Olamide’s 2012 album, YBNL (an acronym for “Yahoo Boy No Laptop”), was a game-changer. It perfectly captured the street-smart hustle and unapologetic confidence of the Nigerian youth.
The album features high-energy, raw street-hop anthems like “Voice of the Street,” “First of All,” and “Stupid Love” that became iconic for their call-and-response choruses and relatable lyrics. Olamide, alongside producers like Pheelz and ID Cabasa, uses indigenous Yoruba rap with catchy Afropop rhythmns. Collaborations with artists such as Davido, Tiwa Savage, and Reminisce added variety and energy to the project.
YBNL paved the way for the YBNL Nation label and influenced a generation of young rappers who saw Olamide’s journey as proof that talent and hardwork can turn street dreams into a legacy.
