Nigerian singer Ahmed Ololade, popularly known as Asake, has officially parted ways with YBNL Nation, the record label owned by rapper and music executive, Olamide.
The “Lonely at the Top” crooner confirmed with a new single, “Why Love,” released under his new independent record label, Giran Republic.
The 3-minute track was produced by Afrobeats musical producer Magicsticks who is known to have produced some of Asake’s greatest hits.
The development comes after rumours the singer had quietly left YBNL under controversial circumstances.
Asake joined YBNL Nation in February 2022 and, within months, rose into one of Nigeria’s biggest music exports.
By July of that same year, he signed a major distribution deal with Empire, a partnership that remains intact despite his departure from YBNL.
Late last year, reports speculated that Asake’s contract had expired and he refused to renew his contract despite Olamide effort to strike a deal.
However, no official statement has been made by the artist or YBNL Record label over the termination of contracts.
Asake’s “Why Love” delves into themes of heartbreak, fame, and personal growth, showcasing his ability to blend emotional storytelling with infectious melodies.
The song also captures the struggles of navigating relationships in the spotlight, while still retaining his signature vocal style with a blend of Fuji and Afrobeats sound.
The music video to the “Why Love” track has surpassed over 100,000 views on YouTube as at the time of writing this article.
Asake made his debut In September 2022, with the album “Mr. Money with the vibe” which broke the record for the biggest opening day for an African album on Apple Music at the time.
The album also debuted at number 66 on the Billboard 200 charts and was recorded as the highest-charting Nigerian debut album in the history of the chart at the time
His second album “Work Of Art” which was released in June 2023 also debuted at number 66 on the Billboard 200 while his third album Lungu Boy (2024) became his third consecutive number-one album in Nigeria.
