YBNL
YBNL (an abbreviation for Yahoo Boy No Laptop) is the second studio album by Nigerian rapper Olamide. It was released on November 12, 2012, as the follow-up to his debut studio album Rapsodi (2011). The album features guest appearances from Kayswitch, Tiwa Savage, Dammy Krane, Davido, Kida Kudz, Reminisce, Base 1, Buckwyla, and Minus 2. 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".
| YBNL | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | November 12, 2012 [1] | |||
| Recorded | 2011-2012 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 79:38 | |||
| Label | YBNL Nation | |||
| Producer | ||||
| Olamide chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from YBNL | ||||
Background
Olamide promoted the album by holding a launch party at Octopus Club in Yaba, Lagos; the party featured additional performances from Dammy Krane, Morell, Djzeez, Phyno, Phenom, Samklef, Skales and Lace.[6] Prior to holding the album's launch party in Yaba, 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. The music video for the song was released on June 23, 2012; it was shot and directed in South Africa by Godfather Productions.[9] The Pheelz-produced track "First of All" was released on June 21, 2012, as the album's second single. The music video for "First of All" was shot and directed in Nigeria by Patrick Ellis.[10] The song's remix 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 music video for the song 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
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| TayoTV | 8/10[13] |
| Hi-Life Magazine | 7/10[14] |
| Nigerian Entertainment Today |    [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 awarded the album 8 stars out of 10, praising its rhymes and Olamide's delivery.[13] A writer for Hi-Life Magazine assigned a rating of 7 stars 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]
| Year | Awards ceremony | Award description(s) | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | The Headies | Best Rap Album | Won |
| Album of the Year | Won |
Track listing
From Jaguda.[16]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Money" | Olamide Adedeji | Pheelz | 2:08 |
| 2. | "Fucking with the Devil" | Adedeji | Pheelz | 4:03 |
| 3. | "Lights in the Air" (featuring Buckwyla) |
| Pheelz | 4:53 |
| 4. | "Jale" | Adedeji | Pheelz | 3:07 |
| 5. | "Voice of the Street" | Adedeji | Tyrone | 3:50 |
| 6. | "Panumo" (featuring Davido) |
| I.D Cabasa | 3:49 |
| 7. | "Street Love" (featuring Minus 2) |
| Pheelz | 3:49 |
| 8. | "Picture" | Adedeji | I.D Cabasa | 4:16 |
| 9. | "Owotabua" | Adedeji | Pheelz | 3:31 |
| 10. | "Fuji House" (featuring Dammy Krane) |
| Pheelz | 4:00 |
| 11. | "Ilefo Illuminati" | Adedeji | 2Kriss | 4:35 |
| 12. | "Remember" (featuring Kay Switch) |
| Pheelz | 3:47 |
| 13. | "Nyarinya" | Adedeji | Pheelz | 3:15 |
| 14. | "Ewo Idi" | Adedeji | Pheelz | 3:12 |
| 15. | "Stupid Love" | Adedeji | Samklef | 3:47 |
| 16. | "Jesu O Kola" | Adedeji | Pheelz | 4:03 |
| 17. | "Emotional Blackmail" (featuring Kidakudz) | Adedeji | Pheelz | 4:59 |
| 18. | "International Local" (featuring Tiwa Savage) |
| I.D Cabasa | 4:40 |
| 19. | "First of All" | Adedeji | Pheelz | 3:06 |
| 20. | "Industreet (Cypher)" (featuring Reminisce and Base 1) |
| Pheelz | 6:14 |
Personnel
- Olamide Adedeji – primary artist
- Tiwatope Savage Balogun – featured artist
- Dammy Krane – featured artist
- David Adeleke – featured artist
- Kidakudz – featured artist
- Reminisce – featured artist
- Base 1 – featured artist
- Fulado – featured artist
- Buckwyla – featured artist
- Starkash – featured artist
- Minus 2 – featured artist
- Pheelz – producer
- Samklef – producer
- I.D Cbasa – producer
- 2Kriss – producer
- Tyrone – producer
Release history
| Region | Date | Format | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nigeria | November 12, 2012 | CD, Digital download | YBNL Nation |
| Various | June 21, 2013[17] | Digital download |
References
- "[Review] Olamide - YBNL (Yahoo Boy No Laptop)". TayoTv. Archived from the original on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
- "New Music: Olamide – Ilefo Illuminati". Jaguda. 30 November 2011. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
- "Olamide – First Of All (Freestyle)". Notjustok. 21 June 2012. Archived from the original on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
- "Exclusive: Olamide – Stupid Love Ft Samklef". Jaguda. 27 July 2012. Archived from the original on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
- "Olamide – Voice of the Street". Notjustok. 1 November 2012. Archived from the original on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
- "VIDEO: Olamide YBNL Launch Party". Tooxclusive. 4 December 2012. Archived from the original on 17 January 2014. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
- "Olamide #YBNL Album Concert held in ILORIN". The Scene- Nigeria. 22 July 2013. Archived from the original on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
- "You can't knock Olamide's hustle on YBNL [Album Review]". Nigerian Entertainment Today. 26 November 2012. Archived from the original on 12 January 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
- "VIDEO: Olamide – ILefo Illuminati". Notjustok. 23 June 2012. Archived from the original on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
- "New Video: Olamide – First Of All". Bellanaija. 12 November 2012. Archived from the original on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
- "New Video: Olamide – Stupid Love". 360nobs. 28 March 2013. Archived from the original on 14 January 2014. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
- "New Video: Olamide – Voice Of The Street". Jaguda. 11 February 2013. Archived from the original on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
- "[Review] Olamide - YBNL (Yahoo Boy No Laptop)". TayoTv. Archived from the original on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
- "ALBUM REVIEW". Hi-Life Magazine. 29 October 2013. Archived from the original on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
- "Headies Award 2013 and Full List of winners". Osundefender. Archived from the original on 27 December 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
- "Olamide – Y.B.N.L – [ Official Album Track List ]". Jaguda. 6 November 2012. Archived from the original on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
- "YBNL by Olamide". iTunes. 21 June 2013. Archived from the original on 5 June 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2014.