Superstar YB: The Nigerian Music Act with His Roots in His Heart

By Kehinde Balogun

Abimbola Jeremiah Popoola, popularly known by his stage name Superstar YB, has been a resilient artist actively working on his craft since 2015. SYB was born in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria, on the 13th of February and originally hails from Ibadan in Oyo State. He loves to regard himself as a musical powerhouse whose talent transcends borders and cultures. He is a Nigerian-Irish singer, songwriter, and music producer.

Born into a family with a deep love for music. His early exposure to melodies and rhythms within his household inspired him to pursue music from a young age. At aged 11, he formed a children’s music group in his church, where he served as the lead singer and songwriter. The group became popular within the local church community but eventually disbanded due to members relocating. This early experience cemented his passion for music, leading him to continue honing his skills in singing and songwriting.

Superstar YB, whose artistry reflects his music-oriented family and background, runs his own label, Superstar Music Worldwide. To SYB, afro-beat is not just a musical genre but a cultural movement. However, this Nigerian singer also churns out songs that could be classified as afro-pop, a sub-genre of afro-beats. YB is not only a musician but also a savvy entrepreneur. He holds a diploma in people management and business administration from National College of Ireland – in Dublin, Ireland.

The artist came to the limelight with his sensational single, “Bottles,” released in 2020. Spurred by the amapiano buzz, Superstar YB revamped his debut single, “Bottles,” and released the amapiano version. It explores two major themes: the transient nature of life and the essence of making it enjoyable while it lasts.

In June 2021, Superstar YB returned with an upbeat single, “Party.” The song, like his debut single “Bottles,” tickles his listeners with thrilling lyrics and vibes. The duration of the song is 03:24, exploring no theme other than flexing and enjoyment. The release was later accompanied by a music video that explicitly showcases his idea.

“My Boo,” a beautiful lovey-dovey track, was released in 2022. The song finds the artist professing love to his lover anew and assuring her of infallible love. Even with a honed pen, the song seems not to garner the attention it deserves. However, this song seems to be a less considered output as SYB ushered in a new project the same year.

In the “Afro King” EP, Superstar YB churns out a four-song project. The songs are: “Don’t Go,” “Party XO,” “Fantasy,” and “Grateful.” The first track on the EP, “Don’t Go,” is a plea for a lover never to leave. This track seems more pleasing with the infusion of mild African percussion. “Party XO” is a revamped amapiano version of the earlier released “Party.” Resting on the amapiano is “Fantasy,” the third track off the project. The song finds YB reiterating his love to his lover. “Grateful” is the last song on the project, and here, YB showers praises to his creator for life. Also, he sang about the ephemerality of life, stating, “…life na vanity.”

In 2023, SYB kick-started the year with a single titled “Play.” The two-minute track is a plea to a girl to avoid toying with the singer’s emotions. He then encourages the girl to play with him and follow him home. The same year, an up-tempo single, “Gum Body,” was released, featuring Mr. Marz. In May 2023, SYB released “Love in Lagos” featuring the astute rapper Chinko Ekun.

In 2024, the “Afro King (Ultra Version)” with SMW was released. This is a project of six songs, with the first track being spoken word poetry that praises the African land and people. This year, SYB releases “Jealous (Faaji)” featuring the sensational Terry Apala, and the disco version of the same song was also released.

Jeremiah Popoola has heightened the expectations of Nigerians with the viral announcement of his upcoming EP, “Proudly Nigerian.” This was made known on all his social media platforms, and his fans are already thrilled with the announcement. This is hoped to solidify his musical career as his consistency has been paying off, even with his $1 million mega deal closed with Rex Play, lately. This is an artist whose heart has been with the African people, even with his dual nationality.