Asake
Asake | |
---|---|
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Background information | |
Birth name | Ahmed Ololade |
Also known as | Mr. Money |
Born | Lagos State, Nigeria | 13 January 1995
Genres | |
Occupation(s) |
|
Instrument | Vocals |
Years active | 2018–present |
Labels |
Ahmed Ololade (born 13 January 1995),[1] known professionally as Asake,[2] is a Nigerian singer, rapper and songwriter.[3][4][5] He is signed to YBNL Nation and Empire Distribution.[6][7] His stage name "Asake" is his mother's name.[8]
In September 2022, his debut album Mr. Money with the Vibe was released, breaking the record for the biggest opening day for an African album on Apple Music at the time. The album debuted at number 66 on the Billboard 200 chart and recorded the highest charting Nigerian debut album in the history of the chart.[9][10] His sophomore album Work of Art was released in June 2023, becoming his second album to debut at number 66 on the Billboard 200.[11]
In 2020, Asake won Break Out Artist of the Year at the 2022[12] All Africa Music Awards, and was nominated as the Best African Music Act at the 2022 MOBO Awards, which marked his first international award nomination. In addition to that, he received Best New International Act nomination at the 2023 BET Awards, the same year he was listed number 5 on the Rolling Stone Music's Future 25.[13]
Asake walked home with a brand new car after winning the highly coveted Next Rated category at the 2023 Headies award on September 4, 2023.[14]
In November 2023, Asake received a Grammy Award nomination at the 66th Annual Grammy Award for "Amapiano" featuring Olamide.[15]
In January 2024, Asake received a nomination for the 55th NAACP Image Awards for his song "Amapiano".[16]
Career
[edit]2017–2022: Career beginnings
[edit]Asake studied Theatre and Dramatic Arts at Obafemi Awolowo University in Nigeria. He began releasing music in 2017, and his career took off in 2022 prior to releasing the single "Mr. Money",[17] followed by a remix with Zlatan and Peruzzi. In February 2022, fellow Nigerian artist Olamide signed Asake to his YBNL Records imprint.[18] That same month, he released his debut extended play, Ololade, which featured his breakthrough song "Omo Ope", featuring Olamide, and the single "Sungba" which was plugged by Olaitan Salaudeen.[19][20] In July 2022, Asake signed a distribution deal with Empire.[21][22]
2022–2023: Mr. Money with the Vibe and Work of Art
[edit]Asake released his debut studio album, Mr. Money with the Vibe, on 8 September 2022. It was supported by the singles "Terminator", "Peace Be Unto You", and a remix of "Sungba" with Burna Boy. The album was well received by fans in his home country of Nigeria, as well as across the world, and broke several records globally.[23][24] The album debuted at number 66 on the Billboard 200.[25]
In September 2022, Asake announced the Mr. Money with the Vibe United Kingdom tour,[26] selling out 3 dates at the O2 Academy Brixton in London.[27] On the final date of the Brixton Academy shows, several people were critically injured during a crowd crush. Two people – 33-year-old Concertgoer Rebecca Ikumelo and 23-year-old security guard Gaby Hutchinson – later died of their injuries.[28][29]
In December 2022, Asake was crowned "artiste of the year" by "Audiomack" after his debut studio album Mr. Money with the Vibes amassed over 330 million streams, and was subsequently announced alongside Kizz Daniel, Snazzy the Optimist and 1ucid as one of the most streamed and top trending artists in February 2023 by the platform,[30][31] after releasing the single “Yoga” in January 2023 which ventured into sega music.[32] This was followed by the track "2:30" in April, and "Amapiano" with Olamide in May.[33]
His second studio album Work of Art was announced shortly after the release of "Amapiano".[34] In April 2023, Asake appeared on Good Morning America to discuss his music.[35] Asake released his second studio album, Work of Art, on 16 June 2023.[36] The album debuted at number 66 on the Billboard 200 with 13,000 units sold during its debut week.[11] The album also reached number 20 on the UK Albums Chart and number 59 on the Irish Albums Chart. The album was reported by Nigeria's TurnTable charts as the most streamed Nigerian album of 2023 so far.[37]
2024–present: Lungu Boy album and Lungu Boy World Tour
[edit]In June 2024, Asake announced a global tour titled, Lungu Boy World Tour in conjunction with the release of his third music album Lungu Boy.[38]
Artistry
[edit]Asake's distinctive musical style exhibits Afrobeats, dynamic rap street pop (also street hop),[39][40] fújì music (and other fuji-centered musical styles), Afro fusion and Nigerian pop. His music is often an amalgamation of traditional yoruba music and percussion spanning heterogeneous contemporary music. Asake's vocal style delivery, primarily in Yoruba merged with English, urban colloquial slang and Nigerian Pidgin, reflects Nigerian hip hop and fújì music influences.[41][42][40][43][36][44]
Awards and nominations
[edit]Year | Awards | Category | Nominee | Result | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2023 | Soundcity MVP Awards | Male MVP | Himself | Won | [45] |
Vodafone Ghana Music Awards | Best African Artist of the Year | Himself | Won | [46] | |
The Headies | Album of the Year | "Mr. Money With The Vibe" | Won | [47] | |
2024 | Brit Awards | International Artist | Himself | Nominated | [48] |
3Music Awards | "Amapiano" | African Song of the Year | Pending | [49] |
Notable performances
[edit]In September 2023, Asake became the first African artist to headline and sell out a concert at the New York City, Barclays Center.[50] In August 2023, he achieved a significant milestone by selling out the O2 Arena in London. He made a memorable entrance by arriving in a helicopter.[51] On February 1, 2024, Asake appeared on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, performing during the episode that aired on that date, reaching a broader American audience.[52]
Discography
[edit]Studio albums
[edit]Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
NGR [53] |
IRE [54] |
UK [55] |
US [56] | ||
Mr. Money with the Vibe |
|
1 | — | 22 | 66 |
Work of Art |
|
1 | 59 | 20 | 66 |
Lungu Boy |
|
— | 42 [57] |
15 | — |
Extended plays
[edit]Title | EP details |
---|---|
Ololade |
|
Singles
[edit]As lead artist
[edit]Year | Song | Peak chart positions | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
2022 | "Omo Ope" featuring Olamide | [5][58] | |
2022 | "Sungba" | [59] | |
2022 | "Sungba Remix" featuring Burna Boy | No. 7 US Afrobeats Songs | [60][61] |
2022 | "Peace Be Unto You (PBUY)" | No. 1 Nigeria (TurnTable) No. 7 US Afrobeats Songs |
[62][60] |
2022 | "Terminator" | No. 82 UK Charts,[63] No. 91 Ireland,[64] No. 172 Global 200[65] | [66] |
2022 | "Trabaye" featuring Olamide | [67] | |
2023 | "Yoga" | [68] | |
2023 | "2:30" | [69] | |
2023 | "Amapiano" with Olamide | ||
2023 | "Lonely at the Top" with H.E.R. | ||
2024 | "Only Me" | [70] | |
2024 | "Wave" with Central Cee | ||
2024 | "Active" with Travis Scott |
As featured artist
[edit]Year | Song | Peak chart position | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
2022 | "Palazzo" by DJ Spinall | No. 6 US Afrobeats Songs | [60][71] |
2022 | "Bandana" by Fireboy DML | No. 8 US Afrobeats Songs | [72][73] |
2022 | "Loaded" by Tiwa Savage | [74] | |
2023 | "No Competition" by Davido | [75] | |
2023 | "New Religion" by Olamide | [citation needed] | |
2023 | "Happiness" by Sarz | [76] | |
2024 | "Stubborn" by Victony | [77] |
Music videos
[edit]Title | Year | Director(s) |
---|---|---|
"Omo Ope" (Asake featuring Olamide) | 2022 | Asher Kine[78] |
"Sungba" (Asake) | TG Omori[79] | |
"Sungba Remix" (Asake featuring Burna Boy) | TG Omori[80] | |
"Palazzo" (DJ Spinall featuring Asake) | TG Omori[81] | |
"Peace Be Unto You" (Asake) | TG Omori | |
"Terminator" (Asake) | TG Omori[82] | |
"Joha" (Asake) | TG Omori[83] | |
"Loaded" (Tiwa Savage featuring Asake) | TG Omori[84] | |
"Organise" (Asake) | TG Omori[85] | |
"Yoga" | 2023 | TG Omori |
"2:30" | Joshua Valle & Edgar Esteves | |
"Amapiano" (Asake featuring Olamide) | Jyde Ajala | |
"Basquiat" | Joshua Valle & Edgar Esteves | |
“Remember” | Joshua Valle [86] |
References
[edit]- ^ Sare, Watimagbo (2022). "Asake Biography, Songs, & Albums". Allmusic. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
- ^ Asake Biography & Net Worth 2024
- ^ Asake, Ola. "Wave Asake Mp3". Naija Pickup.
- ^ Subeditor (20 August 2022). "'Mr Money' Asake: Biography, Education, Songs, Girlfriend, Net Worth and Achievement". NewsWireNGR. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
- ^ a b "Olamide inspires me with his knowledge of showbiz –Asake". Punch Newspaper. 3 June 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
- ^ Alake, Motolani (8 February 2022). "Olamide signs Asake to YBNL". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
- ^ "American record label welcomes Asake to fold". The Nation Newspaper. 19 July 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
- ^ Sare, Watimagbo (29 September 2022). "YBNL's Asake Reveals How He Got His Stage Name". Allnews.ng. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
- ^ "Nigeria's Asake makes Apple Music history". Pulse Nigeria. 15 September 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
- ^ "Asake's 'Mr Money With The Vibe' becomes the highest charting Nigerian debut album on Billboard". Revolt (TV network). Retrieved 28 June 2023.
- ^ a b "Asake records huge debut on Billboard 200 US chart with 'Work Of Art'". NotjustOk. 26 June 2023. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
- ^ Trybe, City (17 October 2023). "Asake's record breaking career: The origin story of one of Gen Z's rising stars". Trybe City. ThatWriter_Ore. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
- ^ "Meet Music's Future 25". Rolling Stone. 26 June 2023. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
- ^ Itodo, Sunny Green (4 September 2023). "Rema, Asake, others win big at 2023 Headies Awards [Full List]". Daily Post Nigeria. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
- ^ "2024 GRAMMY Nominations: See The Full Nominees List | Grammy.com". www.grammy.com. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
- ^ "Davido, Tems, Burna Boy, Asake, Pick Up NAACP Image Awards Nominations - Afrocritik". 26 January 2024. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
- ^ "I've been paid ridiculous amounts, used without appreciation – Singer Asake". Punch Newspapers. 29 June 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
- ^ "Asake Revealed How He Was Signed To YBNL".
- ^ "YBNL's Asake Releases Visuals To Sungba | WATCH". NotjustOk. 4 March 2022. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
- ^ Onikoyi, Ayo. "YBNL music plugger, Sheriff Olaitan Salaudeen celebrates Asake's ascent to stardom". Vanguard. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
- ^ "American record label welcomes Asake to fold". The Nation Newspaper Online. 19 July 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
- ^ Chukwuemeka, Jude. "Asake Joins Empire Distribution Music Label". Cool FM. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
- ^ "Asake breaks Apple Music record with his debut album". Correct NG. 15 September 2017. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
- ^ "Asake's Mr. Money With the Vibe debuts on Billboard world and UK Album Charts". Pulse NG. 13 September 2017. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
- ^ Ayodele, Racheal (7 January 2023). "Asake's MMWTV becomes highest charting debut Nigerian album in Billboard history". Daily Post Nigeria. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
- ^ "Asake announces 'Mr Money With The Vibe' UK tour". TheCable Lifestyle. 28 September 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
- ^ "Asake sells out O2 London show in minutes". 30 September 2022.
- ^ "Brixton Academy: Mother of two dies after Asake concert crush". BBC News. 17 December 2022. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
- ^ Evans, Martin (19 December 2022). "Security guard caught in Brixton Academy crush at Asake gig dies". The Telegraph. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
- ^ "Asake named Audiomack 'Artiste of the Year'". TheCable Lifestyle. 15 December 2022. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
- ^ "Audiomack Announces 1UCID, Asake, Snazzy The Optimist on Trending Songs of the Week - THISDAYLIVE". www.thisdaylive.com. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
- ^ Eze, Chinelo (6 February 2023). ""Yoga": Asake Picks Up New Enemies and New Rhythms". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
- ^ "Afrobeats Artist Asake Drops New Self-Love Track "2:30"". Hypebeast. 5 April 2023. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
- ^ "Asake to release new album Work of Art next month". The FADER. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
- ^ "Nigerian Afrobeats singer Asake talks about his music journey". Good Morning America. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
- ^ a b Petridis, Alexis (15 June 2023). "Asake: Work of Art review – Nigerian star's brilliance means every track could be a single". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
- ^ "The most streamed Nigerian album of 2023 so far". NotjustOk. 18 August 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
- ^ Mamo, Heran (10 June 2024). "Asake Announces Lungu Boy World Tour: Here Are the Dates". Billboard. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- ^ "The rise of street-hop, Lagos' evolving dance sound". DJ Mag. 15 April 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- ^ a b C.J, Nelson (9 September 2022). "Asake Is Pumping Nigerian Street-Pop Full of New Life. Next Stop: 'Greatness'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- ^ "Asake Teases Brand New Single 'Terminator'". The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News. 25 July 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
- ^ Esomnofu, Emmanuel (21 June 2022). "Asake, Burna Boy & the trend of anthemic choruses across Nigerian Pop". The NATIVE. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- ^ "'Them Never See Me Coming': The Captivating Rise of Asake's Music". The Republic. 27 December 2022. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
- ^ Lee, Lauren (22 September 2023). "How Asake developed a boundary-pushing sound that's changing Afrobeats as we know it". CNN. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- ^ "Burnaboy, Black Sherif, Win At The Soundcity MVP Awards 2023 (FULL WINNERS LIST)". African Folder. 12 February 2023. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
- ^ "Asake wins Best African Artist at 2023 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards [See Full Winners List]". Pulse Nigeria. 8 May 2023. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
- ^ "Headies 2023: Burna Boy, Rema, Asake, win big in US [Full winners list]". Daily Trust. 4 September 2023. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
- ^ music, Guardian (2 March 2024). "Brit awards 2024 – full list of winners". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
- ^ Osei - Mensah, Jephthah Nana Adjei (10 August 2024). "3Music Awards 2024 Announces African Song of the Year". 3Music Awards. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
- ^ Fofana, Oumou. "Asake is now the first Afrobeats artist to headline and sell out Barclays Center". REVOLT. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
- ^ "VIDEO: Asake makes grand entrance in helicopter at London O2 Arena show". Vanguard. 21 August 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
- ^ "Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 9 Episode 47". CBS. 1 February 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
- ^ "Asake's Mr Money With The Vibe is the First No. 1 Album on an Aggregated Albums Chart in Nigeria". www.turntablecharts.com. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
- ^ "IRMA - Irish Charts". www.irma.ie. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
- ^ "ASAKE". Official Charts. 1 September 2022. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
- ^ Cabison, Rosalie (2 January 2013). "Billboard 200™". Billboard. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
- ^ "Top 100 Artist Album, Week Ending 16 August 2024". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
- ^ "Essentials: Asake comes into his own as an upcoming star with eponymous debut EP". The NATIVE. 22 February 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
- ^ "Rema, Finesse, Asake, Wizkid top Spotify Charts". Benjamindada.com, premium tech blog in SSA. 5 April 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
- ^ a b c Cusson, Michael (29 March 2022). "Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
- ^ "Asake Teases 'Sungba Remix' Featuring Burna Boy". The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News. 23 March 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
- ^ Mix, Pulse (13 July 2022). "Asake's 'Peace Be Unto You (PBUY)' is the first No. 1 song on TurnTable Chart's Nigeria Top 100". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
- ^ "Official Charts – Asake". Official Charts. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
- ^ "IRMA – Irish Charts". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
- ^ "Billboard Global 200: Week of September 3, 2022". Billboard. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
- ^ "Sensational singer, Asake teases new single, 'Terminator'". Vanguard News. 25 July 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
- ^ Jazzy, D. J. (29 July 2022). "Asake – Trabaye Ft. Olamide (Mp3 Download)". Xclusiveloaded. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
- ^ Kennedy (5 January 2024). "Asake – Yoga". JustNaija. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
- ^ "Asake's New Song '2:30' Is Right on Time". Rolling Stone. 5 April 2023.
- ^ "Only Me Lyrics by Asake". NotjustOk. 22 January 2024. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
- ^ Overo, Naomi (16 June 2022). "Asake Releases New Single "Peace Be Unto You"". The Culture Custodian (Est. 2014.). Retrieved 29 July 2022.
- ^ "Fireboy DML, Asake 'Bandana' top Apple Music chart". Voice of Nigeria. 26 July 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
- ^ Adebiyi, Adeayo (15 July 2022). "Fireboy links up with Asake for new single 'Bandana'". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
- ^ "Tiwa Savage "Loaded" ft. Asake". Legit9ja. 8 November 2022. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
- ^ "Davido "No Competition" ft. Asake". Trendybeatz. 16 June 2023. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
- ^ Fuentes, Emily (12 December 2023). "Get an Exclusive Behind-the-Scenes Look at Sarz, Asake & Gunna's 'Happiness' Music Video". Billboard. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
- ^ David, Obed (10 May 2024). "Victony, Asake collide in new single 'Stubborn". Premium Times Nigeria. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
- ^ "Asake and Olamide joins forces in 'Omo Ope'". KemiFilani. 16 February 2022. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
- ^ "Asake drops the visuals to 'Sungba'". The PGM Club. 4 March 2022. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
- ^ "New Video Alert: Asake Drops 'Sungba' Remix Ft. Burna Boy". All News NG. 28 March 2022. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
- ^ "DJ Spinall And Asake Share Video For New Song "Palazzo"". MediaRants. 13 May 2022. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
- ^ "Asake releases "Terminator" Music Video". The Guardian NG. 19 August 2022. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
- ^ "Asake releases dance-filled video for "Joha"". Vanguard NGR. 6 October 2022. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
- ^ "Tiwa Savage – "Loaded" feat Asake [Audio+Video]". Yabaloaded. 8 November 2022. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
- ^ "Asake Releases Long-Awaited Music Video For Organise (Watch)". Within Nigeria. 29 November 2022. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
- ^ "Asake – Remember (official video)". Naijaleash. 6 October 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2023.