Nigerian rap icon Olamide, aka Baddo, born Olamide Adedeji, has described fellow Afrobeats heavyweights Wizkid, Davido, and Burna Boy as “troublesome friends,” emphasizing that their bond remains strong despite occasional disagreements.

Appearing on the Afrobeats Podcast with Adesope Olajide, which aired on Monday on YouTube, the Afrobeats legend gave fans rare insight into his relationship with the “big four,” noting that while they may not always align, genuine friendship continues to hold them together.

Speaking in Yoruba, “Wizkid, Davido, and Burna Boy are all my friends; they are just too troublesome. They are cool dudes; it’s just that sometimes many can’t align on so many things, and that’s fine,” he said.

Olamide also spoke about his recent collaboration with Wizkid on Kia, revealing that their joint effort grew unexpectedly while they were filming the video.

He explained that it was initially meant to be just Kia, but during the shoot, he played Wizkid a few unreleased tracks from his album.

“We didn’t plan it that way, actually. It was just supposed to be Kai, and while on set, shooting Kai, I was, you know, just playing some songs off my album for Wiz. Then, he heard..Billionaire’s Club.

Wizkid instantly connected with another record, Billionaire’s Club, released in August, which Olamide had only recorded a day earlier. Impressed, Wizkid insisted on being part of it right away.

“He was like, na this one you for give me… if na say na this one you first play na this one we go dey shoot. I really like this one, and I was like Ah, I did not think he would like that one. But, actually, I just made that record the day before the shoot.”

He went on to commend Wizkid, saying, “I’m grateful to God for Wiz and for his endless love and support. God bless him, man. That’s a solid dude right there.”

Beyond friendships, the conversation reflected on Olamide’s prolific career spanning over a decade, with more than ten projects, global tours, and groundbreaking collaborations, including a recent record with American rap icon Dr. Dre.

The interview also highlighted his role as a music executive who has discovered and nurtured some of Afrobeats’ biggest names, including Fireboy DML, Lil Kesh, Adekunle Gold, Young Jonn, and Asake.

On his success and staying power, Olamide credited his faith, “Whatever it is you want to be in life, one thing you should not joke with is God. Why are we without Him? Nothing extraordinary can really happen if the universe doesn’t align for you. People shouldn’t undermine how far they can go with the blessings of the Lord and His grace.”

Olamide also reflected on his early struggles, explaining that his drive to create opportunities for others came from a lack of support in his early years.

During the interview, the host asked, “14 years ago, when you came here, and when that affair started, even though you had hit records and dropped albums at the time, did you, at the beginning, already feel a sense of wanting to nurture artists?”

Responding, Olamide said, “I grew up hoping and praying that I could see some opportunities, and I didn’t get them. So I took it upon myself that if I ever make it big, I’m going to create opportunities for others.”

Now recognized as both a trailblazing artist and an influential executive, Olamide remains focused on pushing Afrobeats forward. His landmark OVO Arena headline show in London, scheduled for November 23, 2025, is set to further cement his global impact. (The PUNCH)