Olamide Adedeji, aka Badoo, comes across easily as one of those who made indigenous rap one of the most popular music genres in Nigeria today. He is not only the favourite of most lovers of rap, they simply adore him for successfully filling the vacuum created by the departure of late Yoruba rap sensation, Dagrin, from the music scene.
Considering the progress that he has made within the last few years, Olamide, no doubt, has fully stepped into the proverbial shoes left behind by Dagrin. The alternative rapper, also known as the ‘king of the streets’, hit the limelight after recording his debut album, Rapsodi, on the Coded Tunes music label in 2011.
Since foremost Nigerian rap artiste, Dagrin, passed on four years ago, quite a number of Yoruba lyricists have stepped up their game. However, Olamide stands out as the only one that is being compared with the late star, talent-wise. “When they compare me to ‘the king that once lived’ (Dagrin), who shut down the whole place during his time, it makes me feel good.
When they say I am doing it like Dagrin, I feel very humble. I am just doing my thing and living my own dream, but the truth is there can never be another Dagrin,” a humbled Olamide notes. The passionate rapper, who clearly bestrides the Nigerian rap music scene like a colossus, says, “I keep the competition from within and look forward to outdo my last effort. I am in competition with myself.”