On February 8, 2022, Nigerian rapper Olamide announced the signing of a hungry street-pop artiste named Asake to his YBNL imprint.
Just eight days later, Asake dropped his debut EP ‘Ololade Asake’, and it was clear, the streets had birthed a star. His sound was raw and spiritual, yet perfectly suited for the clubs. But before listeners could fully process his arrival, he doubled down with “Sungba (Remix)” featuring Burna Boy. That was the moment the streets met the mainstream, and Asake took flight.
From his unmistakable Fuji-meets-Afrobeats, amapiano, vocals to his church-like backing chants and fashion-forward branding, Asake created a lane of his own. Imitators followed. The industry couldn’t ignore him.
Nicknamed “Mr Money No Dey Waste Time,” Asake lived up to the title. His work rate was relentless, and by the time “Peace Be Unto You (PBUY)” dropped, he declared, “I just blow but, omo, I know my set”, a bold but accurate self-affirmation. He wasn’t a fluke. He was the moment.
That same year, it was announced that Asake had signed a distribution deal with EMPIRE, one of the leading US-based indie powerhouses, alongside YBNL. The partnership bore fruit with his debut album ‘Mr. Money With The Vibe’, released on September 7, 2022. The album shattered records and rewrote the blueprint for modern Afrobeats releases.
Asake ended 2022 as the No. 1 Artiste in Nigeria**,** a feat he repeated in 2023 and 2024 with his sophomore project ‘Work of Art’ and third album ‘Lungu Boy’, respectively – as well as having the most-streamed albums in each of those years.
But in January 2025, whispers began to swirl. Has Asake left YBNL? The rumors lit up Nigerian social media. No official statement came from Olamide or Asake. Instead, Asake did what he always does, he let the music speak. On February 11, he dropped “Why Love”, this time under his own imprint: Giran Republic. No YBNL, just EMPIRE.
The reaction was mixed. Fans speculated. Critics raised eyebrows. Asake, unfazed, remained visible, making appearances at the Grammys, popping up at Paris Fashion Week, and posting curated lifestyle content.
In the months that followed, he kept fans on edge. There were guest verses on Young Jonn’s “Che Che”, Olamide’s “99” alongside Seyi Vibez, Young Jonn, and Daecolm, and a global feature on J Hus’ “Gold”. But where was the solo Asake single?
On Thursday, July 24th at 11 PM Nigerian time, he answered. Asake announced a surprise drop: “Badman Gangsta” featuring French-Congolese artiste Tiakola. Produced by P Priime, the track is an ode to resilience, coded ambition, and the complex paradox of street success.
But something stood out: EMPIRE’s name was missing from the metadata. Curious, the TurnTable team reached out to sources in the industry. One of them confirmed the new single was distributed by gamma., the innovative media and music company co-founded by former Apple Music executive Larry Jackson.
To get clarity, we spoke with Osi Dirisu, Head of Label & Operations at gamma Africa, who confirmed the news:
“Yes, it’s a distro deal between gamma. and Giran Republic,” he said. “Asake is the first of many talents we will be working with.”
When pressed about an upcoming project or album release date, he smiled and simply replied, “No comment.”
Asake’s next chapter feels like a reset, not from a place of decline, but from a position of power. He’s no longer the new kid at YBNL. He is now a full-blown brand, building his ecosystem, with Giran Republic as the launchpad and gamma. as the global engine.