Initial
release date, cover art release
Baddest Guy Ever
Liveth was initially slated
for release on October 14, 2013, but was postponed due to the respect that
Baddo has for Samklef. He tweeted: "Don't compete with your homies. Make
money with your homies. Due to the respect and love I have for my homie
Samklef, I'm holding my album back. Let's support Samklef. Can't drop my album
same day."On October 17, 2013, Olamide unveiled the Caesar-inspired cover
art for Baddest Guy Ever
Liveth.
Baddest Guy Ever
Liveth was recorded primarily
in the Yoruba language.
Olamide explores the depth of the Yoruba language by rapping in different
variations of it. On the song "Dope Money", he raps in Ijebu, a
western Nigerian variation of Yoruba. Olamide incorporated elements, punch
lines, and themes of Yoruba music onto the album. On the song "Eleda Mi
O", he blends indigenous rap with Jùjú
music. On "Esupofo", he is reminiscent of a commercial
version of Da Grin. On the
record "Position Yourself", Olamide raps over a Makossa instrumental. The beat on "Gbadun
Arawa" bears close resemblance to D'banj's "Mobolowowon"
On May 1, 2013,
Olamide released the album's lead single "Durosoke" along
with "Baddest N*gga Ever Liveth", a freestyle done over Jay Z's
"Dirt off Your Shoulder" instrumental.[1] "Durosoke" was produced by Pheelz.
It was nominated for "Song of the Year" and "Best Rap
Single" at the 2013 edition of The
Headies.[14] The music video for "Durosoke" was
directed by Clarence Peters and exclusively released by Star Music.[15]
On July 4, 2013,
Olamide and YBNL Nation released the album's second single titled "Turn
Up". The music video for the single was shot and directed in London by Moe
Musa; it incorporates various clips of Olamide's performances on tour. The music video was uploaded onto Vevo on December 2, 2013 at a total length of 3
minutes and 59 second
"Yemi My
Lover", the album's third single, was released on October 6, 2013.A writer
for 360nobs applauded Olamide for the song, saying: "Olamide sings on
this track which isn’t so bad plus he is much softer on his delivery, none of
the angry spats, – and of course drops his funny yoruba lines with a hint of
Ibo. Clearly talking to a past girl friend and all those girls who won’t go
through thick and thin with a dude but want a come back when things are looking
commercially fantastic."
"Eleda Mi O"
was released as the album's fourth single on January 3, 2014; its accompany
music video was photographed and directed by Unlimited L.A
Other
releases and "gunman pose
On March 18, 2014,
Olamide released music videos for "Anifowose" and "Sitting on
the Throne".[24] Shortly after releasing Baddest Guy Ever Liveth, fans and colleagues of Olamide showed him
love by mimicking his "gunman pose" on the album cover.[25]
Professional ratings
|
Review scores
|
Source
|
Rating
|
TayoTv
|
|
TheBoilerNation
|
|
Nigerian Entertainment
Today
|
|
Tooxclusive
|
|
Upon its release, Baddest Guy Ever Liveth was met with mixed to positive reviews. Tayo
Ayomide of Nigerian Entertainment
Today gave the album 3 out
of 5 stars, stating: "BGEL is a less inspired version of YBNL constructed
by a rapper that is creatively low at the moment. Thematically there are a lot
of rehashed topics on the project that is why it is not surprising that the
best tracks are the ones where Olamide talks about being on the throne. Even
with its flaws, Baddest Guy Ever Liveth proves that hard work does pay off.
With this third album Olamide is undoubtedly the baddest rapper in Nigeria even
though he is tired.
Ogaga Sakpaide of Tooxclusive also gave the album 3 out of 5 stars, saying: "The LP’s
lead singles Durosoke and Turn Up catapulted the artiste to newer heights,
‘Baddest Guy Ever Liveth’ serves as a sequel to ‘YBNL’; slightly stronger,
deeper and a tad bit exhausting. Packed with many “fillers” just like her
predecessor, BGEL’s Achilles’ heel is its length which reduces the wow factor
of the entire body work.
A writer for TheBoilerNation gave the album 3.5 out of 5 stars, adding:
"In summary, baddest guy ever liveth album is a bit overrated when
compared with his 2012 ‘YBNL’ album and is rather better a Mixtape than an
album. It has even gone viral already on the internet.
A writer for infoNubia said: "Olamide is a skillful rapper no doubt, if you have
any doubts, this album would erase that. He raps in English Yoruba, Pidgin and
even delivers "Ijebu" rhymes which I thought was down right skillful.
However some of this tracks sounded like freestyles that should probably stay
on a mix tape album (this is because I thought if Olamide made a 16 track
album, he would have easily delivered a flawless one). In all, this album is a
worthy listen most definitely. You might skip one or two tracks but mostly a
listen through and I love it.
A writer for TayoTv gave the album 6.5 out of 10 stars, adding: "I have to say
that this album is far below standard, disappointing and below expectation. The
album's concept was very confusing, with an unstable rhythm. This album is like
holding a machine gun and firing it anywhere and everywhere without any
particular target, just wasting bullets. Album was disorganized, noisy in some
parts, lacked cohesion and freshness.Very average project from an artiste of
his caliber.
A writer for OkayAfrica said: "With Olamide, however, the “baddest guy” title is no
empty boast. His work ethic and disregard for convention alone are enough to
send him to the top of our baddest emcees list. At 21-tracks, Olamide’s latest
full length might seem a stretch for those of us who now find comfort in nine
song strong LPs and 140 character tweets. Yet length doesn’t take away from it
being a thoroughly enjoyable confirmation that success hasn’t dampened
Olamide’s fire. The self-proclaimed ‘heinous of bad’ has not lost his ability
to throw curveballs by way of squeal-inducing rhymes and a core audience
connecting chorus."
Accolades
Year
|
Awards ceremony
|
Award description(s)
|
Results
|
2014
|
|
Best Rap Album
|
Won
|
|
|
Won
|
|
|
Best Album of the Year
|
Won
|
|
|
Rap Album of the Year
|
Nominated
|
No.
|
Title
|
Writer(s)
|
Producer(s)
|
Length
|
|
1.
|
"Intro" (featuring Do 2 D Tun)
|
Olamide Adedeji
|
Pheelz
|
1:34
|
|
2.
|
"Esupofo"
|
Olamide Adedeji
|
Pheelz
|
3:21
|
|
3.
|
"Rep
Adugbo" (featuring Buckwyla
& Pheelz)
|
Olamide Adedeji,
Buckwyla, and Pheelz
|
Pheelz
|
3:54
|
|
4.
|
"Anifowose"
|
Olamide Adedeji
|
Pheelz
|
4:11
|
|
5.
|
"Skammer" (featuring Pele Pele)
|
Olamide Adedeji and
Pele Pele
|
Pheelz
|
2:56
|
|
6.
|
"Eleda Mi
O"
|
Olamide Adedeji
|
Pheelz
|
4:23
|
|
7.
|
"Baddo
Love"
|
Olamide Adedeji
|
Pheelz
|
3:32
|
|
8.
|
"Position
Yourself"
|
Olamide Adedeji
|
Pheelz
|
3:23
|
|
9.
|
"Skit" (featuring Ketchup)
|
Ketchup
|
Pheelz
|
1:20
|
|
10.
|
"Gbadun
Arawa"
|
Olamide Adedeji
|
Pheelz
|
3:40
|
|
11.
|
"Motivation" (featuring Ice
Prince, Pepenazi and Endia)
|
Olamide Adedeji,
Panshak Zamani, Pepenazi and Endia
|
Pheelz
|
3:51
|
|
12.
|
"Church" (featuring Viktoh)
|
Olamide Adedeji and
Viktoh
|
Pheelz
|
4:14
|
|
13.
|
"Sitting on the
Throne"
|
Olamide Adedeji
|
V.I.C
|
4:28
|
|
14.
|
"Mu Emu" (featuring B.Banks)
|
Olamide Adedeji and
B.Banks
|
Pheelz
|
3:57
|
|
15.
|
"Turn Up"
|
Olamide Adedeji
|
Pheelz
|
3:58
|
|
16.
|
"King
Shii"
|
Olamide Adedeji
|
Pheelz
|
3:46
|
|
17.
|
|
Olamide Adedeji
|
Pheelz
|
4:20
|
|
18.
|
"Dope
Money" (featuring Phyno)
|
Olamide Adedeji and
Azubuike Chibuzo Nelson
|
Pheelz
|
4:24
|
|
19.
|
"Yemi My
Lover"
|
Olamide Adedeji
|
Pheelz
|
3:32
|
|
20.
|
"Rayban
Abacha"
|
Olamide Adedeji
|
Pheelz
|
3:28
|
|
21.
|
|
Olamide Adedeji and
Bez
|
Pheelz
|
4:42
|
|
Baddest Guy Ever Liveth
