Ikigai / 生き甲斐, Vol. 1 is a 2024 EP by Nigerian rapper and singer Olamide, released through YBNL Nation and EMPIRE. The project arrived on June 26, 2024, following his 2023 studio album Unruly and serving as a compact return to the musical world that Olamide had built around YBNL.

The project contains 7 tracks and has a total runtime of approximately 22 minutes. Rather than being a conventional full-length album, Ikigai is a concise project built around experimentation, melody, indigenous Nigerian sounds and a mixture of Afrobeats, hip-hop, dancehall and other global influences.

EP Details

• Title: Ikigai / 生き甲斐, Vol. 1
• Artist: Olamide
• Release Date: June 26, 2024
• Tracks: 7
• Runtime: Approximately 22 minutes
• Label: YBNL Nation / EMPIRE
• Format: EP
• Genres: Afrobeats, hip-hop, dancehall, Amapiano and pop
• Previous Project: Unruly (2023)
• Next Major Studio Album: Olamidé (2025)

What Does “Ikigai” Mean?

The word Ikigai comes from Japanese and is commonly understood as a reason for being, purpose in life, or something that gives life meaning.

The Japanese characters in the title are 生き甲斐. Olamide uses the concept as a fitting description of his musical purpose and creative identity.

Apple Music describes the EP as a project that moves through different sonic cultures while presenting music-making itself as part of Olamide’s artistic reason for being.

Ikigai / 生き甲斐, Vol. 1 Tracklist

1. Metaverse
2. Uptown Disco – featuring Fireboy DML & Asake
3. Makaveli
4. Knockout – featuring SABRI
5. Hello Habibi
6. Morowore
7. Synchro System – featuring Pheelz, Young Jonn & Lil Kesh

The complete seven-song tracklist and approximately 22-minute runtime are confirmed by Apple Music and Amazon Music.

Featured Artists

Although the EP is short, Olamide uses its seven tracks to reconnect with several important artists associated with his musical journey.

Fireboy DML & Asake – “Uptown Disco”

“Uptown Disco” brings together Olamide, Fireboy DML and Asake. The song combines the three YBNL-associated artists in one of the project’s most energetic moments.

SABRI – “Knockout”

“Knockout” features SABRI, a Netherlands-based vocalist whose raspy vocal style adds a different texture to the project. The song moves the EP toward a more sensual and international sound.

Pheelz, Young Jonn & Lil Kesh – “Synchro System”

The closing track, “Synchro System,” features three important figures from Olamide’s YBNL history: Pheelz, Young Jonn and Lil Kesh.

The collaboration functions almost like a YBNL reunion, bringing together artists and producers who played significant roles in Olamide’s earlier era.

Sound and Musical Direction

One of the defining characteristics of Ikigai is its willingness to move between different musical textures.

“Metaverse” opens the EP with international and Asian-inspired elements, while “Uptown Disco” is driven by energetic percussion and log-drum influences.

“Knockout” introduces a more sensual atmosphere, while “Hello Habibi” moves deeper into Middle Eastern and North African-inspired sounds. “Morowore” takes a more spiritual direction before “Synchro System” closes the project with a dance-oriented YBNL reunion.

The production credits include Semzi, Eskeez, Pheelz, Rami Beatz and Otis, among others.

Standout Songs

Metaverse

“Metaverse” introduces the EP and immediately establishes its experimental character. The track blends Olamide’s familiar vocal delivery with sounds outside the traditional street-hop formula.

Uptown Disco

With Fireboy DML and Asake, “Uptown Disco” is one of the project’s biggest collaborative moments. It brings together three generations of the YBNL story on one record.

Hello Habibi

“Hello Habibi” is one of the project’s most distinctive songs. Its Middle Eastern and North African-inspired textures demonstrate Olamide’s willingness to explore sounds beyond conventional Afrobeats.

Morowore

“Morowore” provides a more spiritual and reflective moment. The track uses atmospheric vocals and instrumentation before building toward a more energetic finish.

Synchro System

The closing track is particularly significant for long-time Olamide fans. Featuring Pheelz, Young Jonn and Lil Kesh, “Synchro System” brings together several people connected to the classic YBNL era.

Olamide and the YBNL Connection

One of the strongest themes running through Ikigai is Olamide’s relationship with the YBNL family.

The project includes Asake and Fireboy DML, two artists whose careers became closely associated with YBNL, while the final track reunites Olamide with Pheelz, Young Jonn and Lil Kesh.

This gives Ikigai a nostalgic quality without making it purely a throwback project. Instead, Olamide combines the old YBNL connection with newer production styles and international sounds.

Reception and Importance

Ikigai / 生き甲斐, Vol. 1 demonstrated that Olamide remained willing to experiment after more than a decade in the Nigerian music industry.

Apple Music characterized the EP as a journey through different sonic cultures, highlighting its mixture of Afrobeats, house, indigenous Nigerian influences, percussion, sitars, harps and Arabic-inspired instrumentation.

Its compact seven-track format also makes it different from Olamide’s earlier, much longer studio albums. Instead of attempting to cover an entire musical era in one project, Ikigai focuses on atmosphere, collaboration and experimentation.

Conclusion

Ikigai / 生き甲斐, Vol. 1 is an important transitional project in Olamide’s discography.

With just 7 tracks, the EP gives Olamide room to experiment with Afrobeats, hip-hop, dancehall, Amapiano-inspired rhythms and international sounds while reconnecting with members of the YBNL family.

From “Metaverse” and “Uptown Disco” to “Hello Habibi,” “Morowore” and the YBNL reunion on “Synchro System,” the project demonstrates an artist comfortable exploring new sounds without losing the identity that made him one of Nigeria’s most influential indigenous rappers.

Ikigai ultimately served as the bridge between 2023’s Unruly and 2025’s self-titled Olamidé, making it a significant chapter in the evolution of Olamide’s sound.