With a vibrant tribute to Nigerian street culture, Ashidapo’s new single Gobe samples Wande Coal’s Baby Hello and redefines the slang as a wave of joyous energy.
The singer and performer is shifting meanings with his new single Gobe, out now on all major streaming platforms. In the track, Ashidapo reinterprets Gobe Nigerian slang traditionally meaning drama or trouble as a moment of awe, attraction, and pure joy.
“I was saying Gobe in the sense of being mesmerized by a lady,” Ashidapo explains. “It’s that energy that makes you stop and say wow. That spark. That feeling when everything just clicks.”
The record, produced by Maleek Berry, pulses with a playful bounce and nostalgic warmth. Its foundation is a clever sample of Wande Coal’s classic Baby Hello a track also originally produced by Berry serving as both an homage and an evolution that bridges generations of Nigerian pop.
After first debuting as a teaser on TikTok, the snippet has inspired over 14,000 user-generated videos, signaling early virality and strong organic fan engagement.
“Wande Coal is a living legend,” Ashidapo shares. “I grew up listening to him. His music had something for everyone, Afropop, soul, highlife, feel-good vibes. When I heard ‘Baby Hello,’ it felt like he was having fun sliding through the record. That’s exactly the feeling I wanted to capture with Gobe.”
Driven by bouncy percussion, catchy adlibs, and sing-along hooks, the song is built for movement. Gobe pulls you in, whether you’re in a club, at a party, or caught in a spontaneous street vibe. Its lyrics mix humor, swagger, and local flavor, while nods to Saint-Tropez and Jupiter blend global flair with homegrown pride.
This release builds on the success of Ashidapo’s Take Ova EP, which surpassed 5 million streams worldwide, and the fiery collaboration Girl On Fya (feat. Olamide), which peaked at No. 22 on Apple Music Nigeria and charted on the Top 20 Global Shazam.
With Gobe, Ashidapo solidifies his status as one of the year’s definitive breakout artists.
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