4 Things To Learn From Olamide, Lil Kesh Separation

Olamide

On Monday, April 25, the Nigerian music industry woke up to the rumour of one of Yahoo Boy No Laptop (YBNL) artists Lil Kesh leaving the label. It was reported that Lil Kesh’s 2-year-contract with YBNL expired days back and the Shoki singer refused to renew his contract. It was also reported that the young rapper is floating his own label YAGI which was named after his debut album.

While this was taken as mere speculation, Olamide on Tuesday, April 26, formally addressed this via his social media account the departure of not only Lil Kesh but also Viktoh from his YBNL record label.

Lil Kesh and Viktoh, two fast-rising rappers on the YBNL imprint have achieved big feats with Kesh already conquering new grounds and this is an interesting exploit. A few years ago they were underground artists in Bariga, a Lagos suburb. But all of this has changed with Olamide wishing them more success.

Be that as it may, there are one or two big lessons to learn from the ease with which these two artists are leaving YBNL. This might be good lessons for other label owners whose artists left and the situation caused some bad blood between them.

File photo of Olamide and Lil Kesh

While it lasted Olamide fought for his artists

While their relationships lasted, Olamide made his artists believe they are contemporaries. He carried them along as one.
He made them realize he will fight for them till the end. As long as their working relationship lasted, Olamide stood up for his artists. He almost ruined his relationship and reputation when he ‘fought’ openly with Don Jazzy and the organisers of the Headies in 2014 and 2015 editions of Headies award. He felt his artist Lil Kesh was cheated in both cases.
Olamide has always referred to his label mates as his brothers and not his subordinates.
School your artists well while the within your first contract
Olamide signed Viktoh and Lil Kesh on a contract for two years. After its expiration, the two artists decided to move on and Olamide did not try to cajole them to stay back. This shows a lot of maturity on his part. Many label owners in Nigeria today will try to amend their contract so that somebody like Lil Kesh will renew his contract but rather Olamide let him go to start his own label. One lesson is learnt here; he has taught them how to fish not only giving them fishes.

Smooth separations
When Lil Kesh and Viktoh decided to leave, Olamide bid them farewell in peace and wished them the best. Olamide reminded everyone that he signed Lil Kesh and Viktoh with the belief that after the two years with his label, they will be good enough to stand on their own. Olamide started his music career with the ID Cabasa-led Coded Tunes under which he released his debut album Rapsodi in 2012. He later left to start his own label YBNL in 2012.

Nobody is too young to start a label
Olamide left Coded Tunes in 2012 to start YBNL when he was just 23 years old. Lil Kesh is starting up at age 21, which says a lot.
Other artists whose contract expiration generated issues include Kelly Hansome and Kennis Music, Wande Coal and Mavins Records, D’banj and Mo’hit Records, Wizkid and EME with the latest being Peter of P-Square with Paul and Jude.
Source:Naij