Asake (Ahmed Ololade) went from OAU drama student to Mr. Money with the Vibe, selling out the O2 and Barclays Center. Here is his full story, from YBNL to his own label Giran Republic, the 2026 EP with Wizkid, the album M$NEY and his estimated net worth.
Quick facts
| Real name | Ahmed Ololade |
|---|---|
| Born | 13 January 1995, Lagos |
| Education | Theatre and Dramatic Arts, Obafemi Awolowo University |
| Labels | YBNL (2022–2025), now Giran Republic |
| Albums | Mr. Money with the Vibe, Work of Art, Lungu Boy, M$NEY |
| 2026 releases | Real, Vol. 1 (with Wizkid) and M$NEY |
| Grammy | Two nominations, Best African Music Performance |
| Estimated net worth | Not verified (older blog estimates: $1.2m – $1.5m) |
Who is Asake?
Asake is a Nigerian singer known for blending Afrobeats, amapiano, fuji and street-pop, often with gospel-style choirs. He calls himself Mr. Money, and since 2022 he has been one of the most consistent hit-makers in Africa.
Early life and education
Ahmed Ololade was born on 13 January 1995 in Lagos State. He studied Theatre and Dramatic Arts at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, and started out on small labels, including TFT Records in 2018.
Rise with YBNL
In February 2022 Olamide signed him to YBNL, and his EP Ololade delivered "Omo Ope" and "Sungba". His debut album Mr. Money with the Vibe (September 2022) broke Apple Music's opening-day record for an African album, and Audiomack named him Artiste of the Year.
Work of Art (2023) and Lungu Boy (2024) kept the run going. Lungu Boy became the longest-running No. 1 album in Nigerian chart history and set a Spotify record for opening-day streams by a Nigerian album.
Going independent
In February 2025 Asake released "Why Love" under his own label, Giran Republic, marking his exit from YBNL. In January 2026 he dropped the joint EP Real, Vol. 1 with Wizkid, followed by his fourth album M$NEY in May 2026, and the concert film M$NEY Live in London exclusively on Spotify.
