YBNL

Last updated
YBNL
Olamide - YBNL cover.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedNovember 12, 2012 (2012-11-12) [1]
Recorded2011–2012
Genre
Length79:38
Label YBNL Nation
Producer
  • Olamide (exec.)
  • Pheelz
  • Samklef
  • I.D Cabasa
  • Akid
  • 2Kriss
  • Tyrone
Olamide chronology
Rapsodi
(2011)
YBNL
(2012)
Baddest Guy Ever Liveth
(2013)
Singles from YBNL
  1. "Ilefo Illuminati"
    Released: November 20, 2011 [2]
  2. "First of All"
    Released: June 21, 2012 [3]
  3. "Stupid Love"
    Released: July 27, 2012, [4]
  4. "Voice of the Street"
    Released: November 1, 2012 [5]

YBNL (an acronym for Yahoo Boy No Laptop) is the second studio album by Nigerian musician Olamide. It was released by YBNL Nation on November 12, 2012. A follow-up to his debut studio album, Rapsodi (2011), YBNL features collaborations with Kayswitch, Tiwa Savage, Dammy Krane, Davido, Kida Kudz, and Reminisce, among others. Its production was handled by Pheelz, Samklef, I.D Cabasa, 2Kriss and Tyrone. YBNL was supported by the singles "Ilefo Illuminati", "First of All", "Stupid Love" and "Voice of the Street".

Contents

Background

The album's launch party was held at Octopus Club in Yaba, Lagos; it featured additional performances from Dammy Krane, Morell, Djzeez, Phyno, Phenom, Samklef, Skales and Lace. [6] Prior to the launch party, Olamide held a concert at Mazabs Event Centre in Ilorin on March 21, 2013. [7]

Composition

The YBNL phrase is, in itself, a paradox. In layman's terms, Olamide wants to be fly like a "Yahoo Boy" but doesn't want to be associated with sending scam emails. The album's lyrics focus primarily on his love for God and the streets that raised him. In "Jesu O’ Kola", he looks to God for support because he believes the music industry castigated him. In the Church-inspired track "Jale", Olamide thanked God for preventing him from stealing. In "Voice of the Streets", he raps about his ambition to blow and about the passion and energy that young hustlers like himself possess. In "Street Love", he is reminiscent of his humble upbringing in Bariga. In "Money", Olamide talks about his constant quest for paper chasing. In "Fucking with the Devil", he said he's not born again but can hear angels calling. [8]

Singles

The 2Kriss-produced track "Ilefo Illuminati" was released on November 20, 2011, as the album's lead single. Its music video was filmed in South Africa by Godfather Productions and released on June 23, 2012. [9] The Pheelz-produced track "First of All" was released on June 21, 2012, as the album's second single. The accompanying music video for the song was shot and directed in Nigeria by Patrick Ellis. [10] The remix of "First of All" features vocals by D'banj and appeared on the 2013 compilation album, D'Kings Men . The Samklef-produced track "Stupid Love" was released on July 27, 2012, as the album's third single. The song's music video was directed by Matt Max. [11] The album's fourth single, "Voice of the Street", was released on November 1, 2012. Its accompanying music video was also directed by Matt Max. [12]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
TayoTV8/10 [13]
Hi-Life Magazine7/10 [14]
Nigerian Entertainment Today Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [8]

YBNL received generally positive reviews from music critics. Tayo Ayomide of Nigerian Entertainment Today awarded the album 3.5 stars out of 5, applauding Olamide for "emerging from the shadows of a hit-making producer and a late Nigerian rap legend to stand in the spotlight and boldly show us what Nigerian rap has been missing for a while–the heartbeat of the streets." [8] A writer for TayoTV rated the album 8 out of 10, praising its rhymes and Olamide's delivery. [13] Hi-Life Magazine assigned a rating of 7 out 10, commending the tracks "First of All" and "Stupid Love". [14]

Accolades

YBNL won Best Rap Album and Album of the Year at The Headies 2013. [15]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Money"Olamide Adedeji Pheelz 2:08
2."Fucking with the Devil"AdedejiPheelz4:03
3."Lights in the Air" (featuring Buckwyla)
  • Adedeji
  • Buckwyla
Pheelz4:53
4."Jale"AdedejiPheelz3:07
5."Voice of the Street"Adedeji Tyrone 3:50
6."Panumo" (featuring Davido)
  • Adedeji
  • David Adeleke
I.D Cabasa3:49
7."Street Love" (featuring Minus 2)
  • Adedeji
  • Minus 2
Pheelz3:49
8."Picture"AdedejiI.D Cabasa4:16
9."Owotabua"AdedejiPheelz3:31
10."Fuji House" (featuring Dammy Krane)
  • Adedeji
  • Dammy Krane
Pheelz4:00
11."Ilefo Illuminati"Adedeji2Kriss4:35
12."Remember" (featuring Kay Switch)
  • Adedeji
  • Kehinde Oyebanjo
Pheelz3:47
13."Nyarinya"AdedejiPheelz3:15
14."Ewo Idi"AdedejiPheelz3:12
15."Stupid Love"AdedejiSamklef3:47
16."Jesu O Kola"AdedejiPheelz4:03
17."Emotional Blackmail" (featuring Kidakudz)AdedejiPheelz4:59
18."International Local" (featuring Tiwa Savage)
  • Adedeji
  • Tiwatope Savage
I.D Cabasa4:40
19."First of All"AdedejiPheelz3:06
20."Industreet (Cypher)" (featuring Reminisce and Base 1)
  • Adedeji
  • Reminisce
  • Base 1
Pheelz6:14

Personnel

Release history

RegionDateFormatLabel
NigeriaNovember 12, 2012 CD, Digital download YBNL Nation
VariousJune 21, 2013 [16] Digital download

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References

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  3. "Olamide – First Of All (Freestyle)". Notjustok. 21 June 2012. Archived from the original on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
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  12. "New Video: Olamide – Voice Of The Street". Jaguda. 11 February 2013. Archived from the original on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
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  14. 1 2 "ALBUM REVIEW". Hi-Life Magazine. 29 October 2013. Archived from the original on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
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