Rapper Oladips, 28, died Tuesday, just days before his new album "SUPERHERO ÀDÚGBÒ (The Memoir)" was set to drop, Billboard reported. No cause of death was reported, but his management team confirmed the news.
"We are saddened to inform the general public that Oladipupo Olabode Oladimeji, aka OLADIPS, has passed away on Nov. 14 Tuesday evening at exactly 10:14 p.m. We are still in shock as we speak," a statement from his team posted to Instagram said.
"For over two years, he has kept his battles within himself, his body is now with his family and funeral services will be announced as soon as it is concluded! The family asked that we respect their privacy in this trying time. May god give us all the fortitude to bear this great loss," the post said.
The rapper's newest album was scheduled for a Thursday release. There was no word about Oladips' untimely death, but there may have been hints along the way that he wasn't well.
In February, a fan on X, formerly Twitter, had implored Oladip to release the album in a post. The rapper shared that post with the caption that he was "out here all day in the studio with my sick self [sick emoji] rounding this album up still!"
Then, on Oct. 6, the rapper released the single "Die Young" from his latest record. Still, nothing definite about the artist's recent life events and death has been revealed.
Oladips got a boost in his career in 2015 after winning "The King is Here" online rap competition. He has since released hit singles like "Mainland 2 Island ft Zlatan," "Lalakukulala ft Reminisce," and "Ajala."
The rapper was also an activist and supported the anti-police brutality ENDSars protests, the BBC Reported. Oladips also was an advocate for those suffering from mental health issues and depression through his music.
"His storytelling rap was top notch," one fan posted to X. Hermes Iyele, a contestant for Big Brother Naija, also posted a tribute to the late rapper.
"May God grant the family the grace to carry this grief," the post said. Amid the condolence messages and fond remembering was one rap star's controversial take: Portable believes Oladips is not dead, the Nigerian Daily Post reported.
The singer believes his fellow Nigerian rap star has faked his death to sell more albums. This accusation purportedly comes from Qdot, another associate and colleague of the artists.
Qdot broke the news on his Instagram that Oladips staged his own demise. Sharing a picture of Oladips, he claimed that "@oladipsoflife my gee is alive."
Using this as ammunition, Portable, who is set to drop a new album of his own, posted an admonishment for what he claimed was a publicity stunt. "I’m not tired of life now. I’m still very much alive. I can’t use my own life to play in such a way because I’m still very much happy with life. I will not use my death to promote album," Portable claimed.
The death of a young and vibrant artist is a shock that some may find hard to believe. People don't like to face the fact that young lives are cut short all of the time, especially when the person is in the midst of a successful life and career.
