Olamide Adedeji: My Relationship with Wizkid

Olamide Adedeji: My Relationship with Wizkid

Olamide Adedeji He’s just twenty three years old, but eclectic rapper, Olamide Adedeji’s rating on the Nigerian music radar is flattering... 16:20

Olamide Adedeji
He’s just twenty three years old, but eclectic
rapper, Olamide Adedeji’s rating on the Nigerian
music radar is flattering. Sequel to his current
effort, YBNL, was a chart-bursting debut,
RapSoDi. The visionary artiste said to be slipping
into late rapper, Dagrin’s shoes shared his story
with LANRE ODUKOYA
Before professional music, have you tried
something else?
Yes, the initial dream was being a football
superstar. I used to play football a lot back in the
school and when I got to secondary school, my
attention shifted to basketball. It was all sports
then, but I actually gave that up because my
passion for music was higher than any other
thing I was doing back then.
It’s been said that you’re no longer with ID
Cabasa, the man you praise in most of your raps.
How true is this?
This is very funny. Anthony Nwakala is actually
my manager, not that I’m under his label. Coded
Tunes is now a record label, but I’m not signed
under it, I’m just like their in-house artist, a
family member of the house. It’s not actually what
people think and Olamide is not signed under any
record label right now.
From ID Cabasa to Tony Payne and you’ve also
left the latter from what we gathered. What really
happened?
ID Cabasa is my producer and like my dad and
godfather in the industry. Tony Payne was just my
manager at a time and there was nothing else I
had with her.
After you left Tony Payne, Zara also left and Adol
is the only one remaining. Why did you guys
leave her?
Really, I never knew. I only know that life is a
change of direction even if you don’t plan it.
But it was alleged that you used to take
exuberance to the stage. In fact, sometimes
overstaying your time when you get carried away
by the cheers from fans and that Tony Payne
could no longer condone that…
Well, I don’t know anything about that. I just know
that life is a change of direction; sometimes you
don’t even plan the change.
You had collaboration with Wizkid. Are you still
that bonded? Is he a friend you talk to every
passing week?
We’re still good friends after the song we did
together. But honestly speaking, Wizkid and I are
not that close; we are just colleagues and we have
this professional friendship that goes on. I won’t
come here and start flaunting him as my very
good friend.
What’s your motivation for the Azonto effort you
made?
I just wanted to take my rap game to the next
level because I don’t want to be like everyday
kind of rap artiste. I don’t want to rap and get you
bored. I make music that people can grove and
flow with. My interest is in making raps that blend
well with all genres of music. I know there’s no
Nigerian artiste that has done Azonto rap and I
dare to be different. I’m looking forward to taking
my game higher, like breaking into the
international market because I need my music to
cross borders. In the nearest future I wish to have
my own record label and start helping artistes.
What kind of childhood did you have?
Ghetto gangster and rough man; there is nothing
rosy about my childhood at all. I grew up in
Bariga and so far so good, it’s been rough and
tough on the streets. Sometimes, I still want to go
back to the hood; I miss that lifestyle. Being away
from that ghetto gangster life, somehow, I still
miss some stuffs like the foul smell I got here and
there from my backyard. You can take a ghetto
boy out of the hood but you cannot take the hood
out of him. When I’m rapping and speaking good
English, I won’t know when I say; ‘gbagbe osi’
and that’s typical me.
Do you have a romantic relationship?
I’m actually in one and it’s been on for twelve
years now. She’s the main reason I’m here and
her name is music.