I discovered Olamide as a 14 year old boy – ID Cabasa

ID Cabasa made the revelation during an interview with the Punch where he also talked about the origination of his record label, Coded Tunes. According to ID Cabasa, Olamide sees him as his father and consults him when he needs help or advice.

He says: “I started as a teenager way back in the late 80s. I was in the secondary school while also doing music by the side. But, professionally, it was around 2003 after I left the university. I worked in a corporate company for a while before I left to fully focus on music production.

“I started Coded Tunes production in my house in 2003. But before Coded Tunes, we had a clique called, The Smiling Head Soldier which was headed by 2phat. It comprises of me, 2phat, Lord of Ajasa and MC Spako. And then, we used to have a lot of squads coming to make beats in my studio.

“There was this massive squad called, Yabtown Squad which is where Reminisce originated from. It is a clique of both rappers and singers and some of them were my juniors in secondary school.

“From there, we decided to gather momentum and create something larger than just being Smiling Head Soldier or Yabtown Squad. And obviously, the name of the studio that unites us is Coded Tunes. So, that was how we started Coded Tunes.

ID Cabasa also spoke about how those he has raised are still loyal to him and appreciate him. He claims he gets more accolades than he actually deserves.

“I will say I’m one of the few lucky ones that got the accolade that I deserve. In fact, I get more accolades than I think I deserve because all of those I’ve worked with till date are still much loyal to our friendship and some of them still mention my name in their interviews. Last year, 9ice titled his album after me. Olamide still doesn’t believe we are in a way apart.

“He doesn’t see me as ID Cabasa who just produces beats for him but rather sees me as his father and always consults me at any of his projects. We still play and do things together. The same goes for Reminisce, Seriki and every other guy, even the ones that are not part of Coded Tunes family which I’ve worked with. They still appreciate me; the likes of Banky W, Ruggedman, Durella and co.

When asked how he discovered Olamide, the music producer mentioned that Olamide came to his studio to feature in his (Olamide”s) friends song and he fell in love with Olamide immediately he heard his rap lines.

“Olamide came with a friend to record in my studio; a friend was featuring him. I fell in love with the young boy of 13 or 14 as he delivered his rap line. I could hear a depth that you won’t get from most of his age mates.

“I was so impressed that I told him that he’s free to come to my studio at any time. He will come to the studio, then I will make beat while is writing his lyrics. From there, the interest to have him as part of Coded Tunes developed and the rest is history. By the time Coded Tunes transited to a proper recording label, Olamide was the first person signed alongside Seriki and Kayefi.”