Spotify, an online streaming platform, has rated Nigerian rapper, singer, songwriter and record executive, Olamide Adedeji, popularly known as “Olamide”, as the ‘most influential street pop artiste of his generation’.
Benewaah Boateng, Spotify’s editor for West Africa, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday in Lagos.
Boateng said lately, the undeniable rise of the sub-genre “Street Pop” in Nigeria had been both remarkable and thrilling to observe and this had slowly made its way to mainstream music.
“Olamide is the most influential street pop artiste of his generation, consistently praised for his role in elevating Street Pop to mainstream recognition as a distinct music genre.
“Since the debut of his hit single, “Eni Duro,” he has been a constant cultural force, popularising dance styles like “Shakiti Bobo” and street lingos such as “Baddo Sneh” and “Pepper Dem”.
“Through his record label YBNL, Olamide has also played a pivotal role in discovering and nurturing Nigeria’s brightest street pop talents.
“The influence of Street Pop on the Nigerian music landscape in 2023 is clearly and undeniably significant.
“This is just the beginning of Street Pop going mainstream and we cannot wait to see how it continues to grow,” she said.
Boateng said street pop which originated from a fusion of Afrobeats, Highlife, Hip-hop, Fuji, Apala, indigenous sounds, and contemporary elements, boasts of an engaging rhythm, pulsating fast-paced beats and lyrics that mirror the everyday lives of Nigerians navigating the challenges of the streets.
She explained that a notable attribute of Street Pop as a music genre lies in its profound connection to the harsh realities of everyday life in Nigeria.
She said Olamide occupied the ninth spot in the list of top 10 artists in Nigeria.
