Olamide’s YBNL Reunion Lineup: Where Is Asake?

If there is one name many people expected to see on the announced lineup for Olamide’s upcoming YBNL reunion concert, it is Asake. Before the sold out international shows, the millions of streams, the global recognition and the emergence of Giran Republic, there was YBNL. There was Olamide. There was a young Ahmed Ololade, popularly known as Asake, whose career was about to take a completely different direction.

As Olamide prepares to bring together some of the biggest names associated with YBNL Nation for a December reunion in Lagos, one important name is missing. ASAKE, the singer, who arguably became one of the most commercially successful artistes to emerge from the label. He is nowhere to be found on the announced lineup.

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Just when fans thought the conversation would end there, another interesting detail emerged. Asake is scheduled to headline his own concert at the same Future Fest venue, just two days after the YBNL reunion.

Coincidence? An independent career move? Or simply two separate events that have given fans something new to argue about. Whatever the explanation, Nigerian music lovers have already started asking questions.

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The YBNL Reunion Without Asake

YBNL: The Reunion, is scheduled for December 18, 2026, at Oasis Ground, Coastal Road, Victoria Island, Lagos, as part of Future Fest ’26. The announced lineup features Olamide alongside Adekunle Gold, Fireboy DML, Lil Kesh, Young Jonn, Pheelz and DJ Enimoney.

For followers of Nigerian music, this is more than an ordinary concert. It is a gathering of artistes and collaborators who contributed to the development of one of Nigeria’s most influential record labels.

From Adekunle Gold’s early breakthrough to Lil Kesh’s street dominance, Fireboy DML’s emergence and Young Jonn’s evolution from producer to recording artiste, YBNL has played a significant role in shaping the careers of several successful musicians.

Olamide, who founded YBNL Nation in 2012, built a platform that became particularly important to the development of Nigerian street pop and contemporary Afrobeats.

Naturally, fans expected the reunion to represent as much of the label’s history as possible. That is where Asake’s absence becomes difficult to ignore. After all, Asake was not just another artiste who passed through YBNL. His emergence under the label marked one of its biggest commercial success stories in recent years.

His breakthrough in 2022, following his signing to YBNL, changed the conversation around Nigerian street pop. Songs such as Omo Ope, Sungba, Organise and Peace Be Unto You helped establish him as one of the most exciting new voices in the country. His partnership with Olamide also produced records that connected strongly with Nigerian audiences.

So, when a reunion is announced and Asake’s name is missing, questions are almost inevitable.

Asake performing on stage

Remember When Olamide Introduced Asake to the World?

It is impossible to discuss Asake’s rise without acknowledging Olamide’s contribution. When Asake joined YBNL in 2022, he was already building attention with his energetic performances, distinctive vocals and fusion of street pop, Fuji influences and contemporary Afrobeats.

However, his association with Olamide gave his career a significant boost. Their collaboration on Omo Ope introduced him to a much wider audience and helped establish his position in the Nigerian music industry.

What followed was an impressive run. Mr Money With The Vibe, released in September 2022, became a major commercial success. It was followed by Work of Art in 2023 and Lungu Boy in 2024.

Asake was no longer simply an artiste enjoying a breakthrough moment. He had become a major commercial force with an international audience.

For many observers, his rise was also a reflection of Olamide’s ability to identify talent and provide the platform needed for emerging artistes to succeed.

This is precisely why his absence from the reunion has attracted attention.

Asake Left YBNL, But Did He Leave the History Behind?

In February 2025, Asake officially parted ways with YBNL and established his own imprint, Giran Republic. The move marked a new chapter in his career, allowing him to operate independently while maintaining his existing distribution partnership with EMPIRE. It was an important development for an artiste who had grown into an international music star.

But leaving a record label does not automatically erase the history built during one’s time there.

Adekunle Gold is a good example. He moved on from YBNL years ago and established an independent identity, yet his association with the label remains an important part of his musical journey. The same applies to Lil Kesh and other artistes who have pursued careers outside the label.

This raises an interesting question. If the purpose of the December concert is to celebrate the history and people who contributed to YBNL’s growth, should Asake’s contribution not earn him a place in that conversation?

Of course, the final lineup may reflect availability, creative direction, production decisions or other arrangements that the public knows nothing about. There is also no public confirmation that Asake was invited and declined.

But from a fan’s perspective, his absence is noticeable.

The Interesting Twist: Asake Is Returning to the Same Venue Two Days Later

Here is where the story becomes even more interesting. While Olamide and the YBNL family are scheduled to perform on December 18, Asake is billed to headline his own concert at Oasis Ground on December 20.

The show, titled M$NEY IN LAGOS, will close Future Fest ’26, a ten day cultural festival running from December 11 to December 20.

The concert follows the success of Asake’s fourth studio album, M$NEY, released on May 1, 2026, and his In God We Trust world tour, which concluded in Paris on October 24.

It is expected to be a major homecoming performance for the singer.

His international run has included performances across North America and Europe, including his reported third sold out show at London’s O2 Arena on October 15. Now he is bringing that momentum back to Lagos.

But consider the timing. December 18: Olamide reunites YBNL. December 20: Asake headlines his own show. Both concerts are part of the same festival and scheduled for the same venue.

Two different performances, two different identities and two chapters of a musical relationship that helped shape the careers of both men.

It is an interesting coincidence that will undoubtedly attract attention.

Has Asake Become Bigger Than the Label That Introduced Him?

This is perhaps the most uncomfortable question in the entire conversation. Asake has evolved into an international music star with his own record label. He has major distribution partnership, successful albums and a growing global audience. His 2026 album, M$NEY, reportedly recorded approximately 56 million first week streams on Spotify, while his international tour further demonstrated his commercial reach.

He has also established a musical identity that is recognizable beyond the YBNL brand. In many ways, Asake’s current position is a reminder of what a successful record label relationship can produce.

But should his current success make his YBNL history any less relevant? Absolutely not. In fact, the opposite could be argued. The bigger an artiste becomes, the more significant the story of their beginnings can become.

YBNL was part of Asake’s journey, just as Asake became part of YBNL’s story. Both can be true without diminishing either side.

Perhaps that is what makes his absence from the reunion lineup such an interesting talking point.

Is This Really a Reunion Without Mr Money?

Honestly, A YBNL reunion featuring Olamide, Adekunle Gold, Fireboy DML, Lil Kesh, Young Jonn, Pheelz and DJ Enimoney already has enough star power to attract serious attention. But Asake’s inclusion would have added another dimension to the event.

Imagine the reaction if Olamide and Asake walked onto the same stage again. Imagine the crowd singing Omo Ope, Sungba and Amapiano together.

For fans who followed their journey from the beginning, that moment would carry more emotional weight than an ordinary guest appearance. It would represent a full circle moment for an artiste whose career took off under the YBNL umbrella.

However, it is equally important to acknowledge that Asake is now building his own identity and may have separate professional commitments.

There is no confirmed indication of a disagreement between him and Olamide, and neither artiste has publicly suggested that the two December concerts are connected by any underlying issue. Still, fans are entitled to wonder why one of the label’s most successful former acts is absent from an event celebrating its history.

The Bigger Conversation: What Does Loyalty Mean After Success?

Beyond the concert announcement, this situation opens up a wider conversation about Nigerian music. When an artiste becomes successful under a record label, how much of that relationship should continue after the artiste leaves?

Should former signees always be included when a label celebrates its history? Does independence mean moving forward without looking back, or should successful artistes continue to acknowledge the platforms that helped introduce them?

When a label organizes a reunion, is it expected to include everybody who contributed to its success, or only those who fit the organizers’ vision for that particular event?

These are questions worth discussing.

The music industry is filled with stories of artistes who started under influential labels before building independent careers. Some maintain close relationships with their former executives, while others simply move on to the next chapter.

Neither path automatically means there is bad blood. But in Asake and YBNL’s case, the history is too significant for fans to ignore.

Final Thoughts

Olamide deserves recognition for building a platform that helped shape several successful Nigerian music careers. Asake also deserves recognition for taking the opportunity he received and turning it into an international music career. Their stories are connected, even though they are now pursuing separate professional paths.

Perhaps the absence is simply a matter of scheduling, creative direction or the organizers’ decision about the lineup. Perhaps there is more to the story. At this point, nobody outside the parties involved can say with certainty.

But one thing is clear. A YBNL reunion without Asake is going to be one of the biggest talking points surrounding Future Fest ’26.

With Asake returning to the same venue just two days later, December is about to give Nigerian music fans plenty to discuss.

The question remains: can you truly celebrate the YBNL story without Mr Money? Or has Asake earned his place in that reunion, regardless of where his career stands today?

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