Olamide made a return with his new EP, Ikigai / 生き甲斐, Vol. 1, released in June, but few knew that he was on the brink of quitting music after years of writing and producing for others left him feeling disconnected from his own artistry.
“At some point, I actually thought I wouldn’t make music anymore,” he admits in an interview with BET. Rediscovering his purpose, he channeled that energy into Ikigai, reigniting his passion for creating.
The EP, featuring artists like Fireboy DML and Asake, has received rave reviews. Olamide, who also played a major role in launching the careers of Afrobeats stars through his label YBNL Nation, is already working on a follow-up.
He also weighs in on the ongoing debate about African artists being boxed into the Afrobeats label, arguing that they shouldn’t be confined to a single genre.
