15th November, 2024
By Taiwo Okanlawon
Nigeria’s indigenous rapper Oladipupo Oladimeji, popularly known as Oladips, has delivered his second studio album titled ‘Lazarus (The Apparition)’.
‘Lazarus’ is a figure within the Christian Bible, mentioned in the New Testament in the Gospel of John, whose life is restored by Jesus four days after his death. This is seen by Christians as one of the miracles of Jesus.
The album was released on all streaming platforms on Thursday.
The 10-track project features songs like ‘Lazarus’, ‘Chaos’, ‘Blood’, ‘Lazarus Rythm’, ‘Old Taker’, ‘Reward’, ‘Common Ground’, and ‘Disciples Cypher’, ‘Osondi Owendi’, and ‘Gbemisoke’.
Oladips employed the services of Nigerian rappers Zlatan, BhadBoi OML, Illiterate, Dosh Lowkee, Whally, Attitude Rap, and Femzy ITF, in ‘Lazarus’.
In a post on X, Oladips pleaded with his fans to stream his new album “before I die again.”
The project’s release comes exactly a year after Oladips’ management announced his death — on November 15, 2023.
On November 15, Oladips’ management announced that the artiste had passed away after battling personal struggles for over two years.
Shortly after, the management released the rapper’s 17-track album titled ‘Superhero Adugbo’.
Suspicions arose recently when Wavy, a longtime friend of Oladips, posted a video claiming “he is alive” with the rapper.
He further alleged that the rapper had faked his death and would return online if his album reached the top of the music charts.
Three days later, a video of Oladips vibing to a song from his new album with his mother dancing in the background went viral.
The caption read, “orisa bi iya osi, proof of life”.
On Thursday, Oladips addressed the videos and claims surrounding his alleged death stunt.
He called out another musician Qdot, and accused him of “misleading everyone” about his health struggle during the death controversy.
He also reprimanded other individuals purported to have spread claims that he has been healthy all the while.
Shortly after the statement, the rapper was thrust onto the receiving end of a heated social media backlash.
Oladips rose to stardom after winning D’banj’s ‘King Is Here’ competition.
The win also earned him a record deal with Edge Records label owned by Reminisce, another rapper, in 2015.
Oladips released his first song in 2012. He left the record label in 2018 after a disagreement over music promotion.
In 2021, he teamed up with Zlatan Ibile, the indigenous rapper, for the release of a four-track EP ‘Mainland To Island’.
The rapper also put out a plethora of hit songs that earned him a name in the country’s music industry.
Streaming LAZARUS (THE APPARITION).
