Olamide, in the years that have passed, has become the single most influential rapper in Nigeria, and I daresay, Africa.
This alone is a good enough reason why he can’t and won’t be retiring. Rappers don’t retire. Think of the last rapper that claimed to be retiring, and how many albums they’ve released so far. That’s just the way it is.
The thing about hip-hop and rap music is that the artists embody the art form and if they’ve done it long enough, you can rest assured that it has become a lifestyle to them.
Maybe when you’re starting out, it’s about the music and your talent and passion and all that. But as you continue to progress—and succeed—you’ll start to find that the things you sing or rap about have become your reality. A reality that is synonymous to the artist’s personality so much that even if they were to stop rapping, it would still be part of them.
What I mean is, Olamide says his “last album” is 95% ready and that he’s not going to be putting out any project after that. But does this mean he’s going to clean off his tattoos? Does this mean he’ll stop wearing gold chains? Does this mean he’ll stop building his body? Or stop drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes? Does this mean he will stop hanging out in studios so much, studios that have become a major part of his adult life? Well, your guess is as good as mine. Olamide ain’t going nowhere!
Reminds me of when Skepta said he was going to stop releasing music and less than six months after, he was back with an EP. Rappers don’t retire. As long as he can’t stop making music, he can’t stop releasing either.
I must say there is a particular mental space an artist gets in where they feel like they don’t really have much left to say or offer. Historically, they’ll find that they are wrong in no time and they’ll be back. Olamide should be so lucky if he makes it beyond two years without a project for real. Considering how prolific he is.
The fact is, Baddo is not going anywhere. He can’t retire.
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