Adekunle Gold & Olamide Finally Align on “Formation”
Since signing to the YBNL family in 2015, it’s somewhat surprising that Adekunle Gold—who notably designed the label’s logo—never released a record with the label’s frontman, Olamide, during his two-year stint or in the years that followed. That absence makes the arrival of “Formation” on April 9 feel like a long-delayed alignment, one that quietly closes a gap in both artists’ shared history.
The release comes on the heels of his October 2025 ‘Fuji‘ album, named after the Fuji genre, a Yoruba dance sound deeply rooted in Islamic-influenced delivery and traditional percussion. Announcing the record via his social media pages, Adekunle Gold emphasised that “Formation” is their “first ever” collaboration—a detail that still leaves many wondering why it took this long and why now. However, with “Formation”, the collaboration arrives at a time when both artists occupy a similar creative space, one that naturally aligns with Olamide’s long-standing flirtation with Fuji influences.
Produced by Chillz, “Formation” continues the sonic thread of Adekunle Gold’s Fuji album, which explains its inclusion as part of a pack release alongside select tracks from the project. The record leans fully into that world, carrying a delivery that suggests not just influence but studied familiarity with the genre. It opens on a percussive groove and a pacy cadence, with both artists referencing “electro fuji” within the song—an indication of how they frame the record itself. Adekunle Gold’s delivery is smooth and measured, though a slightly huskier texture might have added more weight to its Fuji leanings. Olamide, however, steps in with a verse that supplies that missing grit, reinforcing the record’s foundation and sharpening its identity.
“Formation” sits comfortably within the growing pocket of neo-Fuji—a space where pop sensibilities are woven into traditional structures, reshaping a decades-old sound into something more contemporary. It’s a feel-good record, but one that remains conscious of its roots, as both artists push at the edges of heritage while still moving like students of it.
What makes “Formation” resonate is the collaboration and the timing of it. After years of parallel evolution, Adekunle Gold and Olamide meet at a point where their artistic languages overlap more naturally than ever. The record builds on history, subtly reinforcing their roles as both interpreters and preservers of a sound that continues to stretch beyond its origins.
