In music, legends leave an indelible mark that time cannot erase. This is precisely the essence embodied by Olamide, whose latest self-titled album, Olamidé, adds new chapters to his legacy.
His 11th studio album, Olamidé, represents a significant milestone that underscores his remarkable journey and enduring presence in the music industry. It showcases his evolution as an artist and his ability to stay relevant in a constantly changing landscape.
Leading up to the album’s release, Olamide generated considerable buzz with exciting lead singles that captivated his audience. Among them is Kia, a dynamic collaboration with the iconic Wizkid, blending their distinct styles seamlessly. The standout track 99 also features a vibrant ensemble of artists, including Asake, Young Jonn, Seyi Vibez, and Daecolm, each contributing their unique flair.
The album’s self-titled nature poignantly reflects Olamide’s life, experiences, struggles, and triumphs. It’s more than just a collection of songs; it’s a testament to his influential journey, artistry, and the impact he continues to have on the music scene.
Fxtune opens the album on Prelude, serving its title meaning, with his soft voice singing about home, giving the sense of a personal themed album, as we can already suspect from the self-titled. Moving to track 2, Hasibunallah serves as the first time we hear Olamide’s voice on the album, and he is in his prayer bag, amidst lyrical flows about his hustle, workflow, and how he has parted ways with struggles.
Following this, track 3 Kia follows. The lead single that came out earlier featured long-time and frequent collaborator Wizkid. This track is perfect with well-selected collaborators, including Fireboy DML on the backup vocals, a special ingredient in this track that a few people might not notice.
Track 4 Luvaluvah is a bouncing track with an astonishing sample from Ms. Lauryn Hill’s Can’t Take My Eyes off You, one many won’t expect on an Afrobeats tune, of course it is about love and Olamide made his flows sound like a conversation between him and his lover, with a hook that is quite catchy as he sings “luvaluvah me, don’t you suffer me” to the bouncy P.Priime production, making this track for lovers.
Follow up track, Billionaires Club is that tune you just cruise to, vibe to, flex to, and lift dumbbells to, where Olamide is bragadacious with his rap flows and pieces of advice in the infectious chorus that will be stuck in your head. Wizkid comes with a verse about enjoying his life and living in the moment, while Darko brings her distinctive voice, riding on the theme of enjoying yourself and having a good time.
On track 6 Free, young rising star Muyeez brought his melodic chorus to the Semzi production, alongside verses from Seyi Vibez and Olamide. One minor downside to this track is the stretch in Seyi Vibez’s verse.
Next up is the tune titled Duro, a mid-tempo love theme track, with Olamide’s tender soft voice as he raps with a catchy chorus. Duro sits on the shelf among past songs of Olamide that are love-themed, such as Melo Melo and Jailer. Duro is truly that track that makes you reach out to that lover of yours who wants to leave, while also being that type of track that deserves a cinematic music video.
On track 8 Special, we get Olamide’s sleek rap flows. He touches on being a special being, a legend, discussing keys to the city and his ability to stay on top of business at any time of day, while also reminiscing about his early days when he received street love as soon as he stepped out.
Indika, the 9th track, features legends on one track: Olamide himself, American legend Dr. Dre, and legendary Nigerian DJ SPINALL. Indika has that grit, complex street core rap flow of Olamide, with Dr. Dre coming hard all on a produced SPINALL beat – can you see how fire that is? This is one of the tracks many looked forward to, and it didn’t disappoint.
However, track 10 1 Shot comes off as a different direction on this album, probably I was caught off guard with the instrumental, but Olamide’s rap flow is really impressive on this gangsta type Beat. 1 Shot is that type of song that would fit a thrilling action Nollywood movie. I’m really looking forward to what a Nollywood filmmaker will do with this track.
99 is another lead song from the album with his Avengers, from Asake to Young Jonn, Seyi Vibez, and Daecolm; the fast-paced instrumental tune has all the artists floating, Asake sticking to his more life, more fun, Young Jonn chorus on partying all day all night, with Seyi Vibez doing his thing, alongside Daecolm’s Zimbabwean vibe.
Track 12, Ruba, is another love song on this project. We hear Olamide describing all the feelings he feels for his lover and how she stole his heart like a robber.
Track 13, Rain, should have been shortened and soloed because Popcaan’s verse is so brief and relatively unnecessary; Popcaan would have shone if he had taken the chorus with his Jamaican voice, but we didn’t get that. The track would have fit perfectly as a short interlude. Paris, which is the follow-up track, serves as an interlude from French singer FADÍ, and it is quite unnecessary.
Track 15, Hybrid, has a very Nigerian instrumental, and Olamide brought a fitting vibe. At first listen, all that came to mind was how this track would rock parties. Lalakipo also follows this pattern as it brings that Olamide party vibe that many are familiar with.
To conclude the show, the album’s ultimate track, Stronger, featuring Alte Lord Boj, revolves around a heartbroken girl who has found strength to move on by flexing. It is surprisingly less remarkable as an outro.
The album presents many impressive moments, but one standout feature is the progression throughout its various segments. As a self-titled project, it effectively captures the essence of the artist. This is evident in tracks like Hasibunallah, which showcases his religious reflections following the Fxtune Prelude.” In contrast, songs like Kia and Billionaires Club highlight his luxurious lifestyle, while Luvaluvah and Duro reveal a more romantic side, demonstrating that Olamide can balance braggadocio with vulnerability, especially in tracks like Special and Indika.
Party anthems are also well represented, with 99 and Lalakipo emerging as hits. The collaborations on this album are particularly noteworthy; for instance, Kia featuring Wizkid stands out as a highlight, alongside contributions from Dr. Dre and SPINALL on Indika, with tracks like 99, Billionaires Club, and Free serving as honorable mentions. However, while the album features great collaborations, some feel less cohesive.
Nevertheless, the production quality is exceptional, thanks to talented producers like P.Priime, Semzi, Eskeez, and Larrylanes, who consistently deliver outstanding beats. Olamide’s work on this album reflects a long-standing ambition and represents a significant evolution in his artistry. It showcases various facets of his personality, all wrapped in a more mature and thoughtful approach. That is what this album really speaks about.
