• Celebrity
    • OTE – Screen Kings
    • Daniel Kaluuya Digital Cover
    • Digital Cover Method Man
    • Digital Cover Zazie
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
    • If Not For My Girls
  • Fashion
    • ESSENCE Fashion House 2022
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Best In Black Beauty 2023
    • ESSENCE Hair Awards 2022
    • AVEENO Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weave
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Black History Month
    • ESSENCE Gift Guide 2022
    • ESSENCE + smartwater Live Well Challenge
    • Build Your Legacy 2022
    • Dream & Plan with Confidence Prudential
    • AMEX Platinum Travel
    • Homecoming Season 2022
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
  • News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Sponsors Recognition Page 2022
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Video
  • Festival
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2022 Fest Videos
  • Events
    • 2023 Wellness House
    • 2023 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2023 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Girls United Summit
    • 2022 ESSENCE Fashion House
    • 2022 Homecoming Season
    • She Got Now
    • Dear Black Men
    • I Am Speaking
    • Power Tools
  • Studios
  • Girls United

WHERE BLACK CULTURE, COMMUNITY AND CONSCIOUSNESS MEET

Sign up for ESSENCE Newsletters the keep the Black women at the forefront of conversation.

Your email is required.
Your email is in invalid format.
Confirm email is required.
Email did not match.
Select the newsletters you'd like to receive:
Please select at least one option.
By clicking Subscribe Now, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Skip to content
SUBSCRIBE
  • MAGAZINE
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Celebrity
    • OTE – Screen Kings
    • Daniel Kaluuya Digital Cover
    • Digital Cover Method Man
    • Digital Cover Zazie
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
      • Paint The Polls Black
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
    • If Not For My Girls
  • Fashion
    • ESSENCE Fashion House 2022
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Best In Black Beauty 2023
    • ESSENCE Hair Awards 2022
    • AVEENO Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weave
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Black History Month
    • ESSENCE Gift Guide 2022
    • ESSENCE + smartwater Live Well Challenge
    • Build Your Legacy 2022
    • Dream & Plan with Confidence Prudential
    • AMEX Platinum Travel
    • Homecoming Season 2022
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
  • News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Sponsors Recognition Page 2022
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Video
  • Festival
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2022 Fest Videos
  • Events
    • 2023 Wellness House
    • 2023 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2023 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Girls United Summit
    • 2022 ESSENCE Fashion House
    • 2022 Homecoming Season
    • She Got Now
    • Dear Black Men
    • I Am Speaking
    • Power Tools
  • Studios
  • Girls United
Home · Money & Career

The Receipts: A Breakdown Of Yemi Alade's Career

Here's how the "Queen of Afrobeats" became a transformational force in music.
The Receipts: A Breakdown Of Yemi Alade’s Career
By Paula Rogo · Updated November 4, 2020

Nigeria’s Yemi Alade first caught Africa’s attention in 2013, when her catchy breakout hit, “Johnny,” began dominating the airwaves. Since then, the Beyoncé-approved performer’s unmatched work ethic has made her one of Africa’s top female artists— and she’s outpacing most of the men there. Here, we break down the secrets to her rise.

01. She Has a Backup Plan

Alade was still a student at the University of Lagos when she realized she wanted to be a singer. Despite gaining early success, she continued with her studies and graduated with a degree in geography.

02. She Keeps Her Word

Known for her commitment to her craft, Alade never misses a show if she can help it. Even when there was a fire in her hotel right before she appeared at London’s Wembley Arena in 2015, she grabbed her phone, her Bible and a stage outfit and kept it moving. “Whether the building burned to the ground or not, I was going to perform,” she said. “I was ready to die on that stage.”

03. She Was Prepared For Her Big Break – Twice

Alade first tasted fame when she won Nigeria’s Peak Talent Show in 2009. But it would be another five years before she was back on top, with “Johnny.” During the years in between, she remained focused on her music, releasing ten singles and singing at countless gigs for free.

04. She Knows Her Industry is Tough on Women

Alade is one of just two female artists who commonly get labeled the Queen of Afrobeats. The other is fellow Nigerian star Tiwa Savage. “We have to toil ten times harder,” she told The Fader magazine in 2016. “Many times I have been at events with guys where I have the bigger songs, but just because they are guys they’re given preferential treatment. It’s just the way the world has been wired.”

05. She Quickly Adapts to Change

“Johnny,” Alade’s infectious smash about a philandering lover, put her squarely on people’s radar. She had not planned on releasing the ditty, but someone recognized her genius and leaked it, and the rest—including more than 110 million views on YouTube—is history.

06. She Believes No Experience is Ever Wasted

Noty Spices is the name of the girl group Alade joined for two years while she was in high school. The group was even signed to a record label, but it disbanded when its members moved on to university. One of her former bandmates later submitted an application for Alade to enter the talent contest that launched her career.

07. She Seizes Opportunity and Doesn’t Quit

Alade was one of four African women featured on Beyoncé’s “The Lion King: The Gift” album, but the rising star almost missed the chance to be on the 2019 project. Alade was in Los Angeles to record some music for it but lost her voice just days before the deadline. “I didn’t know what to do,” she told ESSENCE. “I could hardly speak. I could hardly sing.” Luckily, she managed to push through and ended up being one of only two artists to appear on more than one song on the LP.

TOPICS:  Africa african musicians Afropop Nigerian Singer yemi alade
COMPANY INFORMATION
  • Our Company
  • Customer Service
  • Essence Ventures
  • Change Your Address
  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Internships
  • Media Kit
  • tag
SUBSCRIBE
  • Newsletters
  • Give a Gift of ESSENCE
  • Magazine Tablet Edition
FOLLOW US
MORE ON ESSENCE
  • Home
  • Love
  • Celebrity
  • Beauty
  • Hair
  • Fashion
  • ESSENCE festival

ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc.

Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.

©2023 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms

Get The ESSENCE Newsletter and
Special Offers delivered to your inbox

By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Get The ESSENCE Magazine
by subscribing below
subscribe now