999 (EP)

999
EP by
Released9 February 2020 (2020-02-09)
Genre
Length30:02
LabelYBNL Nation
Producer
Olamide chronology
YBNL Mafia Family
(2018)
999
(2020)
Carpe Diem
(2020)

999 is the first extended play by Nigerian rapper Olamide. It was released on 9 February 2020 by YBNL Nation, and features guest appearances from Phyno, Cheque, Rhatti, Snow, Jayboi, Jackmillz, Sosa-E, and Milly (Olamide's son). The EP's production was handled by Olamide, Pheelz, ID Cabasa, Eskeez, and Cracker Mallo. It serves as a follow-up to the YBNL collaborative album YBNL Mafia Family (2018).[3][4][5][6][7]

Background

Olamide announced the release of the EP on 9 February 2020. He stated that it would premiere at 9pm across 9 radio stations.[8]

Critical reception

999 received mixed reviews from critics. Motolani Alake of Pulse Nigeria described 999 as "anti-climactic" and said Olamide had a "below-par 2019", adding it felt "excessively built in Olamide's image and likeness". He concluded it suffered from "execution and imbalance" and gave it a rating of 5.5/10.[9] Tomiwa of tooXclusive said 999 "won't stand the test of time" because fans had "moved on from Olamide the Rapper" to his pop era. He added that it "sounds weak and wouldn’t be appreciated", was "just a point above average" and felt like an "average project"; he rated the EP 6/10.[10]

In a review for the Culture Custodian, Wale Oloworekende characterized 999 as "mostly, unabashedly hip-hop" but criticized it for being "scattergun without an overarching focus". He added that it "suffers from a lack of cohesion" despite strong guest moments, and concluded it was "a pleasant welcome to act two".[11] Emmanuel Esomnofu, writing for NotjustOk, wrote that despite occasionally "throw[ing] things off course", it was "ambitious" with "a sexy concept".[12] Reviewing for The Lagos Review, Dami Ajayi said 999 "has a cop-out in its length and duration" and "feels like a compilation album rather than body of work", adding that "not much has changed" in Olamide's music. He concluded that it "999 is definitely not an incline. It is at best a plateau".

Track listing

999 track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."No Time"Olamide Adedeji
3:10
2."Warlords" (featuring Snow, Phyno, Cheque and Rhatti)
Pheelz3:27
3."Billion Talk" (featuring Milly)AdedejiPheelz3:02
4."Dance with the Devil" (featuring Sosa-E and Jackmillz)
  • Adedeji
  • Eseosa Ohuoba
  • Adelana Ayodele
Eskeez3:37
5."Wonma!"AdedejiCracker Mallo2:54
6."Demons" (featuring Jackmillz)
  • Adedeji
  • Ayodele
Eskeez3:05
7."Mojo" (featuring JayBoi)
  • Adedeji
  • Ayeni Sunday
Cracker Mallo3:24
8."Prophesy"AdedejiEskeez2:53
9."Rich & Famous"AdedejiID Cabasa4:30
Total length:30:02

Personnel

  • Olamide – primary artist, production (1)
  • Snow – featured artist (2)
  • Chibuzor "Phyno" Azubuike – featured artist (2)
  • Akinbi "Cheque" Brett – featured artist (2)
  • Arize "Rhatti" Armstrong – featured artist (2)
  • Batifeori "Milly" Adedeji – featured artist (3)
  • Eseosa "Sosa-E" Ohuoba – featured artist (4)
  • Adelana "Jackmillz" Ayodele – featured artist (4, 6)
  • Ayeni "JayBoi" Sunday – featured artist (7)
  • Eskeez – production (1, 4, 6, 8)
  • Pheelz – production (2, 3)
  • Cracker Mallo – production (5, 7)
  • ID Cabasa – production (9)
  • STG – mixing, mastering
  • DUKS Arts – artwork

References

  1. ^ Wale Oloworekende (11 February 2020). "The Evolving Role of Olamide Badoo on 999". The Culture Custodian (Est. 2014.). Retrieved 2 May 2026.
  2. ^ Tomiwa (10 February 2020). "Olamide – 999 EP". tooXclusive. Retrieved 2 May 2026.
  3. ^ Akinwale Akinyoade (11 February 2020). "Olamide Releases His Surprise EP "999"". Guardian Life. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  4. ^ "Olamide Drenches in Dreaded 999 EP". This Day. 2020-02-15. Retrieved 2020-07-14.
  5. ^ says, Emmanuel (2020-02-10). "Olamide set to drop '999' EP". P.M. News. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 2020-07-14.
  6. ^ "999: Olamide to release surprise new 9-track album tomorrow". Pulse Nigeria. 2020-02-09. Retrieved 2020-07-14.
  7. ^ "Olamide Drops New Nine-Track EP '999'". OkayAfrica. 2020-02-11. Retrieved 2020-07-14.
  8. ^ Akinwale Akinyoade (10 February 2020). "Olamide Gears Up For "999" EP Release By 9pm Tonight". Guardian Life. Retrieved 2 May 2026.
  9. ^ Motolani Alake (11 February 2020). "Olamide's '999 EP' is ambitious yet lacks balance and great execution [Album Review]". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 2 May 2026.
  10. ^ Tomiwa (17 March 2020). "Album Review Olamide's 999 EP Is Just A Point Above Average & Can't Stand The Test Of Time…". tooXclusive. Archived from the original on 28 February 2021. Retrieved 2 May 2026.
  11. ^ Wale Oloworekende (11 February 2020). "The Evolving Role of Olamide Badoo on 999". The Culture Custodian (Est. 2014.). Archived from the original on 12 February 2020. Retrieved 4 May 2026.
  12. ^ Emmanuel Esomnofu (12 February 2020). "REVIEW: Olamide's 999 EP is a Credible Rap Project That Positions Him as an OG". NotjustOk. Retrieved 4 May 2026.