Nigerian rapper and music executive Olamide has shared why singer Asake’s rapid success did not come as a surprise to him, despite how quickly the artist took over the global Afrobeats scene.
Speaking in a recent interview, the YBNL founder recalled his first encounter with Asake and said the young singer’s sound stood out instantly. According to him, Asake’s creativity was unlike anything he had heard before.
“I knew from the beginning that Asake was different, his sound, his authenticity, his craftsmanship. I had never heard anything like it,” Olamide said.
While he admitted he did not predict the scale of Asake’s fame, Olamide said the singer’s work ethic and self-motivation made it easy to partner with him under YBNL.
“Asake is the kind of artist who doesn’t need to be pushed. He is already putting in the effort,” he added.
Olamide explained that his role as a mentor has always been to create room for his signees to thrive rather than place them under unnecessary pressure.
“I try as much as possible not to put pressure on my guys. I just tell them to make beautiful music. If it’s good, it will eventually fly—even if it takes years,” he said, noting that some of his own songs only gained recognition long after their release.
Asake joined YBNL in February 2022, marking the start of a meteoric rise that saw him dominate charts across Nigeria and abroad. Earlier this year, he parted ways with the label to launch his own imprint, Giran Republic, signaling the next chapter of his career.
Olamide maintained that Asake’s story proves that genuine artistry will always find its audience, whether immediately or over time.
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