Lyta
Opeyemi Babatunde Rahim, known professionally as Lyta (pronounced L-Y-T-A), is a Nigerian singer and songwriter. He signed a record deal with YBNL Nation in 2018 but left the label in May 2019 after having a disagreement with the label owner Olamide.[2][3] He released the 5-track debut EP Id in 2019.[4]
Lyta | |
---|---|
Lyta in an all-white photo shoot | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Opeyemi Babatunde Rahim |
Born | Ajegunle, Lagos, Nigeria |
Genres | |
Occupation(s) |
|
Instruments | Vocals |
Years active | 2011–present |
Labels | Marlian Records[1] |
Associated acts |
Early life and career
A native of Kwara State, Lyta grew up in Ajegunle and was a member of "Ile Kewu", a music group at his local mosque.[3][5] His record deal with YBNL Nation was made public on 3 February 2018.[6] Lyta's breakthrough single with YBNL Nation, titled "Time", features vocals by Olamide and was released on 14 February 2018.[7][8]
In 2019, Lyta left YBNL Nation due to contractual and personal issues.[9] After exiting YBNL, he signed with Doro Musik Gang and released the Killer Tunes-produced track "Monalisa" on 12 July 2019.[10] The visuals for "Monalisa", which was directed by Director K, amassed over 500,000 views within a month after its release.[11][12]
A few weeks after the release of "Monalisa", Davido reached out to Lyta about recording an official remix with him.[13] Following their agreement, Davido and Lyta flew to Dakar for the remix and video shoot.[14][15] The remix of "Monalisa" was released on 30 August 2019.[16] Elias Light of Rolling Stone magazine described the song as a "handsome contradiction, with fierce expressions of yearning".[17] The accompanying music video for the remix was directed by Director K.[15] Lyta gained exposure following his collaboration with Davido on the remix.[18]
Lyta released the Afrobeat track "Worry" on 6 December 2019; it was produced by Killer Tunes.[19] The visuals for "Worry" was shot and directed by Simplicity Visual Studios in London.[20]
YBNL exit
Reports about Lyta's exit from YBNL surfaced after Olamide unfollowed him on Instagram.[21] In May 2019, Lyta confirmed his exit from YNBL Nation on Naijaloaded TV. He said although he was paid between 50,000 and 80,000 for shows, he never had a written contract with the label.[22] Olamide issued a statement to Guardian Life, saying YBNL has a promotion calendar that Lyta refused to follow.[23]
New Record Label
Lyta is currently signed under Marlian Records owned by Naira Marley.[24] He also released his first single under the label titled “Hold me Down(Omo Gidi)”.[25] The video to ”Hold Me Down” which was inspired by Kpop Korean boy band GOT7 and BTS was directed by TG Omori.[26]
Discography
Singles
- As lead artist
Year | Title | Album | Ref |
---|---|---|---|
2018 | "Time" (featuring Olamide) | Non-album single | [8] |
"Self Made" | [31] | ||
"Do You" | [32] | ||
2019 | "Pure Water" | [33] | |
"Monalisa" | |||
"Monalisa Remix" (featuring Davido) | [34] | ||
"Worry" | [19] |
- As featured artist
Year | Title | Album |
---|---|---|
2019 | "That Same Boy" (Limerick featuring Lyta) | Non-album single |
"Aje Remix" (Jaywon featuring Barry Jhay and Lyta) | ||
"Okay" (TooClasiq featuring Lyta) | ||
"Loke Loke" (Lol featuring Lyta) | ||
"Be Happy" (Package AOC featuring Oritse Femi, Zamorra and Lyta) | ||
"Ori" (Dexter Miles featuring Lyta) |
Awards and nominations
Year | Award ceremony | Prize | Recipient | Result | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2019 | The Headies | Next Rated | Himself | Nominated | [35][36] |
Best Street-Hop Artiste | Nominated | ||||
City People Music Awards | Most Promising Act of the Year | Nominated | [37] | ||
Best New Act of the Year | Nominated |
References
- "Marlian Records Signs Lyta,".
- "Lyta Biography: Updated | Facts | Net worth | Songs & More". TheCityCeleb. 20 February 2020. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
- "YBNL 2.0: Lyta says, "They Are Confused About My Age"". Vibe.ng. 24 April 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
- "Id EP by Lyta". music.apple.com. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
- "Get To Know More About YBNL's New Signings". 102.3 Max FM. 20 February 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
- "Olamide Signs 2 New Artistes, "Limeric" & "Lyta" To YBNL". TooXclusive. 13 February 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
- "Time (feat. Olamide) - Single by Lyta". Apple Music. 14 February 2018.
- OG DEJI (16 February 2018). "[Music] YBNL Presents: Lyta Ft. Olamide – Time". Naijaloaded. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- "Doro Musik Gang gives lifeline to ex - YBNL act, Lyta". The Nation. 21 September 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
- "Monalisa - Single by Lyta". Apple Music. 12 July 2019.
- Tomiwa (11 July 2019). "Lyta – "Monalisa" (Prod. by Killertunes)". TooXclusive. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- "Monalisa video out by Lyta". P.M News. 12 July 2019. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- "Lyta gets Davido to feature in the REMIX of his new song 'MONALISA'". Max 102.3 FM. 30 July 2019. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- Motolani Alake (29 August 2019). "Davido jumps on 'Monalisa (Remix)' by Lyta". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- Tomiwa (7 September 2019). "[Video] Lyta – "Monalisa Remix" ft. Davido". TooXclusive. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- "Monalisa (feat. Davido) [Remix] - Single". Apple Music. 30 August 2019.
- Elias Light (26 September 2019). "Lyta and Davido's 'Monalisa' Should Be Afrobeats' Next Radio Hit". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- Olajide Samuel (4 January 2020). "Rising entertainers to watch out for in 2020". The Punch. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- "REVIEW: LYTA – WORRY". Sound Stroke. 6 December 2019. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- Motolani Alake (6 December 2019). "Lyta releases visualizer for, 'Worry'". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- Jelili Adekunle (28 May 2019). "YBNL Exit Issue:- Lyta Shares What Happened Between Him And Olamide On NL TV (Watch Video)". Naijaloaded. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
- Motolani Alake (10 February 2020). "999 EP: Here are the top 10 artists to benefit from Olamide's spotlight and co-sign". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
- Akinwale Akinyoade (25 May 2019). "Olamide Addresses Issue With Lyta". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- "See Lyta first move afta e join Naira Marley MarlianMusic". BBC News Pidgin. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
- "Lyta drops new single 'Hold Me Down'". P.M. News. 14 August 2020. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
- Augoye, Jayne (17 August 2020). "Nigeria: Naira Marley's Signee, Lyta, Accused of Plagiarising Popular Korean Music Video". allAfrica.com. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
- "Id - EP by Lyta". Apple Music. 25 January 2019.
- "Lyta Biography: Updated | Facts | Net worth | Songs & More". TheCityCeleb. 20 February 2020. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
- OG DEJI (21 March 2020). "[Music] Lyta – Mama". Naijaloaded. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
- "Lyta – "Everybody" (Prod. Killertunes) « tooXclusive". tooXclusive. 20 November 2020. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
- Tomiwa (19 September 2018). "Lyta – "Selfmade"". TooXclusive. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
- Ajiboye Olanrewaju Johnson (17 July 2018). "DOWNLOAD MP3: Lyta — Do You (Prod. By Spiritual)". Medium. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
- "Lyta - Pure Water". Waploaded. 14 July 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
- Peter OKH (29 August 2019). "Lyta X Davido – Monalisa (Remix)". Notjustok. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
- Gbenga Beda (20 October 2019). "Headies 2019: Here are all the winners at the 13 edition of music award". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
- Faith Oshoko (2 October 2019). "Naira Marley: Why im name no dey Headies 2019 nominee list". BBC Pidgin. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
- Reporter (25 October 2019). "#CityPeopleMusicAwards: Nominees List Out". City People Magazine. Retrieved 25 February 2020.