Why Asake Left YBNL Record Label Revealed By Lawyer

Why Asake left YBNL record label explained by lawyer Falaye, who says the singer ignored legal advice before signing a deal that later made him feel cheated

Nigerian entertainment lawyer Oluyemisi Falaye has revealed why Afrobeats star Asake parted ways with Olamide’s YBNL record label, saying the singer ignored legal advice and later felt cheated by the contract.

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Falaye disclosed this during a public conversation, explaining that she warned Asake not to rush into the deal without understanding its full terms.

According to her, Olamide himself encouraged Asake to seek legal counsel before signing the agreement.

“I remember when Olamide was going to sign Asake. He was so overwhelmed that he said to Olamide, ‘I’m not going to get a lawyer to review this agreement. YBNL wants to sign me, do you know how long I’ve been waiting?’” Falaye recalled.

She said Asake eventually brought the contract to her for review, and she immediately raised concerns about the long-term implications.

“I said, ‘If you sign this agreement, you are going to assign your rights in perpetuity.’ I advised him not to sign it,” she said.

However, Falaye said the advice was not well received by the singer.

“He looked at me and said, ‘Are you kidding me? You said what? Did they send you? You want to pour sand in my garri.’ He insulted me and called my bluff,” she added.

Despite the legal warning, Asake went ahead and signed the contract without making any amendments.

If you sign this agreement, you are going to assign your rights in perpetuity… But he insulted me and called my bluff

Falaye explained that the issues between Asake and YBNL later stemmed from his lack of understanding of the agreement, not from Olamide’s conduct.

She defended Olamide, saying he had been transparent and advised Asake properly.

“He told him clearly to take the contract to a lawyer. So it’s unfair to say Olamide did anything wrong,” she said.

According to Falaye, the fallout only occurred because Asake eventually felt cheated by the terms he had agreed to without proper review.

“It didn’t particularly work for him. Because if it did, he would have renewed the agreement or at least been open to reviewing the terms. But he was so hurt, he felt cheated,” she added.

Asake indirectly confirmed his exit from YBNL in February when he launched his own record label, Giran Republic.

Though he has not publicly criticised the label, the move signalled a desire for full control over his music and brand.

Asake first gained mainstream attention under YBNL with hit singles like Sungba and Peace Be Unto You, earning major commercial success in Nigeria and internationally.

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Falaye’s revelations provide deeper insight into the business decisions that shaped his early career and the importance of legal due diligence in the music industry.