Omah Lay

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Omah Lay
Omah Lay in 2023
Background information
Birth nameStanley Omah Didia
Born (1997-05-19) 19 May 1997 (age 26)
Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • record producer
Years active2019–present
LabelsSire, KeyQaad

Stanley Omah Didia (born 19 May 1997), known professionally as Omah Lay, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter and record producer. He received recognition in 2020, after the release of his single "Bad Influence".

Early life

Stanley Omah Didia was raised in the Nigerian city of Port Harcourt. He was born on May 19, 1997, He hails from Egbeda Community in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria. He attended Comprehensive High School in Rivers State before proceeding to the University of Port Harcourt. He comes from a musical family and his grandfather played instruments for the singer Celestine Ukwu before he died in 1977. Lay's father played the drums. He said his brother inspired him into music, but his brother gave up while he continued but today his brother follows him to everywhere he goes to around the world.

Career

Omah Lay started out in a rap group under the stage name "Lil King." He later moved on to songwriting and music producing, which went largely uncredited, and as a result of that, he released "Do Not Disturb" in April 2019. "Hello Brother" was released a month after.

He signed to a record label named KeyQaad in June 2019, and took a seven-month break. During the break, he worked on his debut EP, Get Layd. He told OkayAfrica, "I started working on it August . At some point I had to go off social media, stay away from a lot of things and keep my head straight to get the project right. The first song I'd recorded on Get Layd was 'Bad Influence.' I'd done that way before the songs we had to put on the project." Following the break, he released "Bad Influence," which became the most streamed Nigerian song on Apple Music at the end of 2020.

Omah Lay performing in 2023.

On 14 February 2020, Lay released "You," his first official single. He released his five-track debut EP, Get Layd on 22 May 2020. The EP peaked at number one on the Nigerian Apple Music charts. All five songs from the EP reached the top 15 of the Apple Music charts for Nigeria, with "You" peaking at number one.

In October, Lay appeared on Olamide's album Carpe Diem, on the track "Infinity", which topped the Apple Music charts for Nigeria.

On 20 November, Lay released his second five-track EP, What Have We Done. All five tracks reached the top 12 of the Apple Music charts for Nigeria, with "Godly" reaching number one.

On 3 July 2020, Lay was the first artist highlighted for Apple's Africa Rising Campaign to spotlight African talent. In December 2020, he was included in BBC Radio 1Xtra's annual "Hot for 2021" list. He was the first African artist featured on Audiomack's #Up Now program for emerging artists; was included in Montreux Jazz Festival's "20 artists to watch in 2021"; and was named BET's Amplified International Artist of the Month for November 2020. He was nominated in four categories at the 2020 Headies Awards, winning the Next Rated award.

On 25 June 2021, Lay was featured alongside fellow Nigerian singer Alpha P on Nigerian producer Masterkraft's official remix of Canadian singer Justin Bieber's single, "Peaches". On 8 July 2021, Lay released a new single, "Understand". On 3 March 2022, he released a collaboration with Bieber, "Attention", which serves as the second collaboration between the two artists.

Controversy

On 14 December 2020, Lay was arrested alongside Tems after they performed in a show in Uganda. The Ugandan Police authority identified violation of COVID-19 lockdown protocols as the reason for their arrests. The artists felt they were set up. Two days later, the Ugandan government released the two, apologised for the arrests and cleared them of wrongdoing.

On 20 February 2024, the Nigerian singer sparked controversy during a performance at the Eventim Apollo in London. While singing "Bend You," he invited a female fan onto the stage, reportedly attending with her boyfriend. Their dance took a steamy turn, drawing criticism for its perceived inappropriateness. Clips of the incident went viral, prompting widespread online condemnation. The fan's alleged boyfriend was seen leaving the venue in disappointment. Many questioned the propriety of Omah Lay's actions, leading to a heated debate among viewers.

Political views

Lay has expressed his support for the #EndSARS campaign in Nigeria. He told Harper's Bazaar, "People need to know these protests are purely about the people, with no political undertone whatsoever. Police harass, extort, beat, and kill us just for being young and trendy, with no consequences. This has gone on long enough, and we are saying enough is enough and demanding government action."

Discography

Studio albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions
FRA
NLD
SWI
Boy Alone 115
42 82

Extended plays

Title Extended play details
Get Layd
  • Released: 22 May 2020
  • Label: Sire, KeyQaad
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
What Have We Done
  • Released: 20 November 2020
  • Label: Sire, KeyQaad
  • Format: Digital download, streaming

Singles

As lead artist

List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions, sales, certifications, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
CAN
IRE
NLD
NZ
Hot

SWE
SWI
UK
US
Bub.

WW
"Do Not Disturb" 2019 Non-album singles
"Hello Brother"
"Bad Influence" 2020 Get Layd
"You"
"Damn"
"Forever" (Remix)
(with Gyakie)
2021 Non-album single
"Understand" Boy Alone
"Free My Mind"
"Winter Wonderland / Don't Worry Be Happy" Non-album single
"Attention"
(with Justin Bieber)
2022 45 78 62 9 87 49 76 11 74
  • MC: Gold
Boy Alone
"Soso" 79 52
  • MC: Gold
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

As featured artist

List of singles as featured artist, with selected chart positions and certifications shown
Title Year Album
"Tonight"
(Spinall featuring Omah Lay)
2020 Grace
"Pami"
(DJ Tunez featuring Wizkid, Adekunle Gold, and Omah Lay)
Non-album single
"Pronto"
(Ajebo Hustlers featuring Omah Lay)
2021 Kpos Lifestyle, Vol. 1
"Peaches" (Masterkraft Remix)"
(Justin Bieber featuring Alpha P and Omah Lay)
Non-album single
"Namek"
(Jul featuring Omah Lay)
2022 Cœur blanc

Guest appearances

List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name
Title Year Other artist(s) Album
"Infinity" 2020 Olamide Carpe Diem
"Abeg" 2021 DJ Neptune, Joeboy Greatness 2.0

Production discography

2018

Kidoben Ace

  • "Caught Up"

2019

Klug Ali

  • "Opium"

Sikiboi

  • "One Day"

2020

Omah Lay – Get Layd

  • 2. "Lo Lo"
  • 4. "Bad Influence"

Moveek

  • "Flossin"

Omah Lay – What Have We Done

  • 4. "Confession"

2021

Jhay Jhay

  • "Welcum Party"

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominee/work Result Ref
2020 The Headies Next Rated Omah Lay Won
Viewer's Choice Nominated
Best R&B Single "Bad Influence" Nominated
Songwriter of the Year Stanley Omah Didia – "Bad Influence" Nominated
2021 Ghana Music Awards Best African Artiste of the Year Omah Lay TBA
MTV Africa Music Awards Best Breakthrough Act Pending
Net Honours Most Played Pop Song ''Godly" Won
Most Played RnB Song "Pami"

(DJ Tunez featuring Wizkid Adekunle Gold & Omah Lay)

Nominated
All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) Artiste of the Year in Africa Omah Lay Nominated
Best Artiste in Western Africa Nominated
Breakout Artiste of the Year Nominated
Best Artiste, Duo or Group in African Pop Nominated
Afro X Digitals Awards Break Out Act of the Year Omah Lay Won

References

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