Ahmed Ololade, known worldwide as Asake, went from a seemingly unknown artiste to a worldwide phenom, one to be reckoned with in just 12 months. Asake had turned into a star by September 2022.
His introduction to the mainstream was through the impressive “Mr Money” (2020) single, which got remixed by Zlatan and Peruzzi in 2021. This helped shine the light on the star that Asake was becoming.
2022 could not have started better for the fast-rising act. By January 19, 2022, he had the privilege of featuring his soon-to-become record label head, Olamide, in the stellar “Omo Ope” record. This, coupled with his official unveiling as an artiste under the YBNL Nation label, and by extension Empire family, would go on to work wonders in the life of the then 27-year-old star.
Today, January 13, 2022, sees the star, Asake, with the alias of Mr Money, revolve around the sun, becoming a 28-year-old made man.
Let us review just five (5) records Asake set in the previous year, 2022. All the records to be previewed are one-of-one, just in case you did not know. Maybe, after reading this, Asake might change his alias to ‘Asake the First’.
1. Highest debut by a Nigerian album on the Billboard Hot 200:
Mr Money With The Vibe, the debut album by Asake, was released on the 8th of September, 2022, and by the week starting September 24, 2022, it had made its grand debut on the US Billboard Hot 200 at No. 66.
That is the highest debut ever by a Nigerian, heck African album in the history of music. This makes Asake the sole record holder in that category.
2. Highest peak by a debut African album on the Billboard World Albums Chart
Just as the previous record showed, Mr Money With The Vibe is a monster hit album; it would go on to debut at No. 7 on the Billboard World Albums Chart within just a day of tracking the album’s numbers.
September 24, 2022, the same week as its debut on the Billboard Hot 100, Mr Money With The Vibe will officially set a new record for African music; it peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard World Albums Chart.
3. First Nigerian album to debut on the UK Official Albums Chart
Asake’s Mr Money With The Vibe was the first album of Nigerian origin to mark its presence on the United Kingdom (UK) Official Albums Chart.
Here you have it, the first Afrobeats Debut album to Debut on UK official albums chart 🔥
MMWTV! Asake did it FIRST ! pic.twitter.com/vpwuqTyTzw
— Asakeworld (@asakeworld) September 16, 2022
The day dated September 22, 2022, had Mr Money set an unexpected record of becoming the first Nigerian album to debut on the UK Official Albums Chart, charting at No. 22. A feat to never be forgotten.
4. Longest charting artiste in the Nigerian top 10
Asake’s reign can never be complete without mentioning his complete dominance of Nigerian streaming, TV, radio, and culmination charts compiled by the trusted Turntable Charts.
As of January 3, 2023, Asake had maintained his presence on the Nigeria Top 100 by Turntable Charts for 44 straight weeks (even more by the time of writing this).
That blistering run started with “Omo Ope” which featured on the 2022 Valentine’s Day chart update; ever since Asake has continued to churn out hits including “Sungba” remix, “Peace Be Unto You (PBUY)”, “Joha”, and the most recent, “Loaded” with Tiwa Savage.
How @asakemusik scored the greatest breakout year Nigeria has ever seen
— Most #1 songs in Nigeria (6)
— Most #1 songs on streaming chart
— Most #1 songs on radio chart
— Official #1 Album of 2022
— Official #1 Artiste of 2022See full story here https://t.co/Jhzwm3UvKS pic.twitter.com/OwwlB2lH3n
— TurnTable Charts (@TurntableCharts) January 3, 2023
In the roll-out for his album, these words were boldly written: “WANTED FOR STEALING THE CHARTS”. So was the case with Asake and his outstanding Mr Money With The Vibe album.
5. Greatest breakout year by a Nigerian artiste
As if the numbers were not enough, Asake would go on to make his name known overseas, not just for exposure and financial gains, but because fans in those cities were beckoning on the star to visit and tour their states of residence.
Asake embarked on the Mr Money With The Vibe USA Tour 2022 in September. That run took him to major cities like New York, Chicago, Dallas, Washington DC, Houston, Atlanta, and a few others in the United States of America.
Asake will not stop preaching the gospel of his amazing sound in the US alone, rather he took the message to the United Kingdom, shutting down the 02 Brixton Academy (twice). Before that, he had made his mark known in Manchester, filling up the BEC ARENA, MANCHESTER, 4500 capacity.
All these were done in just his breakout year. Be prepared for mayhem from Asake in 2023. “I know my dream, mi o kere oh”, he states in “Nzanza”, showing his determination to dominate the world through his “Heavenly sound from the street”.
Asake kick-started the new year by clearing off all the posts on his official Instagram page. Could that be a sign?