Afrofuji singer Adekunle Gold has opened up about how his professional relationship with rapper Olamide evolved from graphic designer to signed artist under YBNL.
Speaking on the One54 podcast, Gold revealed that he worked as a graphic designer for Olamide and his record label before his music career took off. He designed the YBNL logo.
According to Gold, Olamide did not initially view him as a musician or plan to sign him as an artist during their working relationship.
“Olamide did not see me as a musician. I was just his graphic designer. But after ‘Sade’ took off, he recognised the talent,” Gold said.
The breakthrough came when Gold’s song “Sade,” a cover of One Direction’s “Story of My Life,” gained significant popularity. That success shifted Olamide’s perspective and led to the decision to bring him under the YBNL imprint.
How Olamide discovered Adekunle Gold through his graphic design work
The signing marked a turning point in Adekunle Gold’s career, moving him from behind-the-scenes creative work into the spotlight as an artist.
Since then, Gold has grown into one of Nigeria’s most successful international music exports, with multiple albums and collaborations across the global stage.
He also discussed his Kosoko royal lineage, his approach to writing in Yoruba, and his charity work through his Sickle Cell Foundation during the wide-ranging interview.
The YBNL signing remains one of the most notable artist-discovery stories in modern Nigerian music, linking two of the industry’s most influential figures.
