From choir boy to hitmaker, Ashidapo is shaping his legacy as Afrobeats’ happy-go-lucky hit machine. With Girl on Fya and Gobe, the Lagos-bred singer relives his journey from Wande Coal fanboy to collaborator, proving that joy, too, can be revolutionary.
Ever since Ashidapo broke out with his hypnotic street pop groove, Gbewa, in 2020, the Nigerian singer has been on rotation as a dancefloor controller. His follow-up releases, including Mon Cheri (with Asake), Ballon D’or, and his recent extended playlist, Brother, further solidified his popularity, with several internet viral moments that have catapulted him as a household voice across contemporary dance music in Afrobeats.
With at least six million combined streams, including songwriting credit on Davido’s “Holy Father (with Musa Keys)”, the Lagos-bred singer has continued to race for the spotlight, a feat he has just reclaimed with his just-released two-pack single, Girl on Fya (with Olamide), and Gobe. Both songs shine as party capsules, with Girl on Fya already viral on TikTok, club playlists, and radio/TV airwaves, while Gobe is earning critical acclaim for its brilliant reimagination of Wande Coal’s 2013 smash hit Baby Hello.
Taking off from his childhood choir in Lagos, Ashidapo’s ascent has been heavily inspired by idols like Wande Coal and other 2010s Afropop stars. Blending therapy and adrenaline, he’s carving a niche as a versatile crooner with a joy-driven sound.
In this week’s Guardian Music, he opens up on his career journey so far, tracing his experiences racing up to the limelight, working with longtime pal Asake, earning Wande Coal’s validation eight years after recording his first tribute to him, and his mission to keep spreading happiness through music.
You started releasing music, officially, in 2018. What are some of your biggest career lessons so far, in enduring this journey?
One thing I learned for sure is that procrastination can delay a lot of things for you. Now, if I want to do anything, I just go straight to it. When I just started, I could let six months pass before I proceed with a music release. A lot of artists like hoarding music to themselves, procrastinating the release and all of that. It affected me a lot earlier.
How often do you record music?
I recorded new music this morning. I record a lot, and when I’m not recording I’m focused on the business side, promoting or filming promo content.
What was your trigger to start recording and releasing music?
I started music at a very young age. I was in the choir at my childhood church, Rock of Ages. Everything just felt enticing to me from the fact that one could sing into a mic and the sound would be heard with speakers. I was the only boy in the choir; I was 11-years-old at the time. That was how I found my love for music. In 2016, I started recording music covers. Then, in 2018, I started releasing music officially. When I was doing covers, it was just for fun, but some of the original song owners liked my work and would repost on their Instagram. I felt encouraged. I got reposted by KCee, Don Jazzy, and TuFace. The comments were really positive too.
Tell us about your experience recording music for the first time.
The first time I recorded in the studio, I wasn’t nervous. I already wrote the song. I had sung it for people to listen to. It was the Letter to Wande Coal song. But the recording anxiety arrived when I needed to record other songs after that one. It lingered for a year or two. I was always too shy to sing with other people around in the studio. I didn’t even believe my voice was good enough. I had to put in a lot of work to get my songs well recorded, but we thank God for growth.
Who are some of your major influences?
Wande Coal. The first song I ever recorded in the studio, even before I started doing covers, was a letter to Wande Coal. On the song, I was just begging him to give me some hours of his time. After I heard the Mushin 2 Mo’hits album, I knew that I had to better myself. Then, Akon, P-square, Wizkid, Burna Boy, and Davido.
You reimagined Wande Coal’s Baby Hello in your Gobe track. What was that session like?
I noticed that whenever I tried to sleep, I just kept hearing my Gobe song in my head. I kept hearing the beat I sampled in my head too. One night, I went to the club, and for some weird reason, the minute I was entering inside the club, the DJ played that same song. At that point, it didn’t feel like a coincidence anymore. So, when I got back from the club, I just told my producer to help me get the beat and I recorded it. Then, I sent messages to Wande Coal’s camp and Maleek Berry. And I was surprised to see that Wande Coal followed me back. He said that he loves what I’m doing and that I should keep going. I became re-assured that this was not a coincidence anymore. So the minute I recorded the song, I reached out to him and he said he was willing to clear the rights for me and all of that. The same thing happened with Maleek Berry, who produced the original. So, everything just aligned.
What kinds of sound are you leaning towards these days?
Right now I would call my style tropical pop because it feels very colourful, with a little bit of Fuji. It makes you want to dance. Then the Fuji part comes from my vocals; there’s a nostalgic feel to my tone, but my lyrics reflect the present. So, that’s why my forthcoming EP is titled, Retro. So, I want my listeners to be in the present, and I still don’t want them to forget about the past.
What is your creative process like?
Once I’m in a good mental state, I like to create music. I have a lot of sad songs, but I release more happy music. I just love to be with my loved ones and draw energy from there. It could be my friends, my manager, or anyone and we’d just play NBA 2k or FIFA video games. Afterwards, I just go listen to a beat in the studio and vibe, or I go to the club and vibe. I just like positive energy when I want to create.
Who are some people on your radar for collaborations?
I am a collaboration over competition kind of guy. For me, music is so personal and spiritual. We need to sync first before we can actually make music. For instance, with Brother, me and Asake actually go way back before the fame. We lived together in the same house. There is nothing that is happening now that we had not been delusional about in the house then. In 2023, he just texted me on Instagram, and even though I was far from where he was he still pulled up. He played me the Brother song, and we went to the studio to record my verse. He spent about $40,000 for that video.
What are you up to when you’re not making music?
I play a lot. I love to be with my loved ones. I don’t have too many friends, but I have family around me, my mother, my cousins, and a few friends. I love to be myself a lot as well, being in my space, playing games, table tennis, and watching movies.
Finally, what is your vision for your career in the long run?
There’s nothing in this life that I’ve not imagined, but I still trust my goals to pass my expectations. I have more music coming. I have my UK tour coming up a bit. So I have my thoughts coming. So just more of Ashidapo music, videos, and collaborations. My vision for myself is greatness.
