Olamide insists he’s not chasing international acclaim
Seasoned Nigerian rapper Olamide has made it clear that he is not in pursuit of broad-globetrotting collaborations or global recognitions simply for the sake of prestige. Instead, he says his focus remains on doing authentic work and staying rooted in his base.
During an interview, Olamide explained that while many artists measure success by international gigs or features, he prefers to let his music speak for itself. He stated that he will not be paying for overseas collaborations or engineering features purely for global optics, a position he said was motivated by respect for earlier Nigerian music icons whose works found audiences worldwide without similar collaborations.
Olamide emphasised the value of “street music”, the grassroots sound he says has carried him from his beginnings to national acclaim and beyond. He recalled how legendary figures such as Fela Kuti were able to achieve international reach without the feature-economy the current generation often engages in.
Rather than chasing the metrics of international markets or foreign credentials, Olamide said his goal is enduring relevance, rooted in authenticity, consistency and connection with his listeners. In his view, those are stronger hallmarks of success than simply boasting global collaborations.