Grass to grace series (2): Olamide, the ghetto-born artiste and varsity dropout who became a global star

Born on March 15, 1989, in Bariga, Lagos State, Olamide Adedeji widely known by his stage name, Olamide Badoo faced hardships from the start. Raised in poverty, his parents, Pa Adedeji and Ronke Osisanya Adedeji, struggled to provide three square meals for his family. He revealed, “Surviving was hard… life in the ghetto is almost always the same everywhere.”

Educational hurdles

Despite studying mass communication at Tai Solarin University of Education Olamide dropped out due to financial constraints and opened up about his parent’s inability to afford his school fees.

He shared at a summer camp event, “I had to leave school when it was getting difficult for my parents.” Despite adversity, he emphasized perseverance and hard work. 

“I had to leave school when it was getting difficult for my parents.” His success, he emphasized, came from “stubbornness, perseverance, and hard work.”

In a Guardian UK interview, Olamide reflected on growing up in Bariga, stating, “Surviving was hard.” Facing challenges common in many ghettos worldwide, he found motivation in the struggle: “All of that motivated me to hustle hard – I wanted to see the whole world and experience different cultures.”

Rising above stereotypes with ‘triumphant’

Contrary to stereotypes, Olamide challenged perceptions of the ghetto. His track “Triumphant” from the 2020 album ‘Carpe Diem‘ aimed to shift the narrative. He urged, “Being from the ghetto is not only about guns and knives or living dangerously, it’s about being smart with your choices and moves.”

Olamide’s musical journey began in 2010 with ‘Eni Duro.’ Despite dropping out of school, he rose to prominence with hits like ‘Rapsodi’ in 2011 and ‘YBNL’ in 2012, featuring collaborations with top Nigerian artists. In 2012, Olamide founded YBNL Nation, releasing nine projects under the label. This includes solo studio albums, collaborations like “2 Kings” with Phyno, and an EP titled “999.”

Family and fatherhood

Beyond his musical success, Olamide is a proud father to a son with Adebunkunmi Aisha Suleiman.

READ ALSO: Grass to grace series (I): Goodluck Jonathan, the canoe-maker’s son who became Nigeria’s president

As Olamide continues his musical journey, the artist remains an inspiration, transcending his humble beginnings and proving that determination and talent can conquer adversity.