Rapper and singer Olamide has opened up about the first time he met Asake, saying he instantly knew the young artiste was special.

In a recent interview, the YBNL boss admitted he recognised Asake’s unique sound and energy, but he never imagined the kind of massive wave the singer would later ride.

“I didn’t know he was going to blow up that wild,” Olamide said. “But I knew Asake was one of one. The sound, the vibe, everything. I’ve never heard anything close to that before. His authenticity, his craftsmanship, it was clear.”

CBI News reports that what stood out to olamide wasn’t just Asake’s voice but also his hunger and drive. Unlike some artistes that need to be pushed, he said Asake came prepared with his own fire.

“Asake is not the guy you beg to put in effort. He’s already doing that by himself,” Olamide noted. “That’s one of the reasons I respect him a lot. I just felt it would make sense for us to work together.”

He linked this quality to his decision to bring Asake on board at YBNL back in February 2022. According to him, his style of mentoring is not about forcing creativity but letting artistes express themselves freely.

“Honestly, I try not to pressure my guys. I just tell them to make good music. If it’s dope, it’ll fly. Maybe now, maybe in 10 years. That’s how I see it,”.

Olamide stressed that quality music will always find its place, even if it doesn’t trend immediately. He pointed to some of his own songs which didn’t blow up when they dropped but are now appreciated by fans.

“My songs from 10 years ago, many didn’t pop then. But we knew it was good music,”.

Asake, who joined YBNL in 2022, has since left to float his own record label, Giran Republic, marking a new chapter in his career.