Omah Lay

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Omah Lay
Omah Lay at the Headies - cropped.png
Background information
Birth nameStanley Omah Didia
Also known asOmah Lay
Born (1997-05-19) 19 May 1997 (age 24)
Port Harcourt, Nigeria
GenresAfrobeats
Occupation(s)Singer
Years active2019–present
LabelsKeyQaad, Sire
Associated acts

Stanley Omah Didia (born 19 May 1997), better known as Omah Lay, is a Nigerian singer. He released his self-produced debut single "Do Not Disturb" in April 2019.[1] He won the Next Rated award at the 2020 Headies Awards.[2]

Early life[]

Omah Lay is from Ikwerre in Rivers State.[1] He attended Comprehensive High School in Rivers State before proceeding to the University of Port Harcourt.[3] Omah Lay comes from a musical family and his grandfather played instruments for the singer Celestine Ukwu before he died in 1977. Omah Lay's father also played the drums.[4]

Career[]

Omah Lay started out in a rap group under the stage name Lil King. He later moved on to songwriting and music producing which went largely uncredited, and as a result of that, he released "Do Not Disturb" in April 2019. "Hello Brother" was released a month after. He signed to a record label named KeyQaad in June 2019, and took a seven month break.[1][5] During the break, he worked on his debut EP, Get Layd. He told OkayAfrica, "I started working on it August [of 2019]. At some point I had to go off social media, stay away from a lot of things and keep my head straight to get the project right. The first song I'd recorded on Get Layd was 'Bad Influence.' I'd done that way before the songs we had to put on the project."[6]

Following the break, he released "Bad Influence," which became the most streamed Nigerian song on Apple Music at the end of 2020.[7]

On 14 February 2020, he released "You," his first official single. He then released his five-track debut EP, Get Layd on 22 May 2020. The EP peaked at number one on the Nigerian Apple Music Charts.[1] All five songs from the EP reached the top 15 of the Apple Music charts for Nigeria, with "You" peaking at number one.[8]

In October, Omah Lay appeared on Olamide's album Carpe Diem. His feature on Olamide's track "Infinity" topped the Apple Music charts for Nigeria.[9] On 20 November, Omah lay released his second five-track EP, What Have We Done. All five tracks reached the top 12 of the Apple Music charts for Nigeria, with "Godly" reaching number one.[10]

On 3 July 2020, he was the first artist highlighted for Apple's Africa Rising Campaign to spotlight African talent.[11][12] In December 2020, he was included in BBC Radio 1Xtra's annual "Hot for 2021" list.[13] He was also the first African artist featured on Audiomack's #Up Now program for emerging artists;[14] included in Montreux Jazz Festival's "20 artists to watch in 2021";[15] and was named BET's Amplified International Artist of the Month for November 2020.[16]

He is currently signed to in Nigeria,[5][3] and Sire Records for international distribution.[17]

He was nominated in 4 categories at the 2020 Headies Awards, winning the Next Rated award.[18]

On 8 July 2021, Omah Lay released a new single "Understand".[19][20]

Controversy[]

On 14 December 2020, Omah Lay was arrested alongside Tems after they performed in a show in Uganda. The Ugandan Police authority identified violation of COVID-19 lockdown protocols as the reason for their arrests. The artists on the other hand felt they were set up.[21][22] Two days later, the Ugandan government released the two, apologized for the arrests and cleared them of wrongdoing.[23]

Political views[]

Omah Lay has expressed his support for the #EndSARS campaign in Nigeria. He told Harper's Bazaar, "People need to know these protests are purely about the people, with no political undertone whatsoever. Police harass, extort, beat, and kill us just for being young and trendy, with no consequences. This has gone on long enough, and we are saying enough is enough and demanding government action."[24]

Discography[]

Singles[]

Year Title Album
2019 "Do Not Disturb" Non-album single
"Hello Brother"
2020 "Bad Influence" Get Layd
"You"
"Damn"
"Damn (Cricket Remix)" Non-album single
"Damn (feat. 6lack) What Have We Done
2021 "Understand"
2021 "Free My Mind"

EPs[]

Year Title Details Ref
2020 Get Layd
  • Released: 22 May 2020 (NG)
  • Label: KeyQaad
  • Formats: digital download, streaming
  • Tracklist:
    • "Damn"
    • "Lo Lo"
    • "You"
    • "Bad Influence"
    • "Ye Ye Ye"
 [1]
What Have We Done
  • Released: 19 November 2020 (NG)
  • Label: KeyQaad
  • Formats: digital download, streaming
  • Tracklist:
    • "My Bebe"
    • "Can't Relate"
    • "Godly"
    • "Confession"
    • "Damn (Remix)" featuring 6lack
 [25]

As featured artist[]

Year Title Other artists Album
2020 "Tonight" DJ Spinall Grace
"Pami" DJ Tunez, Wizkid, Adekunle Gold Non-album single
"Infinity" Olamide Carpe Diem
2021 "Pronto" Ajebo Hustlers Non-album single
"Forever" (remix) Gyakie Non-album single
"Peaches"(Masterkraft remix) Justin Bieber, Alpha P Non-album single

Music videos[]

Year Song Director
2020 "You" Temi Ovo
"Ye Ye Ye" Unknown
"Lo Lo" Dammy Twitch
"Bad Influence" Unknown
"Damn" Dammy Twitch
"Godly" Dammy Twitch
2021 "Understand " Topshotta

Awards and nominations[]

Year Award Category Nominee/Work Result Ref
2020 The Headies Next Rated Omah Lay Won [2]
Viewer's Choice Nominated [26]
Best R&B Single "Bad Influence" Nominated
Songwriter of the Year Stanley Omah Didia – "Bad Influence" Nominated
2021 Ghana Music Awards Best African Artiste of the Year Omah Lay TBA [27]
MTV Africa Music Awards Pending [28]
Most Played Pop Song ''Godly" Won [29]
Most Played RnB Song "Pami"

(DJ Tunez featuring Wizkid Adekunle Gold & Omah Lay)

Nominated
All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) Artiste of the Year in Africa Omah Lay Pending [30]
Best Artiste in Western Africa Pending
Breakout Artiste of the Year. Pending
Best Artiste, Duo or Group in African Pop Pending

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e Falola, Ifeoluwa (15 June 2020). "Meet Omah Lay: The Brazen Bad Boy of New School Afrobeat". NotJustOk. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  2. ^ a b Oluwatoye, Dara (22 February 2021). "Fireboy, Omah Lay, More Make Impressive Win Debut At The 14th Headies". Nigerian Entertainment Today. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Interesting facts about Nigerian musician Omah Lay". BBC News Pidgin. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  4. ^ omah lay. "early life of omah lay". BBC News Pidgin. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  5. ^ a b Olonilua, Ademola (14 December 2020). "New kids on the block: Omah Lay, Laycon, Bella Shmurda and other artistes who made waves in 2020". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  6. ^ Esomnofu, Emmanuel (6 July 2020). "Interview: Omah Lay Is Nigeria's New Young Act to Watch". OkayAfrica. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  7. ^ Alake, Motolani (27 December 2020). "Here are the 10 hottest Nigerian artists of the year [Pulse Picks 2020]". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  8. ^ "Apple Music Nigeria Top 100 Songs – May 25-May 31, 2020". top-charts.com. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  9. ^ "Apple Music Nigeria Top 100 Songs – October 19-25, 2020". top-charts.com. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  10. ^ "Apple Music Nigeria Top 100 Songs – November 23-29, 2020". top-charts.com. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  11. ^ Eggertsen, Chris (2 July 2020). "Apple Music Launches Africa Rising Artist Showcase with Debut Cover Star Omah Lay". Billboard. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  12. ^ "The African stars being tipped for global success in 2021 and beyond". XclusiveHype. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  13. ^ "1Xtra's Hot For 2021: The Performances". BBC Radio 1Xtra. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  14. ^ Scott, Nicolas-Tyrell. "Omah Lay Is #UpNow". Audiomack. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  15. ^ "MJF Spotlight: 20 artists to watch in 2021". Montreux Jazz Festival. 2 February 2021. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  16. ^ Alston, Trey. "BET's Amplified International Artist of the Month Omah Lay Releases Sultry New Single Featuring 6LACK". BET.
  17. ^ Oyetayo, Bamise (7 November 2020). "Did You Know Omah Lay is Signed to Warner Records?". NotJustOk. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  18. ^ Ihekire, Chinonso (16 January 2021). "The Voices Redefining Naija Music". The Guardian (Nigeria). Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  19. ^ Hansen, Gabrielle Myers (9 July 2021). "Omah Lay releases Understand single". Music in Africa. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  20. ^ Abulude, Samuel (5 August 2021). "Meet 7 Young Nigerian Artistes With Impacts In 2021". Leadership News – Nigeria News, Breaking News, Politics and more. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  21. ^ "Why Uganda Police do U-turn for Omah Lay release, tie am 'handcuffs'". BBC News Pidgin. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  22. ^ "Nigerian star Omah Lay arrested after Uganda gig". Vanguard (Nigeria). 14 December 2020. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  23. ^ Paulinus, Aidoghie (16 December 2020). "Uganda apologises to FG over arrest of singer Omah Lay, others". The Sun (Nigeria). Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  24. ^ Cohn, Alison S.; Marsh, Ariana (26 October 2020). "Yvonne Orji, Wale, Sharon Chuter and More on #EndSARS". Harper's Bazaar. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  25. ^ Onabanjo, Adedamola (20 November 2020). "Omah Lay's 'What Have We Done' Builds On The Momentum of His Stellar Year". The Culture Custodian. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  26. ^ "See full list of Headies 2020 award nomination". BBC News Pidgin. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  27. ^ "Full List: Here are the nominees for the 2021 Ghana Music Awards". Pulse Ghana. 4 April 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  28. ^ "Here Are the 2021 MTV Africa Music Awards Nominees". OkayAfrica. 11 December 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  29. ^ "Net Honours – The Class of 2021". Nigerian Entertainment Today. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  30. ^ "Afrima Nominations 2021 - See full list of nominees". BBC News Pidgin. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
Retrieved from ""