Olamide – UY Scuti (2021)

UY Scuti is the ninth studio album by Nigerian rapper, singer, songwriter and YBNL Nation founder Olamide. Released on June 18, 2021, the album followed Carpe Diem (2020) and continued Olamide’s transition toward a more melodic, Afrobeats and pop-oriented sound.

The project was released by YBNL Nation and EMPIRE and features collaborations with Jaywillz, Layydoe, Fave and Phyno. The standard album contains 10 tracks, with “Petty” appearing as a bonus track, bringing the total to 11 songs.

Album Details

• Artist: Olamide
• Album: UY Scuti
• Released: June 18, 2021
• Label: YBNL Nation / EMPIRE
• Main Tracks: 10
• Total with Bonus: 11
• Runtime: About 28 minutes
• Genres: Afrobeats, Afropop, pop, R&B and reggae/dancehall influences
• Producers: P.Priime, Eskeezondbeat and others
• Featured Artists: Jaywillz, Layydoe, Fave and Phyno

The Meaning Behind UY Scuti

The album takes its name from UY Scuti, an enormous red supergiant star. Olamide explained that his son had asked him about the biggest star in the universe, which led him to discover UY Scuti. The name ultimately represented the scale of the move he felt he was making with the album.

The title also reflected Olamide’s confidence at this stage of his career. After years of establishing himself as one of Nigeria’s leading indigenous rappers, he was increasingly comfortable presenting himself as a versatile pop artist.

UY Scuti Tracklist

Standard Album

1. Need for Speed
2. Jailer (feat. Jaywillz)
3. Rock
4. Julie
5. Rough Up (feat. Layydoe)
6. Want (feat. Fave)
7. PonPon (feat. Fave)
8. Cup of Tea
9. Somebody (feat. Phyno)
10. So Much More

Bonus Track

11. Petty — Bonus Track

The original promotional tracklist described the project as 10 tracks plus a bonus, while streaming services such as Audiomack have included “Petty” as track 11. Apple Music currently lists the 10-song standard edition while also identifying “Petty” as the bonus track.

The Sound of the Album

UY Scuti continued the musical transformation that began with Carpe Diem. Olamide moved further away from the hard indigenous-rap sound that dominated much of his early career and embraced Afrobeats, pop, R&B, reggae and dancehall influences.

Olamide described the project as a full-time pop album, explaining that his sound had become a combination of the different styles of music he had encountered around the world.

This approach is particularly noticeable on songs such as “Julie,” “Want,” “PonPon,” “Rough Up” and “So Much More.”

Notable Songs

Rock

“Rock” was the album’s lead single and one of its biggest songs. It showcases Olamide’s melodic side, combining a catchy Afrobeats rhythm with a romantic theme.

The song helped introduce UY Scuti to listeners before the album’s release and became one of Olamide’s recognizable songs from this period.

Julie

“Julie” is one of the album’s most personal romantic records. Olamide presents himself as an imperfect partner who appreciates the love he receives.

Interestingly, Olamide revealed that “Julie” was his personal favorite song on the album at the time of release.

Jailer feat. Jaywillz

“Jailer” pairs Olamide with Jaywillz on a relaxed, feel-good record. It demonstrates Olamide’s willingness to work with younger artists and incorporate newer sounds into his music.

Want & PonPon feat. Fave

Olamide collaborates with Fave on two consecutive tracks: “Want” and “PonPon.”

“Want” leans toward chilled R&B, while “PonPon” takes a more sensual approach. Olamide had spoken positively about Fave’s talent and explained that they recorded several songs together.

Rough Up feat. Layydoe

“Rough Up” explores a dancehall/bashment sound. Olamide explained that he had been listening to older dancehall music while travelling and was inspired to incorporate that influence into the project.

Somebody feat. Phyno

“Somebody” reunites Olamide with his longtime collaborator Phyno. Their chemistry had already been demonstrated on previous projects, and this song brought their familiar partnership into Olamide’s newer melodic sound.

So Much More

The closing standard track, “So Much More,” is one of the album’s more reflective songs. It carries a roots-reggae influence and focuses on women, social expectations and the importance of living life according to one’s own choices.

Petty — Bonus Track

“Petty” was released as the project’s bonus track rather than part of the 10-song standard album.

The song presents a more playful and confident side of Olamide, with the artist describing himself as a cocky but self-aware character. Olamide specifically made the bonus available through Boomplay and Audiomack around the album’s release.

Features

The album’s guest appearances were relatively limited:

• Jaywillz — “Jailer”
• Layydoe — “Rough Up”
• Fave — “Want”
• Fave — “PonPon”
• Phyno — “Somebody”

This gave UY Scuti a more focused feel compared with some of Olamide’s earlier albums.

Production

The production was shaped by producers including P.Priime and Eskeezondbeat, with the album moving through several contemporary Nigerian and Caribbean-inspired sounds.

The production is generally smoother and more melodic than the heavy street-hop and indigenous hip-hop production associated with several of Olamide’s earlier records.

Reception and Legacy

UY Scuti continued the evolution Olamide had begun with Carpe Diem. Rather than returning to the formula of his earlier rap albums, he embraced the role of a versatile Afropop artist.

Apple Music described the album as the next stage of the transformation that began with Carpe Diem, with Olamide using roots reggae, R&B, Afrobeats and pop soundscapes.

The album also charted on the Billboard World Albums chart, reaching No. 12.

Conclusion

Olamide’s UY Scuti is an important chapter in his musical evolution.

Coming directly after Carpe Diem, the album showed that Olamide was no longer limiting himself to indigenous rap or street-hop. He experimented with Afrobeats, pop, R&B, reggae and dancehall, while maintaining the confidence and songwriting personality that had defined his career.

With songs such as “Rock,” “Julie,” “Jailer,” “Want,” “PonPon,” “Somebody” and “So Much More,” UY Scutiestablished a softer and more melodic side of Olamide.

The album ultimately represents Olamide’s willingness to evolve without abandoning his identity — a quality that has remained central to his longevity in Nigerian music.