A longform spotlight on Ayra Starr—background, sound, and essential listening.

A longform spotlight on Davido—background, sound, and essential listening.

According to 10TEN, negotiations had been finalized and paperwork prepared when Asake unexpectedly pulled back. When they eventually reconnected, the singer reportedly explained that he wanted to test a new release first to see how it performed. That release turned out to be “Omo Ope,” which dropped in January 2022 and quickly signaled his arrival as a unique voice in Afrobeats. By February of that year, he had officially joined YBNL, and communication with Chocolate City ceased.