Nigerian rap sensation, Olamide, has revealed that he established his record label YBNL Nation as a means to reinvest in the music industry and avoid extravagant spending.
The YBNL boss explained that his decision was driven by a desire to transform his musical success into a sustainable business venture. In an interview with Nandi Madida on Apple Music’s Africa Now Radio, Olamide shared his journey of transitioning from being recognized for his music to building a brand.
He stated, “The world was in love with my stuff, (and) I was grateful for that. But, I also felt it was time to make sure I reinvested in that same thing that was making people love and appreciate me. It used to be just about passion, but I figured it was high time I stepped up, reinvested and made it a proper business.
I set up my own record label and started signing artistes because I did not want all that money to just go wasting on ‘ballin’ (having fun). All that money had to go back into the business. That was how the whole thing started.”
The rapper went on to talk about establishing his record label and signing various artists, such as Lil Kesh, Fireboy DML, Adekunle Gold, Viktoh, and Davolee. Olamide’s intention was to redirect his earnings from casual spending into nurturing and growing the music industry. He emphasized the significance of turning his music endeavor into a thriving business and an avenue for other artists to flourish.
As for his upcoming ‘Unruly’ tour, the YBNL CEO shared his excitement about returning to the stage after a hiatus due to the pandemic. He expressed his anticipation for his concert in Nigeria in December and revealed plans for an extensive tour in the United States and Europe next summer.Olamide acknowledged the evolving musical landscape and the challenge of staying current with the ever-changing trends. He mentioned working diligently to adapt to the dynamic music scene, and this dedication to staying relevant influenced the length of time it took him to prepare for his return to touring.