Olamide is a Nigerian rapper, singer and record label owner from Bariga, Lagos, widely known as Baddo. He founded YBNL Nation in 2012, the label that launched Adekunle Gold, Fireboy DML and Asake. In November 2025, he sold out the 12,500-capacity OVO Arena Wembley in London.
| Date of Birth | March 15, 1989 |
|---|---|
| Age | 37 years |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Zodiac Sign | Pisces |
| Occupation | Rapper, Singer, Record Label Owner |
| Real Name | Olamide Gbenga Adedeji |
| Nickname | Baddo |
| Place of Birth | Bariga, Lagos |
| Record Label | YBNL Nation (Founder) |
| Partner | Adebukunmi Aisha Suleiman |
Biography
Olamide Gbenga Adedeji was born on March 15, 1989, in Bariga, a working-class area on the Lagos mainland. He is Yoruba and the second of three children of Pa Adedeji and his second wife, Ronke Osisanya Adedeji.
Money was tight at home. Olamide told The Guardian UK that being able to afford three meals a day was a big deal for his family, and that it motivated him to hustle hard. On the Afrobeats Podcast in 2020, he described Bariga in plain terms: “It’s very dark out there. You wake up in the morning and you feel like there’s no hope.”
He told The Sun in 2017 that he got the nickname Baddo from the street, back in his school days. He studied mass communication at Tai Solarin University of Education in Ogun State but dropped out because of money, according to The Guardian Nigeria.
He lost both parents within about two years. His father died in November 2015, and Olamide announced it on Instagram with the words “Rest well Dad.. Forever in my heart.” His mother died in late January 2018, and the news reached him on his son’s birthday, according to NotJustOk. Speaking to Korty EO in 2025, he said: “I miss being able to hear my mom’s voice and my dad’s voice.”
The name of his label comes from the same streets. He explained in 2020 that “Yahoo boy no laptop” is slang for a young man who is doing well without illegal business, and that the name “just stuck”.
Career
Olamide released his first single, “Eni Duro”, in 2010 on ID Cabasa’s label, Coded Tunes. He told Afropop Worldwide in 2020: “I started making good money when I blew up in 2010.” His debut album, Rapsodi, followed in March 2011. He left Coded Tunes in July 2012 and founded YBNL Nation.
His second album, YBNL, came out on November 12, 2012, with 20 tracks, and it made him one of Nigeria’s biggest rappers. It won Album of the Year and Best Rap Album at the 2013 Headies. In July 2013, Cîroc signed him as its first Nigerian ambassador. Baddest Guy Ever Liveth followed in November 2013, with the hit “Durosoke”, and won Album of the Year again at the 2014 Headies. Street OT arrived in November 2014, and Eyan Mayweather in November 2015.
The Glory came out in December 2016 and Lagos Nawa in November 2017. On March 15, 2018, his 29th birthday, he launched a TV channel, Voice of the Streets, on PLAY satellite TV. His 2020 album Carpe Diem, released on October 8, 2020, produced his biggest song, “Infinity” with Omah Lay. It has about 86 million views on YouTube and more than 190 million Spotify streams. Olamide said he wanted something different for that album and spent months on it, working with the producer P.Priime.
UY Scuti followed in June 2021. In February 2022, he tweeted that his next album, Unruly, was “probably my last album”, then kept releasing music. Unruly came out on August 9, 2023, and reached No. 1 on the TurnTable chart. His 2024 EP, Ikigai, also reached No. 1. His song “Amapiano” with Asake earned a Grammy nomination for Best African Music Performance, announced in November 2023. He has more than 1.5 billion streams on Spotify.
His 2025 album, Olamidé, came out on June 19, 2025, with 17 tracks. Its guests include Wizkid, Seyi Vibez, Asake, Young Jonn and Dr. Dre. The song is “Indika”, with Dr. Dre and Spinall. Olamide told Ada’s Room that Spinall set up the record, and that he sent his chorus and verse within 30 minutes of hearing the beat. He then flew to Los Angeles to record with Dre. The lead single, “Kai!”, features Wizkid.
On November 23, 2025, he headlined the OVO Arena Wembley in London, his first London headline show since 2016. Pulse reported that he was the first African rapper to sell out the 12,500-capacity venue. Lil Kesh opened the show, and Asake, Pheelz, Seyi Vibez, Joeboy and Bella Shmurda joined him on stage. Asake’s appearance was a reunion after their split.
Billboard named him one of its Global Power Players in 2025. In 2026, he reunited with Adekunle Gold on “Formation”, released on April 9. On September 25, he launched a visual art brand, Alagemomerindinlogun by Olamide, with the caption: “I got tired of waiting for Baddo to complete his project, so I’m now working with this guy.”
YBNL Nation
YBNL Nation is Olamide’s biggest legacy. He told Ada’s Room why he built it: “If I ever make it, I’ll try my best possible to reach out to the up and coming artist and create opportunities for them.” On the Afrobeats Podcast in September 2025, he said he grew up hoping for opportunities that never came, so he decided to create them for others.
On February 18, 2020, he announced a joint venture with EMPIRE, which handles global distribution for his albums, Fireboy DML’s albums and any new YBNL signee, according to The Native. Olamide said Fireboy had asked him to find a way to partner with a foreign label, and that he agreed straight away.
Lil Kesh signed in 2014, and left in 2016 to start his own label, YAGI Records. Adekunle Gold signed in 2015 and left in 2017, and Olamide confirmed the exit on Soundcity. Olamide said the deals with Lil Kesh and Viktoh were two-year contracts that had ended, and Adekunle Gold said the same of his own. Viktoh and Chinko Ekun also passed through the label. Fireboy DML signed in 2018 and is still on the label. His album ZUKO! is due on October 16, 2026, through YBNL Nation and EMPIRE. Olamide said of Fireboy: “He writes like an old man.”
Asake’s signing was announced on February 8, 2022. He also backs the artists around him. Odumodublvck said in 2024 that Olamide gave him $20,000 and his first private jet ride. In May 2025, Olamide asked TikTok creators to drop their account numbers and sent money to Peller, Zeez, Tunde Perry and Malyk, according to NotJustOk.
Controversies and Disputes
The biggest public row of Olamide’s career came at the Headies on January 1, 2016. Reekado Banks of Mavin won Next Rated over YBNL’s Lil Kesh. Olamide, who was on stage when Adekunle Gold won Best Alternative Song, dedicated the award to Kesh, criticised the organisers and walked off. Don Jazzy, collecting a special award, said: “If you want the car, come and collect it.” The Mavin crew walked out, and Olamide tweeted at Don Jazzy. Within days, both apologised and posted a handshake photo.
On October 9, 2016, his sold-out YBNL show at the Eventim Apollo in London was shut down early because of overcrowding. Hundreds of fans were outside, and his closing set never happened. His songs also drew the attention of the broadcast regulator. In August 2017, ThisDay reported that the NBC had banned “Wo”, and the NBC denied it. In January 2018, the NBC called “Science Student” unfit for broadcast, and Olamide said the song was about drug awareness.
In May 2019, the singer Lyta left YBNL. Lyta said he had no written contract and was paid between N50,000 and N80,000 per show. A source close to YBNL told Legit.ng that Lyta got 40% of show income after costs. In December 2020, Temmie Ovwasa tweeted that she had released only four singles in five years. Hours later, she said she had met Olamide and that all issues were resolved: “Still family, always.”
Portable has attacked Olamide in interviews since 2023. In April 2025, he said Olamide “didn’t hold my hand like Skepta did”. In November 2025, he complained about not being invited to Wembley: “I was the one that gave Olamide international recognition.” Olamide has not responded to Portable. In September 2022, when netizens blamed him for the police probe into Portable’s “1 million boys”, Olamide posted on his Instagram Story: “Let go, not everything you seek is seeking you.”
The Asake split was the most talked-about exit. On December 26, 2024, Asake unfollowed everyone on Instagram, including Olamide, and removed YBNL from his bio. Wizkid tweeted: “Love baddo! 4L ting.” Asake launched his own label, Giran Republic, with the song “Why Love” in February 2025. Olamide told BBC Africa: “We are family still. He is my brother for life. After business, life goes on; it is never personal.” In March 2026, Asake said: “Till the end of time, my ex-boss will forever remain Baddo.”
Awards and Nominations
Olamide has won at the Headies in 2013 (Album of the Year and Best Rap Album for YBNL), 2014 (Album of the Year and Best Rap Album for Baddest Guy Ever Liveth), 2015 (Artiste of the Year and Best Street-Hop Artiste), 2016 (Best Rap Single for “Eyan Mayweather” and Best Street-Hop Artiste) and 2022 (Best Rap Album for Carpe Diem).
He was nominated for a Grammy at the 66th Grammy Awards for “Amapiano” with Asake, and for an NAACP Image Award in 2024. He also won Rap Artist of the Year at the 2015 City People Awards and Album of the Year for Ikigai at the 2024 African Entertainment Awards USA.
Personal Life
Olamide’s partner is Adebukunmi Aisha Suleiman. Legit.ng reports that she was with him before he was famous, and Daily Trust dates their relationship to 2011. He proposed to her on Snapchat on March 8, 2018, her birthday and International Women’s Day, and later said they were planning a wedding. Several outlets call her his wife, but he has not shared wedding photos or a date.
They have three children. Batifeori Maximilliano was born in 2015, and Tunrepin Myles was born in Maryland, USA, on July 1, 2019. Olamide announced Tunrepin’s birth on Instagram. They also have a daughter, Moririfunoluwa Celine. Olamide has said his eldest son lives and goes to school in the United States.
In January 2020, ThisDay reported that the radio presenter Maria Okanrende, then of Beat 99.9 FM, had a daughter born on August 16, 2019. A friend of hers told the paper that she and Olamide had a short relationship, and that it ended when she learned he was with his long-time partner. Olamide has not addressed the report in public. Maria has said she discovered halfway through the pregnancy that she would raise her child alone, and she rebuilt her career in the UK. She has not named him.
Olamide guards his privacy. He told Ada’s Room in November 2025: “One thing I wish people understood about me is the fact that I’m not shy. I’m just laidback.” On sharing too much of himself, he said “there should be boundaries”. And on life now: “I’m at peace. And I’m happy.”
He is also candid about the streets that made him. “You can only take a boy out of the hood. You can’t take the hood out of the boy,” he told Ada’s Room. On competition, he told the Afrobeats Podcast: “I’m the only competition, the guy in the mirror.” On rankings of Nigeria’s biggest stars, he said that is not his cup of tea: “I just want to make good music and have fun.”
Olamide Timeline
- March 15, 1989: Born in Bariga, Lagos.
- 2010: Releases his first single, “Eni Duro”.
- March 2011: Releases his debut album, Rapsodi.
- July 2012: Leaves Coded Tunes and founds YBNL Nation.
- November 12, 2012: Releases YBNL.
- July 2013: Becomes Cîroc’s first Nigerian ambassador.
- November 26, 2015: Announces the death of his father.
- January 1, 2016: Clashes with Don Jazzy at the Headies.
- October 9, 2016: His Eventim Apollo show in London is shut down early.
- May 2017: Confirms Adekunle Gold’s exit from YBNL.
- Late January 2018: His mother dies.
- March 8, 2018: Proposes to Aisha on Snapchat.
- March 15, 2018: Launches Voice of the Streets TV.
- 2018: Signs Fireboy DML.
- May 2019: Lyta leaves YBNL.
- July 1, 2019: His second son, Tunrepin Myles, is born.
- February 18, 2020: Announces a joint venture with EMPIRE.
- October 8, 2020: Releases Carpe Diem.
- February 8, 2022: Announces Asake as a YBNL signee.
- August 9, 2023: Releases Unruly.
- November 2023: Earns his first Grammy nomination.
- December 26, 2024: Asake unfollows him and leaves YBNL.
- June 19, 2025: Releases Olamidé.
- November 23, 2025: Sells out the OVO Arena Wembley.
- April 9, 2026: Reunites with Adekunle Gold on “Formation”.
- September 25, 2026: Launches the visual art brand Alagemomerindinlogun.
Net Worth
Olamide’s net worth is estimated at $4.5–9.5 million. Most of it comes from live shows and brand work. He sold out the 12,500-capacity OVO Arena Wembley in 2025 and has headlined big Lagos shows since the early 2010s. “It was passion first before money rolled in,” he told OkayAfrica in 2020.
Streaming adds to that, with about 4.5 million monthly listeners and more than 1.5 billion Spotify streams. His brand deals include Cîroc, which signed him as its first Nigerian ambassador in 2013, Goldberg in 2019, itel Mobile in 2020 and the Africa Military Games in 2024. Legit.ng reported that he bought a Lamborghini Aventador in 2020.
YBNL Nation is a major asset, but its value is not public, so it is not counted in this estimate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Olamide’s real name?
His real name is Olamide Gbenga Adedeji. He is also known as Baddo.
How old is Olamide?
He was born on March 15, 1989, so he is 37.
Is Olamide married?
He proposed to his partner, Adebukunmi Aisha Suleiman, in March 2018, and several outlets call her his wife. They have three children.
What does YBNL stand for?
YBNL stands for “Yahoo boy no laptop”. It is street slang that Olamide turned into the name of his label and his second album.
Which artists has Olamide signed?
He has signed Lil Kesh, Adekunle Gold, Viktoh, Chinko Ekun, Lyta, Fireboy DML and Asake to YBNL Nation. Fireboy DML is still on the label.
What is Olamide’s net worth?
His net worth is estimated at $4.5–9.5 million.
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