By Our Correspondent
Nigerian rapper Olamide has made history as the first African rapper to surpass 1 billion career streams on Spotify.
The milestone is a testament to his pioneering role in blending Afrobeats with rap, which has significantly contributed to his global reach.
Olamide’s achievement underscores his influence on the African music scene, with his innovative approach to blending indigenous sounds with contemporary rap resonating across various international audiences.
In 2024, Olamide continued to make waves in the global music industry when he became the first African rapper to receive a Grammy nomination.
His collaboration with Asake on the track ‘Amapiano’ earned a nomination in the inaugural Best African Music Performance category, although the award ultimately went to Tyla’s ‘Water’.
In November 2024, Nigerian singer Crown Uzama, popularly known as Shallipopi, honored Olamide by crowning him the “King of Nigerian Street Music”.
During an interview on Naija FM, Shallipopi expressed his admiration for Olamide’s role in shaping the street music scene.
“Baddo is the father and king of Nigerian street music. I had to feature him on ‘Order’ because it’s a street song, and Olamide owns the street,” Shallipopi said.
This sentiment is widely shared across the music industry, as Olamide has been a trailblazer in bringing street pop into the mainstream, solidifying it as a distinct genre in Nigerian and global music culture.
Olamide’s collaborations with artists like CKay on “Wahala,” Rybeena on “Wise 2.0,” and Liya on “Vibes on Vibes” further showcase his versatility and enduring influence in the music industry.
