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"Ikigai" is the Japanese term that means "The purpose for living," and Nigerian music icon Olamide Baddo is an artist always in search of purpose and advancement in a career that has continued to evolve beautifully.

'Ikigai' is another wholesome chapter in Olamide's legacy [Review] | Pulse Nigeria

Adeayo Adebiyi

<h2>"Ikigai" is the Japanese term that means "The purpose for living," and Nigerian music icon Olamide Baddo is an artist always in search of purpose and advancement in a career that has continued to evolve beautifully.</h2>

<p>Importantly,<strong><em> 'Ikigai'</em></strong> serves as an exciting reminder of Olamide's unparalleled understanding of the Nigerian music industry as he delivers a 7-track project reflective of the current soundscape.</p>

<p>For his 10th solo project<em> 'Ikigai,'</em> <strong>Olamide</strong> recruits talented music producer <strong>Semzi</strong> while assembling present and former YBNL associates to craft an album that emphasizes his role as a hitmaker and star maker.</p>

<p>The project opener<em> 'Metaverse' </em>is a nod to Olamide's hitmaking status as he deploys a blend of Yoruba and pidgin to craft a chest-thumping record that adds to his long list of party starters.</p>

<p>Like every great rapper, <strong>Olamide</strong> has an unmistakable flow scheme and delivery technique with which he swaggers across records that restates his status as a hip-hop icon.</p>

<p>Olamide's quintessential flows shine on<em> 'Makaveli' </em>where he name-drops popular pop culture figures in restating his status as the big man of Nigerian music. On the Log-drum punctuated up-tempo record<em> 'Uptown Disco,'</em> Olamide flows leisurely next to YBNL stars <strong>Asake</strong> and <strong>Fireboy</strong> with whom he celebrates his status as an enduring hitmaker under whose wings<a href="https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/music/big-3-artists-of-the-different-eras-of-afrobeats-from-1999/tpfxmkg"> era-defining hitmakers </a>have emerged, including former <strong>YBNL</strong> associates <strong>Pheelz</strong>, <strong>Young</strong> <strong>Jonn</strong>, and <strong>Lil</strong> <strong>Ke</strong>sh who joined him to celebrate their success on the bouncy Pheelz produced <em>'Sychro System'</em>.</p>

<p>When Olamide raps about women, it's with the confidence of a man who knows what he wants and can get things done. Next to the delicate vocals and soothing melodies of rising Dutch RnB &amp; Soul singer <strong>Sabri</strong>, <strong>Olamide</strong> deploys his familiar swaggering flows as he rolls out the superlatives for his woman.</p>

<p>In <em>'Hello Habibi,' </em>Olamide sings about balling in Qatar, and he showcases this Middle Eastern connection in the hip-hop bounce and Arab folk flute of a record where as a man of means, he offers to make the fantasies of designer handbags and dream vacations a reality.</p>

<p>Olamide has always displayed a heavy influence of Yoruba indigenous music throughout his career. In his smash hit <em>'Sitting On The Throne,'</em> he sings about growing up on the music of Fuji legend <strong>Wasiu</strong> <strong>Ayinde</strong> whom he <a href="https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/music/25-times-afrobeats-stars-have-created-hits-sampling-classic-songs/723v0ps">sampled in his hit song<em> 'Anifowose'</em></a><em>. </em></p>

<p>This cultural side of the rapper is highlighted on the introspective/gospel record <em>'Morowore' </em>where he interpolates the timeless record of Paul Play Dairo <em>'Mo Wa Dupe'</em>.</p>

<p>The mid-tempo song lays out Olamide's state of mind and his constant search for meaning as he acknowledges the challenges of the superstar life, motivates as a star maker, expresses gratitude as a spiritual being, and embraces responsibility as a family man.</p>

<p><strong><em>'Ikigai' </em></strong>is another wholesome chapter in Olamide's legacy in Nigerian music as he delivers a project that shows just how in touch he is with the soundscape.</p>

<p>By displaying an admirable ability to evolve and having successfully shed off the pressure of chasing chart toppers while maintaining is star power, <strong>Olamide</strong> is a blueprint on how to age beautifully.</p>

<p><strong>Pulse Rating: /10</strong></p>

<p>Songwriting, Themes, and Delivery: 1.6/2</p>

<p>Enjoyability and Satisfaction: 1.6/2</p>

'Ikigai' is another wholesome chapter in Olamide's legacy [Review]

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