Asake’s rise to fame has become a well-told story in the Nigerian music scene. In 2022, a key turning point emerged for him. His friend and Nightlife influencer, Yhemo Lee, connected Asake with the legendary Olamide. Recognizing Asake’s talent, Olamide agreed to feature on his song. This collaboration, along with Asake’s own undeniable talent, propelled him into the spotlight. But before this breakthrough, let’s rewind and explore Asake’s rise to fame.
Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Asake’s journey into music was marked by a deep-rooted passion for the art form. From a young age, he was immersed in the rich mixture of sounds that characterise Nigerian music, drawing inspiration from Afrobeat legends like Fela Kuti, and contemporary icons such as Wizkid and Burna Boy.
Asake’s musical journey began in earnest during his university days at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), where he studied Theatre and Performing Arts. It was here that he started to hone his craft, performing at various campus events and gradually building a local following. He began releasing music around 2018, blending bright Afrobeat rhythms with his own mix of singing and nimble freestyling.
Launching Point
After developing his sound over early singles like “Ayeeza” and “Kanipe,” he released “Lady” in 2020, which effectively launched his career. Nods from more-established tastemakers like Broda Shaggi and Tunde Ednut helped extend the song’s reach, and he followed with “Mr. Money,” which became one of his signature songs. 2021’s “Don’t Hype Me” and “Yan Yan” positioned him as one of the rising stars and helped build anticipation for Ololade Asake, his debut EP.
Before Asake released “Omo Ope” (featuring Olamide) and signed to YBNL, he had gotten a little taste of the mainstream. His 2020 single “Mr Money” was a club banger which saw the singer performing in nightclubs all over cities like Lagos and Port Harcourt. As the song continued to rise in popularity, Asake released a remix featuring Peruzzi and Zlatan Ibile, earning him his debut on Apple Music Top 100: Nigeria chart. Even though Asake didn’t exactly blow up, he gained recognition from people in the entertainment industry.
Catapult Into Stardom
In February 2022, YBNL boss, Olamide signed Asake to his YBNL Records imprint. That same month, he released his debut extended play, Ololade, which featured his breakthrough song “Omo Ope”, featuring Olamide, and the hit single “Sungba”. In July 2022, Asake signed a distribution deal with Empire.
All of this built up to the release of Mr. Money with the Vibe, the singer’s debut album. An eclectic and wide-ranging mix of styles that included Afrobeats, Fuji, classical elements, and plenty of glowing pop, the album brought Asake further success in the U.S., hitting number 66 on the Billboard pop chart.
He followed the album with the Tiwa Savage collaboration “Loaded” and the 2023 singles “Yoga” and “2:30,” which lead into his 2023 album, Work of Art. The album also hit number 66 on the Billboard 200, and the single “Amapiano” (with Olamide) received a nomination for Best African Music Performance at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards. The characteristically upbeat single “Only Me” appeared in early 2024.
The recurring question on the minds of many listeners remains: How did Asake blow up so fast in such a short span of time?
The truth is, Asake is not your regular Nigerian musician. Since he popped up on the mainstream scene, the Lagos-born artist hasn’t taken a break from dominating the charts and airplay. Asake has consistently released back-to-back hits, peaking at the number one spot on various charts on streaming platforms. One can say Asake’s rise is a case of “opportunity meets readiness” and that is why he hasn’t stopped and he doesn’t look like he is stopping anytime soon as he has just announced the upcoming release of his latest album.
The Grammy-nominated star made the announcement on June 10, 2024, via his social media handle while also dropping the dates for his upcoming “Lungu Boy World Tour”.
Asake’s upcoming album will be his third album in 3 years after releasing his Headies Album of the Year-winning debut album ‘Mr. Money With The Vibes’ in 2022 and his successful sophomore ‘Work of Art’ in 2023.
Another exciting chapter in Asake’s exciting musical journey.
