Call him the voice of the street or a man with the Midas touch, one may not be out of place because Olamide Adedeji, who prefers to be called Olamide, has remained a force on the music scene for a decade and does not seem to be slowing down. With his eighth studio album currently trending, Olamide keeps showing signs that he has more to offer in an industry that is peopled by talent. Days back, he was engaged in an interactive session by SEGUN ADEBAYO where he spoke about music and life.
So much has happened to your music career in the last decade. You have given so much to the music culture; you emerged as the king of the street and changed the narrative that rap music could be done differently. What does this success mean to you?
I am proud of what I have achieved with my music over the years; I feel great to be honest and I am grateful to God for the grace to have come this far but I feel as if I am just starting out as a new artiste. I have always given my all; my best and all my strength into every project I am doing because I appreciate the love from my fans all over the world. This success could only mean one thing: more work. I don’t see myself as being successful because the passion keeps growing stronger by the day. All that I have done in music and what would still do is geared towards giving the people the best part of me the best way possible. Passion is what keeps the fire burning for me. And that is what has sustained my brand till today.
Tell me about that special bond you have with your fans that they keep embracing your songs; you seem to have a special place in their hearts. What is the secret?
There is no secret to this love; it is pure love and trust. I always tell people that I don’t think I have a winning logic or any magic wand; I just like to be myself in every song. I want to be me. I want to be myself. I want to always present myself to the fans the way they have known me. There is nothing special; I just do me.
It is quite surprising that you have never attempted to seek foreign relevance through collaborations like some of your mates do. Yet, you have managed to carve a niche for yourself and put your songs on the lips of many people within and outside the country. Don’t you believe in foreign collaborations?
I don’t think it is about whether I believe or I don’t; it is more about what works for me. From the moment it all started, I knew what would work for me. I knew the street is where the passion could be sustained, and I was always carrying them along and they gave and still give me so much support that I can’t quantify. What works for others may not work for me. So, I rather do what works for me and let others do what works for them. That’s what music is all about. Identify your audience, give yourself to them, so how much to want them to be entertained and keep the fire burning. That’s it for me.
Your new album ‘Carpe Diem’ has been rated as one of the best this year. The album has opened a new chapter in your music career and you seem to be enjoying the ride. What is the story behind this project?
I love to be creative in every song I put out, so this album is another way of me saying that you can stretch your creativity to meet the demands of today’s industry. It was my way of using my creativity to tell a story of my life, keeping my sanity and still entertaining my fans. I feel as if I have been restricting myself all this while, and for my own mental health, it is high time I revealed another side of myself and do everything I have always wanted to do with my music. This was what gave birth to the new album and I am really happy that people love it. I just want to live to the fullest and do everything I desire creatively. I’m just expressing myself through music. For me, it is not about impact or legacy. It is just me being happy with myself from within and doing all the things I desire.
You are a label boss with so many responsibilities to carry. You also have artistes who look up to you for guidance. It may not be out of place to say that you want to remain a hitmaker and stay relevant. How do you draw a balance between being a singer and a boss?
Let me say this again, passion and selflessness are very important in everything you do, especially as a leader. As much as you are passionate about your growth, you must be passionate about others too. Once you have a genuine passion and a structure and team that keeps everybody in check, the job would be seamless. It takes someone that is passionate about others, selfless, and confident of what he has to do these things. If you feel that the world deserves to hear this sound, then they deserve to hear that person. It is like having a playlist, and you don’t want to share it with your friends. That’s selfish. I can’t discover guys that I know their sounds are beautiful and not try in my own little way to get them out there. It doesn’t make any sense to me.
With all that you have done this year, would you consider it a great year for you?
I feel so great about this year. I have a new album that presents me as a new person; a newborn with stronger passion for greatness. I have great moments over the years and I have many low times that I had to just keep my calm and sanity. Many people don’t know these things because they are not close to you. I have had to deal with some difficult times, but I am happy that 2020 has given me a rebirth of sort. I feel like I am a new person entirely right now, like I am just starting afresh.
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