10 solo albums into a glittering career, the legend of Olamide is largely written. When the historians of the future revise the period between 2010 to 2024, they’ll find a legacy that’s been forged through countless hits, cultural-shaping contributions, and an equally successful pivot into becoming an Afropop executive with his ears close to the ground. 

While Olamide has undoubtedly morphed into an excellent executive, he still has the zest for music that saw him rise from a young upstart working his way out of Bariga to a global music icon. The hunger made his assertion that 2023’s ‘Unruly’ would be his final album unbelievable for long-term Olamide listeners. True to expectations, Olamide has continued to release music with 2024’s ‘Ikigai / 生き甲斐’ serving as a palate cleanser for him. 

His new eponymous album finds him in unrestrained territory with nothing to prove and a lot to be appreciative of. As his 11th album, it’s also his most globally reaching album, boasting two songs with Wizkid and collaborations with Popcaan and Dr. Dre. Still, the Street-Pop icon does not forget his origins, teaming up with Seyi Vibez on two songs and tapping his protege, Asake, for an exciting interpretation of Afropop on “99.” At an age where many of his peers are content to put their feet up and call it a day, Olamide is still evidently raring to go. 

After our first couple of listens, here is The NATIVE’s team sharing their early thoughts on ‘Olamide.’

FAVOURITE SONG 

Wale: I love “Stronger” with Boj. I saw a tweet that Olamide made about them finally having a song together on the album, and I was looking forward to that. I like the fact that girls who have gone through toxic relationships and come out on the other side of it have something to turn up to. Boj’s chorus is very mellow, allowing Olamide to dig in on his bars, and that just works perfectly on “Stronger.”

Boluwatife: I’ll pick “99,” but it’s probably because of familiarity bias. I thought it was underwhelming when I first heard it, especially considering the stacked lineup, but it eventually grew on me. It has a chilled house vibe that’s so relaxing and irresistible. It’s exactly the kind of music you want to play when you’re at a beach house with friends. 

Bamise: I really like “Hybrid.” It feels like a Fuji action movie and has that Olamide energy that built him up as the OG Street-Pop rapper and icon that we know and love. 

BEST PRODUCTION

Dan A: “Indika” is a quick standout on the project production-wise. It’s a quick excursion into Highlife/Palmwine music. It’s highly percussive, the guitars are grooving, and the saxs don’t let you down. It brought the best out of Dr. Dre on Afrobeats, and I need to hear more Olamide on Highlife.

Boluwatife: I think SPINALL did a madness on “Indika.” The bass guitars, the percussion, the trumpets, everything seems layered to perfection. Dr Dre & Olamide’s smooth verses are both strong on their own, but they sounded even more pristine over SPINALL’s lush and groovy beat. 

Dan B: The production on “Indika” was superb. The beat that SPINALL crafted was the perfect blend of Afrobeats and Hip-Hop to allow Dr. Dre and Olamide to have as much fun with their verses as they needed; nothing sounded out of place. 

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE VERSE 

Moore: I enjoyed most of “Luvaluvah,” but particularly the the part where Olamide goes, “Lova lova mi/Don’t you suffer me/Treat me special, treat me properly/It’s a cold world/My baby cover me.” It perfectly captures the yearning feeling of the song.

Israel: Wizkid’s verse on Olamide’s “Billionaires Club” is hands down my favorite moment on the entire album. It feels like vintage Starboy with a new edge. The way he slides into the beat so effortlessly, blending Pidgin and English with that cool, understated confidence, just commands your attention without ever raising his voice. There’s a calm luxury in his delivery that matches the theme of the song perfectly. He sounds like someone who’s already won, who doesn’t need to prove anything, and that energy is infectious. It’s one of those verses that reminds me why Wizkid is still in a league of his own.

Sien: For me, it’s the first verse of “Lalakipo.” It gives me the feel of an Olamide song I listened to in high school, but also the newness of a song I know will get me on my feet at the club 

BIGGEST SKIP

Sien: I’ll say “Ruba.” I love a Semzi and Olamide team-up, but for some reason, this doesn’t speak to me. Still, a part of me also feels I might end up revisiting this song more frequently. 

Wale: I don’t like dancehall-leaning Olamide as a principle. I think it’s not a style of music that suits his best strengths, so I have to go for “Rain” with Popcaan. Olamide sounds insipid on this one and doesn’t particularly mesh well with Popcaan. I doubt I’ll be revisiting this one. 

Dan B: “Ruba” didn’t do much for me, the song felt a bit weaker than the other tracks on the project, especially since it’s coming after such a heavy hitter like “99.”

WHAT’S THE BIGGEST POTENTIAL HIT

Dan A: “99”  and “Indika”  for sure. I didn’t think “99”  got enough love as a single simply because people placed too much expectation on the music when the lineup on the track was announced, but I think slowly, the people are starting to see the beauty in the track. “Indika” speaks for itself, it’s groovy, it’s slightly different from what we’ve come to expect from Olamide, and it will resonate. 

Boluwatife: It’s a little difficult to pick a potential hit because it seems the general mood of the album suggests Olamide wasn’t necessarily looking to engineer hit records on this album. But if I must pick one, it’s a toss-up between “Hybrid” and “Lalakipo.”  “Lalakipo” is the most club-ready track on the album, while “Hybrid” is reminiscent of the iconic 2010s Olamide era. 

Bamise: For me, the first option is “Duro”, it’s catchy, it’s heartfelt, and is a song about the one that got away, something we can all relate to, especially with the added context of the said lover leaving before Olamide came into fame. Men love a grass-to-grace story that elevates them above their ex, and I can see how this song would be deployed to save a troubled relationship or as a crutch to lean on in the aftermath of a breakup. I can also see it taking off on TikTok and other social media apps with the craziest breakup stories ever. Other potential hits, in my opinion, include “Hybrid”, which has that big energy/ street banger feel, and also “99” by virtue of its heavyweight collaborations. All that song needs is to find solid footing online and on the airwaves, and it’s up from there. 

OVERALL FIRST IMPRESSION 

Wale: This album reminds me of ‘Morayo’ in how it attempts to fuse all the different styles that its creator has worked with across his career. This is a career that’s into its 15th year, so there’s a lot to work with, and Olamide’s ear for innovative production remains a constant too. Interestingly, Olamide is only now just realising an eponymous album, and I had half-hoped that he would lean more towards biographical elements and what’s happening in his life these days, but he just wants to have a good time. Overall, I think it’s an interesting album that just finds Olamide at his thrill-seeking best without making any radical changes to the formula that has served him well recently. 

Moore: Nothing about this album feels particularly flashy or concerned with following trends. Instead, it was an emotive project, with lots of range but also cohesion. It made for a very pleasant listening experience.

Israel: My first impression of the project is that it feels really smooth and well put together. Olamide sounds focused and intentional, like he knew exactly the kind of vibe he wanted to create and stuck with it. The production is clean, the features are well-chosen, and there’s this grown, reflective energy throughout the album that makes it feel personal without being heavy. It’s not trying too hard to be a hit record, but it still has replay value. It feels like something you can live with for a while, and that’s what I appreciate the most.