Lyta

Last updated

Lyta
Lyta Marlian.jpg
Lyta in an all-white photo shoot
Background information
Birth nameOpeyemi Babatunde Rahim
BornAjegunle, Lagos, Nigeria
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Years active2018–present
LabelsRafat Music [1]

Babatunde Rahim, known professionally as Lyta, is a Nigerian singer. He signed a record deal with YBNL Nation in 2018 but left the label in May 2019 after having a disagreement with the label owner Olamide. [2] He released the 5-track debut EP Id in 2019. [3]

Contents

Early life and career

A native of Kwara State, Lyta grew up in Ajegunle and was a member of Ile Kewu, a music group at his local mosque. [2] [4] His record deal with YBNL Nation was made public on 3 February 2018. [5] In 2019, Lyta confirmed that he did not have any written contracts with YBNL Nation. [6] Lyta's breakthrough single with YBNL Nation, "Time", features vocals by Olamide and was released on 14 February 2018. [7] [8]

In 2019, Lyta left YBNL Nation due to contractual and personal issues. [9] After exiting YBNL, he signed with Doro Musik Gang and released the Killertunes produced track "Monalisa" on 12 July 2019. [10] The visuals for "Monalisa", which was directed by Director K, amassed over 500,000 views within a month after its release. [11] [12]

A few weeks after the release of "Monalisa", Davido reached out to Lyta about recording an official remix with him. [13] Following their agreement, Davido and Lyta flew to Dakar for the remix and video shoot. [14] [15] The remix of "Monalisa" was released on 30 August 2019. [16] Elias Light of Rolling Stone magazine described the song as a "handsome contradiction, with fierce expressions of yearning". [17] The accompanying music video for the remix was directed by Director K. [15] Lyta gained exposure following his collaboration with Davido on the remix. [18]

Lyta released the Afrobeat track "Worry" on 6 December 2019; it was produced by Killer Tunes. [19] The visuals for "Worry" was shot and directed by Simplicity Visual Studios in London. [20]

YBNL exit

Reports about Lyta's exit from YBNL surfaced after Olamide unfollowed him on Instagram. [21] In May 2019, Lyta confirmed his exit from YNBL Nation on Naijaloaded TV. He said although he was paid between 50,000 and 80,000 for shows, he never had a written contract with the label. [22] Olamide issued a statement to Guardian Life, saying YBNL has a promotion calendar that Lyta refused to follow. [23]

New record label

In 2020, Lyta was signed to Marlian Records owned by Naira Marley. [24] He also released his first single under the label titled "Hold me Down(Omo Gidi)". [25] The video to "Hold Me Down", which was inspired by Kpop Korean boy band GOT7 and BTS, was directed by TG Omori. [26] The video is an exact replica of GOT7's "Just Right" music video. However, Lyta did not ask for permission and K-pop fans were furious about the exact copy of the video. [27] Lyta said, "I am not signed with Marlian records. Naira Marley is just showing me love." [28]

Discography

EPs

Singles

As lead artist
YearTitleAlbumRef
2018"Time" (featuring Olamide)Non-album single [8]
"Self Made" [33]
"Do You" [34]
2019"Pure Water" [35]
"Monalisa" [36]
"Monalisa Remix" (featuring Davido) [37]
"Worry" [19]
As featured artist
YearTitleAlbum
2019"That Same Boy" (Limerick featuring Lyta)Non-album single
"Aje Remix" (Jaywon featuring Barry Jhay and Lyta)
"Okay" (TooClasiq featuring Lyta)
"Loke Loke" (Lol featuring Lyta)
"Be Happy" (Package AOC featuring Oritse Femi, Zamorra and Lyta)
"Ori" (Dexter Miles featuring Lyta)

Awards and nominations

YearAward ceremonyPrizeRecipientResultRef
2019 The Headies Next Rated HimselfNominated [38] [39]
Best Street-Hop ArtisteNominated
City People Music Awards Most Promising Act of the YearNominated [40]
Best New Act of the YearNominated

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References

  1. "Marlian Records Signs Lyta". 21 September 2019.
  2. 1 2 "YBNL 2.0: Lyta says, "They Are Confused About My Age"". Vibe.ng. 24 April 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  3. "Id EP by Lyta". music.apple.com. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  4. "Get To Know More About YBNL's New Signings". 102.3 Max FM. 20 February 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  5. "Olamide Signs 2 New Artistes, "Limeric" & "Lyta" To YBNL". TooXclusive. 13 February 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  6. "Lyta says he was never signed to Olamides YBNL". pulse.ng. 3 June 2019. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
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  8. 1 2 OG DEJI (16 February 2018). "[Music] YBNL Presents: Lyta Ft. Olamide – Time". Naijaloaded. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  9. "Doro Musik Gang gives lifeline to ex – YBNL act, Lyta". The Nation. 21 September 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
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  12. "Monalisa video out by Lyta". P.M News. 12 July 2019. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  13. "Lyta gets Davido to feature in the REMIX of his new song 'MONALISA'". Max 102.3 FM. 30 July 2019. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
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  16. "Monalisa (feat. Davido) [Remix] – Single". Apple Music. 30 August 2019.
  17. Elias Light (26 September 2019). "Lyta and Davido's 'Monalisa' Should Be Afrobeats' Next Radio Hit". Rolling Stone . Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  18. Olajide Samuel (4 January 2020). "Rising entertainers to watch out for in 2020". The Punch . Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  19. 1 2 "REVIEW: LYTA – WORRY". Sound Stroke. 6 December 2019. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
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  27. Augoye, Jayne (17 August 2020). "Nigeria: Naira Marley's Signee, Lyta, Accused of Plagiarising Popular Korean Music Video". allAfrica.com. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  28. 🤔Is Lyta Officially Signed to Marlian Records? | The LinkUp on Echooroom , retrieved 30 November 2022
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