Lyta

For other uses, see Lyta (disambiguation).
Lyta
Born
Opeyemi Babatunde Rahim

Ajegunle, Lagos, Nigeria
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Years active2018–present
LabelRafat Music[1]

Babatunde Rahimlistenⓘ, known professionally as Lyta, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter . He signed a record deal with YBNL Nation in 2018 but left the label in May 2019 after having a disagreement with the label owner Olamide.[2] He released the 5-track debut EP Id in 2019.[3]

Early life and career

A native of Kwara State, Lyta grew up in Ajegunle and was a member of Ile Kewu, a music group at his local mosque.[2][4] His record deal with YBNL Nation was made public on 3 February 2018.[5] In 2019, Lyta confirmed that he did not have any written contracts with YBNL Nation.[6] Lyta's breakthrough single with YBNL Nation, "Time", features vocals by Olamide and was released on 14 February 2018.[7][8]

In 2019, Lyta left YBNL Nation due to contractual and personal issues.[9] After exiting YBNL, he signed with Doro Musik Gang and released the Killertunes produced track "Monalisa" on 12 July 2019.[10] The visuals for "Monalisa", which was directed by Director K, amassed over 500,000 views within a month after its release.[11][12]

A few weeks after the release of "Monalisa", Davido reached out to Lyta about recording an official remix with him.[13] Following their agreement, Davido and Lyta flew to Dakar for the remix and video shoot.[14][15] The remix of "Monalisa" was released on 30 August 2019.[16] Elias Light of Rolling Stone magazine described the song as a "handsome contradiction, with fierce expressions of yearning".[17] The accompanying music video for the remix was directed by Director K.[15] Lyta gained exposure following his collaboration with Davido on the remix.[18]

Lyta released the Afrobeat track "Worry" on 6 December 2019; it was produced by Killer Tunes.[19] The visuals for "Worry" was shot and directed by Simplicity Visual Studios in London.[20]

YBNL exit

Reports about Lyta's exit from YBNL surfaced after Olamide unfollowed him on Instagram.[21] In May 2019, Lyta confirmed his exit from YNBL Nation on Naijaloaded TV. He said although he was paid between 50,000 and 80,000 for shows, he never had a written contract with the label.[22] Olamide issued a statement to Guardian Life, saying YBNL has a promotion calendar that Lyta refused to follow.[23]

New record label

In 2020, Lyta was signed to Marlian Records owned by Naira Marley.[24] He also released his first single under the label titled "Hold me Down(Omo Gidi)".[25] The video to "Hold Me Down", which was inspired by Kpop boy bands GOT7 and BTS, was directed by TG Omori.[26] The video is an exact replica of GOT7's "Just Right" music video. However, Lyta did not ask for permission and K-pop fans were furious about the exact copy of the video.[27] Lyta said, "I am not signed with Marlian records. Naira Marley is just showing me love."[28]

Discography

Studio albums

Title Details
**Rafat**
  • Released: 11 March 2022[29]
  • Label: Rafat Music / Dvpper Music
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
**LEAK**
  • Released: 6 December 2024[30]
  • Label: Lyta / Azuri
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
**Al-Awwal**
  • Released: 10 April 2025[31]
  • Label: Fast Forward '26
  • Format: Digital download, streaming

EPs

  • Id (2019)
  • **Stranger** (2023)[32]

Singles

As lead artist
Year Title Album Ref
2018 "Time" (featuring Olamide) Non-album single [8]
"Self Made" [33]
"Do You" [34]
2019 "Pure Water" [35]
"Monalisa" [36]
"Monalisa Remix" (featuring Davido) [37]
"Worry" [19]
2020 "Mama" [38]
"Hold Me Down (Omo Gidi)"
"Everybody" [39]
"Ramadan"
2021 "Are You Sure" (feat. Naira Marley & Zinoleesky) [40]
"Different Conversation Live 4" (with Seyi Vibez) Rafat
2022 "Real Me" Rafat
"Destiny (Kadara)" Non-album single
2023 "Wole Wa"
2024 "Sabi Boy"
"Drunk Love" LEAK
2025 "Shine & Bright" Non-album single
"Scars n' Lesson"
2026 "Habibi"
"Finally"
As featured artist
Year Title Album
2019 "That Same Boy" (Limerick featuring Lyta) Non-album single
"Aje Remix" (Jaywon featuring Barry Jhay and Lyta)
"Okay" (TooClasiq featuring Lyta)
"Loke Loke" (Lol featuring Lyta)
"Be Happy" (Package AOC featuring Oritse Femi, Zamorra and Lyta)
"Ori" (Dexter Miles featuring Lyta)
2022 "Omo Ogbon" (T.I Blaze featuring Lyta)
2025 "TOSPI" (AJEMO featuring Lyta)
"Blessings" (lambaboi kizzie featuring Lyta)
2026 "Bread Winner" (Lagos Ibadan featuring Lyta)

Awards and nominations

Year Award ceremony Prize Recipient Result Ref
2019 The Headies Next Rated Himself Nominated [41][42]
Best Street-Hop Artiste Nominated
City People Music Awards Most Promising Act of the Year Nominated [43]
Best New Act of the Year Nominated

References

  1. ^ "Marlian Records Signs Lyta". The Guardian. Lagos, Nigeria. 21 September 2019.
  2. ^ a b "YBNL 2.0: Lyta says, "They Are Confused About My Age"". Vibe.ng. 24 April 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  3. ^ "Id EP by Lyta". music.apple.com. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  4. ^ "Get To Know More About YBNL's New Signings". 102.3 Max FM. 20 February 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  5. ^ "Olamide Signs 2 New Artistes, "Limeric" & "Lyta" To YBNL". TooXclusive. 13 February 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  6. ^ "Lyta says he was never signed to Olamides YBNL". Pulse.ng. 3 June 2019. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  7. ^ "Time (feat. Olamide) – Single by Lyta". Apple Music. 14 February 2018.
  8. ^ a b OG DEJI (16 February 2018). "[Music] YBNL Presents: Lyta Ft. Olamide – Time". Naijaloaded. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  9. ^ "Doro Musik Gang gives lifeline to ex – YBNL act, Lyta". The Nation. Lagos, Nigeria. 21 September 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  10. ^ "Monalisa – Single by Lyta". Apple Music. 12 July 2019.
  11. ^ Tomiwa (11 July 2019). "Lyta – "Monalisa" (Prod. by Killertunes)". TooXclusive. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  12. ^ "Monalisa video out by Lyta". P.M News. 12 July 2019. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  13. ^ "Lyta gets Davido to feature in the REMIX of his new song 'MONALISA'". Max 102.3 FM. 30 July 2019. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  14. ^ Motolani Alake (29 August 2019). "Davido jumps on 'Monalisa (Remix)' by Lyta". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  15. ^ a b Tomiwa (7 September 2019). "[Video] Lyta – "Monalisa Remix" ft. Davido". TooXclusive. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  16. ^ "Monalisa (feat. Davido) [Remix] – Single". Apple Music. 30 August 2019.
  17. ^ Elias Light (26 September 2019). "Lyta and Davido's 'Monalisa' Should Be Afrobeats' Next Radio Hit". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  18. ^ Olajide Samuel (4 January 2020). "Rising entertainers to watch out for in 2020". The Punch. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  19. ^ a b "REVIEW: LYTA – WORRY". Sound Stroke. 6 December 2019. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  20. ^ Motolani Alake (6 December 2019). "Lyta releases visualizer for, 'Worry'". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  21. ^ Jelili Adekunle (28 May 2019). "YBNL Exit Issue:- Lyta Shares What Happened Between Him And Olamide On NL TV (Watch Video)". Naijaloaded. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
  22. ^ Motolani Alake (10 February 2020). "999 EP: Here are the top 10 artists to benefit from Olamide's spotlight and co-sign". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  23. ^ Akinwale Akinyoade (25 May 2019). "Olamide Addresses Issue With Lyta". The Guardian. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  24. ^ "See Lyta first move afta e join Naira Marley MarlianMusic". BBC News Pidgin. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  25. ^ "Lyta drops new single 'Hold Me Down'". P.M. News. 14 August 2020. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  26. ^ Native, The (20 August 2020). "We should be talking about plagiarism in Nigerian music videos". The NATIVE. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  27. ^ Augoye, Jayne (17 August 2020). "Nigeria: Naira Marley's Signee, Lyta, Accused of Plagiarising Popular Korean Music Video". allAfrica.com. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  28. ^ 🤔Is Lyta Officially Signed to Marlian Records? | The LinkUp on Echooroom, retrieved 30 November 2022
  29. ^ "Rafat by Lyta". Apple Music. 11 March 2022.
  30. ^ "LEAK by Lyta". Apple Music. 6 December 2024.
  31. ^ "Al-Awwal by Lyta". Apple Music. 10 April 2025.
  32. ^ "Lyta Releases New EP "Stranger"". MyStreetz Magazine. 10 February 2023.
  33. ^ Tomiwa (19 September 2018). "Lyta – "Selfmade"". TooXclusive. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  34. ^ Cite error: The named reference Medium was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  35. ^ Cite error: The named reference Waploaded was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  36. ^ Cite error: The named reference Pulse was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  37. ^ Cite error: The named reference Notjustok was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  38. ^ Cite error: The named reference NLoaded2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  39. ^ Cite error: The named reference TooXclusive2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  40. ^ Cite error: The named reference Apple2021 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  41. ^ Gbenga Beda (20 October 2019). "Headies 2019: Here are all the winners at the 13 edition of music award". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  42. ^ Faith Oshoko (2 October 2019). "Naira Marley: Why im name no dey Headies 2019 nominee list". BBC Pidgin. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  43. ^ Reporter (25 October 2019). "#CityPeopleMusicAwards: Nominees List Out". City People Magazine. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
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