ID Cabasa: Olamide was like son to me… I cried when he left my label

ID Cabasa, the music producer and CEO of Coded Tunes, says he cried when Olamide, the rapper, left his record label.

Olamide exited Coded Tunes and launched YBNL Nation, his imprint, in 2012.

In a recent interview with Afrobeats Podcast, ID Cabasa said he met Olamide when he was young and recognised his talent.

He said he developed a bond with the rapper and considered him like a son.

The producer added that when Olamide decided to leave his label, he was emotional, not because he wanted to hold him back, but because he loved him.

He added that their parting was amicable and he offered Olamide his blessings.

“Olamide was 13 years old when I met him. He came to my studio with a friend who wanted to feature him on a song. His friend was not good musically. Olamide was quiet and unassuming. I gave him a beat, and he did 16 bars that changed everything. Olamide became more like a son to me,” he said.

“When he was about to leave my record label, we sat down to discuss it. It was painful to me. It was not the pain of not wanting him to progress; it was the pain of seeing someone you love leave. I cried.

“I said, ‘Olamide, you should have waited o!’ He said, ‘Bros, I want to do something, and I am sure, by your code, we might not be able to do some of them.’ We did not have a fight. I gave him my full blessings.”

Since establishing YBNL Nation, the record company has been home to artistes like Adekunle Gold, Temmie Ovwasa and Lil Kesh.

YBNL’s current roster includes Asake and Fireboy DML.