β. The collaboration helped Shmurda to gain more acceptance in the music industry.
According to Bella Shmurda, Olamide played a pivotal role in the songβs production, covering all financial aspects, including the music video, and handling the promotion, essentially propelling him to success.
6. Fireboy DML

The raving music star who was signed to YBNL in 2019 disclosed how Olamide helped him when he had writer’s block while recording βPlayboyβ, his album work.
He told Fader Magazine, βI started making the album in late 2020. Along the line, I had writerβs block, which happened to be my first creative block ever. I panicked. I thought I had lost my mojo. I called Olamide, my mentor, and he said, βRelax. Itβs your first time. I know how it feels. You need to change your environment.β
Also, in an interview with The PUNCH, the βPeruβ crooner also stated that Olamide was the one who reached out to him. He said, βOlamide reached out to me himself. He explained how much he believed in my dream and said he wanted to make things happen for me. I could not refuse.β
7. Pheelz

His breakthrough as a record producer came in 2012 when he produced the chart-topping singles by Olamide titled “First of All” and “Fucking with the Devil” off his YBNL album.
Pheelz worked under I.D Cabassa at Coded Tunes, the record label where he met Olamide. In 2011, he featured vocals in a song off Olamide’s Rapsodi album titled “I’m Going In”.
He produced all but one song on Olamide’s Baddest Guy Ever Liveth album, a move which made him gain grounds in the Nigerian music industry and won him a nomination at The Headies 2013. In 2014, he was also nominated in the Producer of the Year category at the 2014 edition of The Headies and the 2014 Nigeria Entertainment Awards.
8. Lil Kesh

Lil Kesh was signed to Olamideβs record label in 2014. While confirming his exit from the label in 2016, Lil Kesh stated that YBNL remained a family to him. He had said,
βIndeed, my contract ended about two weeks ago. My contract with YBNL was for two years but that is the business side to it. My contract included three videos and one album. But, Baddo went out of his way to shoot about five videos for me. Business or no business YBNL is family and will always be.β
Still one of Lil Keshβs most popular songs, ‘Shoki’ was released in 2014 and it was a turning point for Lil Kesh. Having Olamide and Davido, two of the most prominent artists at that time, on the remix helped solidify its banger status.
9. Young Jonn

The singer, songwriter, and record producerΒ who came into the limelight via being affiliated with Olamide’s record label YBNL, rode on that wave for a greater part of his career, producing smash tunes like ‘Bobo’ by Olamide, ‘Gbese’ by Lil Kesh, ‘Mama’ by Kizz Daniel and also he produced a chart-topping single by Olamide titled “Story For The Gods” and lots more
He had music production credits on industry hits during the 2010s and was affiliated with theΒ YBNL mafia family going on to be ranked #3Β inΒ The NET‘s list of “Nigeria’s Top 7 Biggest Music Producers” and went on to be nominated in the “Producer of The Year” at theΒ 2015 Nigeria Entertainment AwardsΒ andΒ The Headies 2015.
10. Bad Boy Timz

Bad Boy Timz gained relative mainstream recognition thanks to his 2020-released hit βMJβ. However, his most remarkable achievement that year was his collaboration with the YBNL boss on the track βLoading,β featured on Olamideβs 2020 album, βCarpe Diem.β This specific song has accumulated million streams, firmly solidifying its position as Bad Boy Timzβs standout record.
11. Portable

Though many have described Portableβs rise to stardom as that of grass to grace. After popular dancer, Poco Lee introduced Portable to Olamide, Olamide featured on a remix of Portableβs song βZazoo Zehβ. That turned out to be what thrust the controversial singer into the limelight.
The influence Olamide has had on Portableβs career is written in bold caps. The track βZazoo Zehβ played a pivotal role in catapulting Portable to fame, with Olamideβs significant contribution being a key factor in its success.
Notably, Portable has shared that Olamide generously financed the music video for the song, highlighting Olamideβs selfless support and legendary status.
12. T.I Blaze

Itβs almost like a formula that always works: feature the YBNL boss on your song, and youβre made. Thatβs exactly what TI Blaze did with his single βSometimesβ remix. Olamide gave him the much-needed push into the limelight.
13. YCee

In 2015 YCee called on Olamide to level up the success of his single ‘Jagaban’ and on a remix that is said to be one of the hottest rap songs out of Nigeria
While YCee had previously released a hit titled βCondo,β his significant breakthrough and widespread recognition occurred when he collaborated with the YBNL boss to remix βJagaban.β This partnership solidified his stardom and significantly boosted his acceptance and popularity, particularly among the urban audience.
14. Lyta

Babatunde Rahim, known professionally as Lyta, is a Nigerian singer. He signed a record deal with YBNL Nation in 2018 but left the label in May 2019 after disagreeing with the label owner Olamide. He released the 5-track debut EP Id in 2019.
15. Jaido P

Jaido P alias ShopLa, whose genuine name is Taiwo Olajide Daniel is a fast-rising Nigerian singer and rapper rising from Obafemi Awolowo University, Osun State. He became popular after Olamide jumped on Cracker Mallo’s produced single βTesinapot.β
16. Senth

Senth, an Afropop and Alternative Pop singer who is originally from the East, was raised in the Northern region of Nigeria. In an interview with Moet Abehe on Sound City FM, he claimed to have disclosed that a friend had organized his YBNL agreement, which came at a bad period in his musical career.
The singer also conveyed the good news in a touching message that read:
βTime, sweat, tears, and devotion all have I given to this craft and more. Earnestly words canβt do justice to how Iβm feeling right about now π₯Ή But I give all the thanks and glory to God Almighty and my life changer king @olamide Iβm grateful boss and to the entire YBNL family I love yβall fi life ting”.
17. Picazo Rhap

Rap artiste, Picazo Rhap joined the YBNL family in the year 2018. In 2019 he signed out of the YBNL music record label after failing to make any meaningful progress since he signed.
18. Danny S

Danny S ventured into his passion which is music in 2006, then released his first official single βTu Merecesβ in 2015. He released several projects marking his name on the street hop board in Nigeria.
Danny S’s biggest invasion came after he dropped βEgeβ which took over the street putting somewhat end to Olamideβs βScience Studentβ trend.
19. Fave

Fave rose to stardom after the release of her most popular single “Baby riddim” released under emPawa Africa.
Nigerian rapper Olamide featured Fave on two tracks “Want” and “Pon Pon” in his UY Scuti album released in 2021. Their collaboration promoted further Fave’s perfection and mastery in the field.
20. Chinko Ekun

In 2014, Chinko Ekun featured in Olamide’s Street OT music album, on tracks “100 To Million”, “Bang” and “Usain Bolt”. He appeared on Olamide Live In Concert (OLIC) 2014, where he did a freestyle performance.Β Chinko Ekun sings in English, Pidgin, and Yoruba, focusing solely on hip-hop music.
In 2015, Chinko Ekun joinedΒ Olamide’sΒ YBNL Nation. He released his first official singles titled “Alejo Oran” and “Emi Na Re” through YBNL Nation on 25 February 2015. Barely a year later, he exited the record label after his contract expired, alongside fellow label matesΒ Adekunle GoldΒ and Viktoh.
On 13 September 2018, he released a song titled “Able God” featuringΒ ZlatanΒ andΒ Lil Kesh.Β The song earned him his firstΒ HeadiesΒ award as “Best Street Hop Artiste” atΒ The Headies 2019.
Finally, other artists have enjoyed Olamideβs support and contribution as an icon, legend, and mentor which makes him outstanding in the musical industry.
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