YBNL

For the 2012 Olamide album, see YBNL (album).

YBNL Nation
YBNL official logo
Founded	2012 (2012)
Founder	Olamide
Status	Active
Distributor(s)	Empire Distribution
Genre	Various
Country of origin	Nigeria
Location	Lagos State

Yahoo Boy No Laptop Nation, popularly known as YBNL Nation or simply YBNL, is an independent record label founded by Olamide in 2012. ^{[1] [2]}

In 2020, Billboard Magazine named YBNL as one of "the Gatekeepers" of the Nigerian music industry. ^[3]

History

YBNL Nation was conceived during Olamide's time with ID Cabasa's Coded Tunes label. Alongside fellow Coded Tunes affiliate Pheelz, Olamide aimed to establish a platform that extended beyond the conventional structure of a record label. The vision centered on creating a collaborative and supportive environment for artists and producers, which ultimately led to the creation of YBNL Nation. ^[4]

The establishment of YBNL Nation was also motivated by Olamide's intention to use his growing financial success to nurture emerging talent. In an interview with Apple Music, Olamide explained that the surplus from his earnings inspired him to invest in young artists. He stated, "I just started stacking up money, and the money was becoming too much for me. I’m like, yo, I don’t have anything to do with all this money, mehn, I need to sign new guys. Let me spend money on people, you know." This focus on mentorship and reinvestment has characterized YBNL Nation, which has developed several prominent Nigerian artists. ^[5]

On 19 February 2020, YBNL Nation signed a distribution and publishing deal with Empire Distribution. ^[6]

Artists

Current acts

• Olamide
• Fireboy DML ^[7]
• Asake ^[8]
• Senth Music ^[9]

Former acts

• Lil Kesh ^[10]
• Viktoh ^[11]
• Chinko Ekun ^[11]
• Adekunle Gold ^[12]
• Xino ^[13]
• Davolee
• Lyta ^[14]
• Picazo Rhap ^[1]
• Pelepele (deceased) ^[1]
• Limerick ^[15]
• Yomi Blaze
• Temmie Ovwasa

Producers

• B-Banks
• Vinkihill
• P.Priime
• Multibeatz
• Pheelz
• Young Jonn
• Eskeez

Disc Jockey

• DJ Enimoney

Plugger

• Olaitan Salaudeen

Manager

• Alexander Okeke

Releases

Year	Album Title	Album Details
2012	YBNL	Released: November 12, 2012 Artiste: Olamide Formats: Digital download, CD
2013	Baddest Guy Ever Liveth	Released: November 7, 2013 Artiste: Olamide Formats: Digital download, CD
2014	Street OT	Released: November 14, 2014 Artiste: Olamide Formats: Digital download, CD
2015	2 Kings	Released: April 1, 2015 Artiste: Olamide (with Phyno) Formats: Digital download, CD
	Eyan Mayweather	Released: November 23, 2015 Artiste: Olamide Formats: Digital download, CD
2016	Y.A.G.I	Released: March 17, 2016 Artiste: Lil Kesh Formats: Digital download, CD
	Gold	Released: July 28, 2016 Artiste: Adekunle Gold Formats: Digital download, CD
2017	Lagos Nawa	Released: November 17, 2017 Artiste: Olamide Formats: Digital download, CD
2018	YBNL Mafia Family	Released: December 14, 2018 Artiste: YBNL Mafia Family Formats: Digital download, CD
2019	Laughter, Tears and Goosebumps	Released: November 29, 2019 Artiste: Fireboy DML Formats: Digital download, CD
2020	999 (EP)	Released: February 9, 2020 Artiste: Olamide Formats: Digital download, CD
	Apollo	Released: August 20, 2020 Artiste: Fireboy DML Formats: Digital download, CD
	Carpe Diem	Released: October 7, 2020 Artiste: Olamide Formats: Digital download, CD
2021	UY Scuti	Released: June 18, 2021 Artiste: Olamide Formats: Digital download, CD
2022	Ololade Asake	Released: February 16, 2022 Artiste: Asake Formats: Digital download, CD
	Playboy	Released: August 5, 2022 Artiste: Fireboy DML Formats: Digital download, CD
	Mr. Money with the Vibe	Released: September 7, 2022 Artiste: Asake Formats: Digital download, CD
2023	Work of Art	Released: June 15, 2023 Artiste: Asake Formats: Digital download, CD
	Unruly	Released: August 8, 2023 Artiste: Olamide Formats: Digital download, CD
2024	Ikigai / 生き甲斐 (Vol. 1)	Released: June 26, 2024 Artiste: Olamide Formats: Digital download, CD
	Lungu Boy	Released: August 8, 2024 Artiste: Asake Formats: Digital download, CD
	Adedamola	Released: August 29, 2024 Artiste: Fireboy DML Formats: Digital download, CD

Awards and nominations

Year	Award ceremony	Prize	Result	Ref
2015	City People Entertainment Awards	Record Label of the Year	Nominated	[16]
2016			Won	[17]

References

1. Samuel Abulude; Obinna Ezealah (19 October 2018). "Nigeria: Record Labels - Olamide and Bragging Rights". AllAfrica.com. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
2. The Chef (2 September 2015). "How To Make A Hit Song – The Formula; Case Study – YBNL". 360Nobs. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
3. Cirisano, Tatiana. "The Gatekeepers". Billboard. p. 3. Archived from the original on 3 June 2020. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
4. Ayeni, Gbemiga (23 July 2015). "Custodian Interview: Pheelz (YBNL Producer)". The Culture Custodian (Est. 2014.). Retrieved 23 December 2024.
5. Fasan, Yewande (29 August 2023). "Why I established my record label – Olamide". The Nation . Retrieved 23 December 2024.
6. Alake, Motolani (19 February 2020). "What does the EMPIRE joint-venture deal mean for Olamide and YBNL? [Opinion]". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
7. Monday, Wisdom (2024-07-11). "Olamide benky Another Young Artist, West mixture To YBNL". west mixture. Retrieved 2019-05-29.
8. Afeez, Ademoye (2022-02-21). "How Olamide Signed Me To YBNL - Asake | WATCH". NotjustOk. Retrieved 2025-02-06.
9. Acho, Affa (2022-11-19). "Olamide Signs New Artist, Senth Music, To YBNL Records" . Retrieved 2025-02-06.
10. "Lil Kesh leaves YBNL forms own record label, YAGI". Vanguard. April 26, 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
11. Temitope Delano (December 29, 2016). "Adekunle Gold, Chinko Ekun And Viktoh Exit YBNL". TooXclusive. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
12. Joan Omionawele (May 13, 2017). "Olamide confirms Adekunle Gold has left YBNL". Nigerian Entertainment Today. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
13. Rotimi Agbana (January 28, 2017). "Ex YBNL singer, Xino apologises to Olamide, YBNL team". Vanguard. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
14. Reserved, Checkout these hot section on NL Naijaloaded © 2009-2019 All Rights (2019-05-28). "YBNL Exit Issue ts omologo Shares What Happened Between Him And Olamide On NL TV (Watch Video) » Naijaloaded". Naijaloaded | Nigeria's Most Visited Music & Entertainment Website. Retrieved 2019-05-29.
15. "Rapper signs two new artists to YBNL". Pulse Nigeria. 2018-02-14. Retrieved 2020-02-22.
16. Banah, Namang (10 July 2015). "Sarkodie, Ameyaw Debrah, Yvonne Nelson, Juliet Ibrahim & others nominated". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
17. Showemimo, Adedayo (26 July 2016). "Full List Of Winners at 2016 City People Entertainment Awards". Nigerian Entertainment Today. Retrieved 28 July 2016.