Each year, Nigerian pop welcomes several ascendant stars into the mainstream. In the early days of 2022, Asake burst unto the scene with the Olamide-assisted “Omo Ope,” a delightfully hedonistic slapper that quickly set the course for his marquee year. Since that release, Asake has continued to notch musical successes as he rapidly ascends through the ranks and harnesses his powers fully.

For the first of our NATIVE RESEST ISSUE covers, we spoke to Asake, the man of the moment about his life before he became the King of Sounds and Blues. Here, the YBNL and EMPIRE star talks candidly about his days stomping around Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife where he first realised his musical ambitions to his relationship with label boss and mentor, Olamide and his infectious sound which has taken the world by storm off the back of his commanding and charismatic presence.

With weighty strides that have changed the course of Afropop music as we know it today, Asake is the undisputed champion of 2022. “I won’t lie, it’s been stressful, but it’s what I’ve been praying for. I no sabi give up,” he reveals, as he talks about his how his ascension to household name feels long overdue.

Full Credits

Word by Dennis Ade-Peter

Editor-In-Chief: Seni Saraki

Head of Content Strategy: Damilola Animashaun

Managing Editor: Tami Makinde

Deputy Print Editor: Adewojumi Aderemi

Photography & Creative Direction: Manny Jefferson

Art Direction & Production Design: Desola Falomo

Styling: Momo Hassan-Odukale

Make-Up: Onome Ezekiel

Production: Jimi Adesanya & Leke Alabi-Isama for JM Films

Motion Director: Director K

Videography: Omowunmi Ogundipe, Muhhammad Atta-Ahmed, Henry Young, Idris Shokanbi, Tunde Anjorin

Lighting: Stanley Ibegbu

Sound: Sunday Adesugba

Production Assistants: Yusuf Adedoyin, Benjamin Edem

Read Asake’s Time here.

Featured image credits/MannyJefferson