Asake ignored legal advice, felt cheated before leaving YBNL

Entertainment lawyer Yemisi Falaye has disclosed that popular singer Ahmed Ololade, known professionally as Asake, parted ways with Olamide’s YBNL Nation because he later felt cheated by the terms of his contract.

Speculations about Asake’s exit from YBNL began in December 2024 when reports emerged that he had amicably ended his contract with the label.

The singer seemingly confirmed his departure in February 2025 with the launch of his own imprint, Giran Republic.

However, in a recent interview, Falaye revealed that the fallout stemmed from Asake’s decision to ignore legal advice when signing his initial contract with YBNL.

According to Falaye, Asake was too eager to join the label after years of struggling for a breakthrough in the music industry.

Despite Olamide’s advice to have a lawyer review the agreement, Asake rushed to sign the deal.

“I told him not to sign it because he would be giving away his rights in perpetuity,” Falaye recounted.

“But he was too excited. He said, ‘Do you know how long I’ve waited for this?’ He insulted me and accused me of trying to block his progress.”

She explained that Olamide did nothing wrong and even encouraged Asake to seek legal counsel before signing, but the singer ultimately dismissed her concerns and signed on the spot.

Falaye noted that the eventual breakdown in the relationship was inevitable, as Asake later realized the contract didn’t serve his best interests.

“If the contract had worked for him, he would have renewed or renegotiated.

Instead, he left and started his own label, which tells you everything,” she said.

The lawyer emphasized that Asake’s feelings of being shortchanged were not due to any deception by YBNL, but rather his own failure to understand the legal implications of the agreement.