Meet Omah Lay, the Nigerian singer and songwriter taking the music scene by storm. At just 26 years old, Omah Lay has already achieved more than most artists can hope for in an entire career. But his journey to stardom wasn’t always easy. From dropping out of university to pursue his passion for music to releasing his debut EP during a global pandemic, Omah Lay’s story is one of perseverance, raw talent, and making the most of life’s curveballs.
In this article, you’ll learn all about Omah Lay’s Biography from his early life growing up in Port Harcourt, how he found his big break, his musical influences, struggles in the industry, awards, and how he became the artist with the Midas touch in Afrobeats. We’ll also explore his meteoric rise to fame and uncover what’s next for this multi-talented star.
Omah Lay Biography
Stanley Omah Didia is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, and producer professionally known as Omah Lay. He was born on May 19, 1997, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. He rose to prominence in early 2020 after his self-produced tune “Bad Influence” went viral on social media.
Let’s take a look at his Early Life, Career, Discography, and more!
Omah Lay Early Life and Education
Stanley Omah Didia was born in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. He was born on May 19, 1997, in Rivers State and is from Egbeda, Emohua, Rivers Local Government Area. He attended Rivers State Comprehensive High School before enrolling at the University of Port Harcourt. He comes from a musical family, and his grandfather used to play instruments for Celestine Ukwu, who died in 1977. Omah Lay’s father was a local drummer.
Even though he did not complete his tertiary education, it was revealed through the content of his songs, intonation, and phonetics how educated, knowledgeable, and gifted he is.
Prior to music, the singer spent the majority of his childhood and adolescent years at the Marine Base in Port Harcourt. Being up in such an atmosphere shows that he did not grow up in an impoverished environment. His upbringing exposed him to the world of music and helped develop him for the success he has today. Even as a teen, he didn’t spend much of his time away from music because he developed an early interest in music as a composer and producer.
Omah Lay’s smooth vocals and catchy beats helped propel him to stardom. His style blends Afrobeat, pop, and R&B influences. Lyrically, Omah Lay’s music explores love, relationships, Mental Health, and life as a young person in Nigeria.
Omah Lay’s Musical Journey and Career Beginnings
Omah Lay began his career in a rap trio as “Lil King.”He eventually moved on to songwriting and music production, for which he received little recognition before deciding to focus solely on singing. As a result, he released “Do Not Disturb” in April 2019. A month later, “Hello Brother” was released. His upbringing influenced his popularity as a musician in Rivers State’s Port Harcourt. The city is one of the few in Nigeria with a track record of producing numerous successful young musicians. However, Omah migrated to Lagos in 2019 after releasing Do Not Disturb and Hello Brother, which landed him a deal with a new record label ‘KeyQaad’ in June 2019.
In June 2019, he signed with the record label KeyQaad and took a seven-month hiatus. He worked on his debut EP, Get Layd, throughout the hiatus. In an Interview with OkayAfrica, he said, “I started working on it in August [of 2019],” To complete the assignment, I had to disconnect from social media, avoid many distractions, and keep my thoughts clear. The first song I recorded for Get Layd was ‘Bad Influence.’ I’d done it before the songs we needed to include on the project.”
Following the break, he released “Bad Influence,” which went on to become the most-streamed Nigerian song on Apple Music by the end of 2020. Omah Lay released his first official single, “You,” on February 14, 2020. Omah Lay’s big break came with the release of his 2020 EP ‘Get Layd.’ The 5-track project included hit songs “You” and “Lo Lo,” which topped music charts in Nigeria for weeks. ‘Get Layd’ cemented Omah Lay as one of Nigeria’s stars and most promising new talents. His unique fusion of R&B, hip-hop, and Nigerian melodies resonated with audiences and gained him prominence. The EP reached the top of the Nigerian Apple Music charts. All five songs on the EP charted in the top 15 on the Nigerian Apple Music charts, with “You” peaking at number one.
In October 2020, Omah Lay made an appearance on Olamide’s album Carpe Diem in October, on the single “Infinity,” which topped the Nigerian Apple Music charts.
Omah Lay released his second five-track EP, “What Have We Done,” on November 20. All five songs made the top 12 of Nigeria’s Apple Music charts, with “Godly” hitting number one.
On July 3, 2020, Omah Lay became the first artist highlighted for Apple’s Africa Rising Campaign to spotlight African talent. He was included in BBC Radio 1Xtra’s annual “Hot for 2021” list in December 2020. He was the first African musician to be featured on Audiomack’s #Up Now program for emerging artists. He was also included in Montreux Jazz Festival’s “20 artists to watch in 2021”. In November 2020, Omah Lay was named BET’s Amplified International Artist of the Month. At the 2020 Headies Awards, he was nominated in four categories and won the Next Rated award.
Lay appeared alongside fellow Nigerian singer Alpha P on Nigerian producer Masterkraft’s official remix of Canadian artist Justin Bieber’s hit “Peaches” on June 25, 2021. On March 3, 2022, he released “Attention,” a collaboration with Justin Bieber which serves as the second collaboration between them. Omah Lay released his Debut Album ‘Boy Alone’ on July 15, 2022, which includes songs like Recognize, Bebd You, I’m a Mess, Understand’ ‘Attention’ and ‘Soso.’ In June 2023, Omah Lay released the much anticipated Boy Alone Deluxe Album. This is a 20-track album with songs like ‘Reason,’ ‘Come Closer,’ ‘Imagine,’ and ‘Soso Remix ft Puerto Rican singer Ozuna.’
His soulful voice and contemporary style earned him critical acclaim and a loyal following.
Omah Lay Genres
Omah Lay is known for fusing several genres in his music. His songs typically blend:
- Afrobeats is a broad genre that combines West African pop, hip-hop, and electronic music. Afrobeats influence Omah Lay’s beats and rhythms.
- R&B, as shown in his soulful vocals and lyrics, focuses on relationships and love.
- Hip-hop is evident in his rap verses and references to lavish lifestyles.
- Dancehall, with an uptempo electronic sound and patois.
- Highlife, a melodic pop genre from Ghana and Nigeria, is reflected in string sections and horns on some tracks.
Omah Lay expertly blends all these genres for a signature sound that appeals to a wide audience across Africa and beyond. His music has been described as vibrant, glossy, and pan-African. No wonder he has become an icon of the new-wave Nigerian pop scene.
Omah Lay Discography
Omah Lay has released three EPs and several singles so far in his career.
Get Layd (2020)
His first EP was released in May 2020 and consisted of 5 tracks, including ‘Lo Lo,’ ‘You,’ ‘Bad Influence,’ ‘Ye Ye Ye’ and ‘Damn’ which were hits and further increased his popularity. The EP peaked at number 1 on the Nigerian Apple Music charts.
What Have We Done (2020)
Omah Lay’s ‘What Have We Done’ EP, released in November 2020, includes popular songs such as ‘My Bebe,’ ‘Can’t Relate,’ ‘Godly’, ‘Damn (Remix) Ft. 6LACK’, and ‘Confession.’ The EP debuted at number 28 on the US Billboard 200.
Boy Alone (2022)
Omah Lay’s Debut Album ‘Boy Alone’ was released on July 15, 2022. It includes Hit songs like ‘Woman,’ ‘Attention,’ ‘Understand’ and ‘Soso.’ ‘Boy Alone’ is about hedonism and mental health.
Boy Alone Deluxe” Album (2023)
Omah Lay has released the long-awaited deluxe edition of his “Boy Alone” album, which was formerly scheduled to be released in 2022. The Boy Alone Deluxe Album was released on Thursday, June 15, 2023.
The twenty-track album includes six new songs: “Reason,” “It’s Yours,” “Come Closer,” “Imagine” with Aitch, “Joanna,” and “Soso Remix” with Ozuna.
Omah Lay Hit Songs
Some of Omah Lay’s Hit Songs Include the following;
- Lolo 2020
- You 2020
- Damn 2020
- Infinity (with Olamide) 2020
- Bad Influence 2020
- Godly 2020
- Pami (feat. Wizkid, Adekunle Gold) 2020
- ye ye ye 2020
- My Bebe 2020
- Confession 2020
- Can’t Relate Tonight 2020
- Do Not Disturb 2020
- Omah-lay-you 2020
- Talking To God 2020
- Say Bye Bye 2020
- Forever 2021
- Understand 2021
- Free My Mind 2021
- Winter Wonderland / Don’t Worry Be Happy 2021
- Woman 2022
- Attention 2022
- Soso 2022
- Reason 2023
- Holy Ghost 2023
Omah Lay is known for fusing Afrobeat, R&B, and hip-hop in his music. His relatable lyrics and catchy beats have resonated with many fans and earned him a successful career in Nigeria and fast-rising international recognition.
Omah Lay Awards and Nominations
Omah Lay has received several nominations and awards in recognition of his musical work. Some of the notable ones include:
- Next Rated Artist at the 14th Headies Music Awards.
- Most played pop song (Godly) won
- All music awards afrima (Breakout Artiste of the Year) Nominated
- Best Artiste, Duo or Group in African Pop (Nominated)
- In 2020, he won Net Honours (Most Played Pop Song) Godly
- Best Artiste, Duo or Group in African Pop Nominated
- 2021 Afro X Digitals Awards BreakOut Act of the Year won
Omah Lay has had 4 Headies Nominations and won one. The Headies is Nigeria’s biggest music honor, so winning “Next Rated” in 2021 was a huge milestone for Omah Lay early in his career. Afrima and Afro X Digitals awards also recognize and celebrate talent in Nigeria’s music industry. Omah Lay’s wins in multiple categories at these award shows demonstrate how he took the Nigerian music scene by storm with hit songs like “You” and “Bad Influence.”
Omah Lay’s Net Worth
Omah Lay has an estimated net worth of about $500,000 US dollars. The majority of his wealth comes from his music career, especially from streaming his songs on music platforms like Boomplay, Spotify, and YouTube.
- Omah Lay gained prominence in 2020 after releasing hit songs like ‘Bad Influence,’ ‘You,’ and ‘Godly.’ These songs received millions of streams across platforms, boosting his popularity and net worth.
- He has multiple brand endorsements and sponsorships with companies like Pepsi and Itel, which contribute to his income.
- Omah Lay performs at shows and events across Nigeria, earning performance fees. He has headlined his shows and performed at major music festivals.
- His debut EP ‘Get Layd’ released in 2020, reached No. 1 on the TurnTable Top 50 chart, demonstrating his commercial success and earning potential.
- Omah Lay’s net worth will likely continue to rise as he releases more music, gains more fans, and builds his business ventures. At just 26 years old, Omah Lay has already achieved significant success and shows huge promise as an artist and entrepreneur.
Controversy
The controversy surrounding Omah Lay came about in December 2020 after he performed at an event in Uganda. The show was cut short by police for violating Covid-19 guidelines in the country. Omah Lay was arrested shortly after, charged, and remanded in prison for a few days before being released on bail. Omah Lay and Tems were detained on December 14, 2020, following a performance in Uganda. The two artists believed they were being set up. The two were released two days later; the Ugandan government apologized for the arrest.
Omah Lay’s Social Media Handles
Omah Lay has an active presence on social media platforms. You can connect with and follow the singer on:
- Instagram: @omah_lay – He posts behind-the-scenes photos, snippets of new songs, photos with friends, and updates his over 4 million followers on his day-to-day activities.
- X formerly Twitter: @Omah_Lay – Though not as active on Twitter, Omah Lay tweets and retweets posts related to his music, his shows, and events, and shares some personal thoughts with his 2.4m followers.
- Facebook: Omah Lay – Like Twitter, Omah Lay is not extremely active on Facebook but does post updates, photos, and event announcements on his official Facebook page, which has 2.8m followers.
Omah Lay’s social media following continues to grow as he gains more fame and releases new music. Be sure to follow him on whichever platform you prefer to stay up to date on all things Omah Lay and show your support for the talented artist.
Frequently Asked Questions about Omah Lay
Omah Lay is a Nigerian singer and songwriter. Here are some common questions people have about him:
How old is Omah Lay?
Omah Lay was born on May 19, 1997. He is currently 26 years old.
Where is Omah Lay from?
Omah Lay was born in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. He is of Ikwerre descent.
How did Omah Lay become famous?
Omah Lay rose to fame in 2020 after releasing his hit single “You,” which garnered over 2 million streams in one week.
What record label is Omah Lay signed to?
Omah Lay is currently signed to two record labels: Dvpper Music and Sire Records. Damilola Akinwunmi’s label, Dvpper Music, handles his distribution in Nigeria. Sire Records is an American label that distributes his songs internationally.
What is Omah Lay’s net worth?
Omah Lay has an estimated net worth of $500,000 US dollars, according to Forbes. The majority of his wealth comes from music streaming, performances, and brand endorsements.
Conclusion
So there you have it, the story of one of Nigeria’s music stars. Omah Lay has achieved an incredible amount of success in just a couple of short years. His catchy songs, relatable lyrics, and unique sound have resonated with audiences and led to his meteoric rise. At only 26, Omah Lay’s future is incredibly bright. He has the talent and work ethic to become a global superstar. His early success and accolades are well deserved. Keep following Omah Lay’s journey; there are sure to be many more hits, awards, and milestones ahead for this talented artist. The best may still yet be to come from Omah Lay.