Who You Epp?

"Who You Epp?"
Single by Olamide featuring Wande Coal and Phyno
Released2 April 2016 (2016-04-02) (original)
26 April 2016 (2016-04-26) (Wande Coal and Phyno remix)
Recorded2016
Genre
Length3:40
LabelYBNL Nation
SongwriterOlamide Adedeji
ProducerShizzi
Olamide singles chronology
"Garawa"
(2016) 		"Who You Epp?"
(2016) 		"Fada Fada"
(2016)
Wande Coal singles chronology
"Same Shit"
(2015) 		"Who You Epp?"
(2016) 		"Found Da Boi"
(2016)
Phyno singles chronology
"Say No More"
(2016) 		"Who You Epp?"
(2016) 		"Show Love"
(2016)
Music video
"Who You Epp?" on YouTube

"Who You Epp?" is a song by Nigerian rapper Olamide. The Shizzi-produced track was originally performed alone, released on 2 April 2016 as a freestyle.[1] The song grew through an open-verse challenge, where Olamide left 16 bars open for artists to record their own parts. Many artists took part, both mainstream and underground. Notable artists who participated include Chinko Ekun,[2] Ruggedman,[3] Ayo Jay,[4] Reminisce,[5] Mz Kiss,[6] among other acts. Phyno added a verse the day after the song's release, and a version featuring Wande Coal was made publicly available on 26 April 2016. Olamide later released the official remix featuring both artists on 31 May 2016, accompanied by a music video directed by Sesan.[7] Olamide won the award for Best Street-Hop Artiste for the song at the 2016 edition of the Headies, as well as Song of the Year at the 2016 edition of the Soundcity MVP Awards Festival.[8][9]

Background

Olamide met Nigerian record producer Shizzi while on his United States tour in Atlanta, and they collaborated on a freestyle titled "Who You Epp?". The track was intended as a light, informal freestyle with no specific meaning, although "who you epp", means "who have you helped?", and is a variation of "who you don epp", a phrase in Nigerian Pidgin used sarcastically to show the irrelevance of the subject.[10][11] Olamide left 16 bars open at the end of the song, encouraging other artists and fans to add their own verses, which contributed to the song's popularity as an open-verse challenge.[12]

Remix

A few hours after the release of "Who You Epp?", fellow Nigerian rapper Phyno released his version of the song.[13] Later, on 26 April 2016, a version with Wande Coal surfaced online.[14] The music video for "Who You Epp? (Refix)" was directed by Sesan.[15]

#WhoYouEpp challenge

On 6 April 2016, Olamide partnered with the music website NotJustOk to launch the Olamide #WhoYouEpp competition, aimed at supporting up-and-coming artists. The competition centered around the freestyle track "Who You Epp?", and participants were required to record their own freestyle over the 16-bar space left open by Olamide. Entrants could download the instrumental from the NotJustOk website and upload their recordings. The top ten entries, selected through public voting, advanced to the semi-final stage. The winner of the competition was promised a free collaboration with Olamide, a free instrumental (funded by Olamide), and a music video directed by Mr. Moe Musa. The submission deadline was 15 April 2016.[16][17][18] Joey Akan of Pulse Nigeria saw the competition as an attempt for Olamide to recruit new YBNL Nation members, since the winners appeared on a label-credited release.[19]

NotJustOk announced the top 20 semi-finalists on 26 April 2016: Drew, CEM, Seven, Tosin Robeck, M3dal, A.B.S, Mingul, Jay_Dee, Jesse Raey, UC Flamez, YokeeGilla, Scripts, Odibay, Seax Penz, Bobby D, Sequence, Trod, KizzyDrez, Maupheen, and Delis.[20] By 18 May 2016, the top 10 finalists were selected: Jay_Dee, Delis, Maupheen, A.B.S, Trod, Scripts, Odibay, Drew, UC Flamez, and KizzyDrez. They competed in a live freestyle cypher in Lagos, with DJ Jimmy Jatt as the official DJ and coverage by NotjustOk TV.[21] The competition was later narrowed to the top five: Trod, Delis, Maupheen, Drew, and Scripts. Maupheen and Delis were ultimately declared the winners and earned the opportunity to feature with Olamide on the song "Lies People Tell", along with a music video directed by Unlimited L.A.[22][23]

Accolades

Awards and nominations for "Who You Epp?"
Organization Year Category Result Ref.
The Headies 2016 Best Street-Hop Artiste (Olamide for "Who You Epp?") Won [8]
Soundcity MVP Awards Festival Song of the Year Won [9]
Best Collaboration Nominated
Listeners Choice Nominated
Nigeria Entertainment Awards 2017 Hottest Single of the Year Won [24]

Personnel

Release history

Release history and formats for "Who You Epp?"
Region Date Format Label Version
Various 2 April 2016 Digital download YBNL Nation Original
26 April 2016 Phyno and Wande Coal remix

References

  1. ^ Abiola Solanke (4 April 2016). "Olamide - 'Who you epp'". Pulse Nigeria. Archived from the original on 7 February 2020. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  2. ^ Abiola (7 April 2016). "Chinko Ekun, Olamide - 'Who you epp'(freestyle)". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  3. ^ Adegoke, Pamilerin (7 October 2016). "Have you seen Ruggedman's video for Olamide's 'Who You Epp'?". Nigerian Entertainment Today. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  4. ^ Idowu, Tomi (5 May 2016). "Music: Who You Epp: Olamide x AyoJay". The Culture Custodian (Est. 2014.). Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  5. ^ Abiola (5 April 2016). "Reminisce, Olamide - 'Who you epp' (freestyle)". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  6. ^ Abiola (5 April 2016). "Olamide, Mz Kiss - 'Who you epp'". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  7. ^ The Chef (31 May 2016). "VIDEO: Olamide Ft. Wande Coal & Phyno – Who You Epp?". 360nobs. Archived from the original on 1 June 2016. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
  8. ^ a b Kehinde Akintoye (23 December 2016). "Full List Of Winners At Headies 2016". Channels TV. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  9. ^ a b Ovie Ofuagra (30 December 2016). "Tekno, Wizkid, Yemi Alade, Mr Eazi, Kiss Daniel Crowned @ #SoundcityMVP2016 (Full Winners List)". NotJustOk. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  10. ^ "New Music: Olamide – Who You Epp?". BellaNaija. 2 April 2016. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
  11. ^ Joey Akan (12 April 2016). "Rapper's 'Who you epp' is Nigeria's current viral drug". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
  12. ^ Ovie Ofugara (2 April 2016). "EXCLUSIVE: Olamide - Who You Epp? (freestyle) prod. Shizzi". NotJustOk. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  13. ^ DJ Ruffee (2 April 2016). "New Music: Olamide & Phyno – Who You Epp? (Prod. by Shizzi)". Jaguda. Archived from the original on 6 April 2016. Retrieved 11 December 2025.
  14. ^ Abiola Solanke (26 April 2016). "Wande Coal, Phyno, Olamide - 'Who you epp'". Pulse Nigeria. Archived from the original on 8 February 2020. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  15. ^ Akin-Bankole, Feyikemi (30 May 2016). "Video: Who You Epp – Olamide ft. Phyno & Wande Coal". The Culture Custodian (Est. 2014.). Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  16. ^ Samuel Abulude (17 April 2016). "Olamide, Notjustok Unveil #whoyouepp Competition". Leadership. Archived from the original on 20 April 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  17. ^ Adedayo Showemimo (6 April 2016). "All you need to know about Olamide #WhoYouEpp Competition!". Nigerian Entertainment Today. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  18. ^ "Olamide Launches Who You Epp Competition". The Nation. 9 April 2016. Retrieved 11 December 2025.
  19. ^ Joey Akan (3 August 2016). "Was 'Who you epp' competition created to recruit new YBNL soldiers?". Pulse Nigeira. Retrieved 11 December 2025.
  20. ^ Ovie Ofugara (26 April 2016). "#WhoYouEppCompetition: Top 20 Semi-Finalists Revealed! | VOTE NOW!". NotJustOk. Archived from the original on 29 April 2016. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
  21. ^ Ovie Ofugara (18 May 2016). "#WhoYouEppCompetition: And The 10 Finalists Are…". NotJustOk. Archived from the original on 28 July 2016. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
  22. ^ Seyifunmi Akinrinmade (28 July 2016). "notjustOk & YBNL Present: Olamide #WhoYouEpp? CYPHER ft. Trod, Delis, Maupheen, Drew & Scripts". NotJustOk. Archived from the original on 12 August 2016. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
  23. ^ Richard Nnabugwu (5 August 2016). "NET Premiere: Champs of the WhoYouEpp test team up with Olamide on 'Lies People Tell'". Nigerian Entertainment Today. Retrieved 11 December 2025.
  24. ^ Damola Durosomo (11 July 2017). "Wizkid, Davido, Tiwa Savage, Jidenna and More Nominated For 2017 Nigeria Entertainment Awards". NotJustOk. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
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