Nigerian rap icon and YBNL founder Olamide has clarified long-standing confusion about his career timeline with Afrobeats superstar Wizkid, stating that Wizkid actually began his musical journey earlier.
Fans Have Misunderstood Their Start Dates
Speaking in a recent interview with streamer Azeeez, Olamide addressed the popular belief that both artists launched their careers at the same time. Many fans assume this because they both blew up nationwide around 2010 Wizkid with his January hit “Holla at Your Boy” and Olamide with “Eni Duro” released later that year.
Their simultaneous rise was further cemented when they were both nominated for Next Rated at the 2011 Headies Awards, a category Wizkid went on to win.
However, Olamide explained that this perception is inaccurate. He said:
“Wizkid and I didn’t start doing music at the same time. He started a year or two before me; he was already putting out music before I came,”
Olamide Says It’s About Accuracy, Not Competition
Olamide noted that his intention is simply to clear up misconceptions, not to compare achievements or diminish either artist’s impact.
Industry records back up his statement. Wizkid who is now 35 featured on M.I Abaga’s “Fast Money/Fast Cars” as far back as 2008, years before his mainstream explosion. That early exposure helped shape his path as a leading force in Afrobeats.
Meanwhile, Olamide carved out his own legacy with consistent hits, shaping the rap, street-hop, and indigenous music landscape and cementing himself as one of Nigeria’s most influential voices.
Despite fans’ ongoing debates, Olamide emphasized that he respects Wizkid’s artistry and is only correcting the historical timeline so discussions are based on facts.
The clarification aims to finally settle the long-running question of who started first.
Watch the video below…
