Rising Nigerian music star Ayo Maff, whose real name is Ayomide Mafoluku Ayodele, has publicly addressed a controversy sparked by comparisons between himself and his mentor, the legendary rapper Olamide. In a heartfelt post shared on June 2, 2025, at 12:06 PM WAT, Ayo Maff called for an end to such comparisons, emphasizing the importance of respecting Olamide’s legacy and role in his career while highlighting the significant gap between their statuses in the music industry.
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Yesterday Odumodu & Zlatan today Ayomaff & Olamide? Chief, I’ve seen your tweets supporting me on here and I always appreciate it, but please let’s know where to draw the line. Everybody here sabi the story of how I got here, the role Olamide played & still playing, please let’s… https://t.co/P4iVlhvRDM
— Ayo Maff 🥷🏽 (@AyoMaff) June 2, 2025
The controversy began when a user, @TheDamiForeign, posted about the upcoming albums of Ayo Maff and Olamide, expressing a desire to see if Ayo Maff could outshine Olamide in the streets without the two collaborating. The post, which included album artwork for Ayo Maff’s Prince of the Street and Olamide’s Olamide!, quickly gained traction, prompting varied reactions. Some fans, like @EjanlaOfnaija, dismissed the comparison, stating, “Ayomaff is still a toddler… Baddo na baba,” referring to Olamide’s nickname and established dominance in the industry. Ayo Maff, however, was quick to respond, directly addressing the user who initiated the comparison.
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“Yesterday Odumodu & Zlatan today Ayomaff & Olamide? Chief, I’ve seen your tweets supporting me on here and I always appreciate it, but please let’s know where to draw the line,” he wrote. He acknowledged Olamide’s pivotal role in his rise to fame, noting, “Everybody here sabi the story of how I got here, the role Olamide played & still playing, please let’s put some respect on the Kings name.” Ayo Maff firmly rejected the Ayo Maff Olamide comparison, declaring, “never to compare me with my helper again! Never!! King & prince no be mate!”
Ayo Maff’s response sparked a wave of reactions from fans and followers on X. @Obaji_esq supported his stance, affirming, “As u talk am Na so e be king and Prince no be mate,” echoing Ayo Maff’s sentiment about the hierarchy between the two artists. @DMT01 praised Ayo Maff’s humility, saying, “you have a pure heart, you bad no worry,” accompanied by a meme expressing shock. However, not all reactions were positive. @Gemininiiii criticized the situation, suggesting that the initial post might have been part of a paid promotional strategy, stating, “Mumu you think say dami dea support you,” and warning that Ayo Maff’s album rollout needed improvement to succeed beyond Lagos.
Other users, like @Lefthand31, speculated about the motives behind the comparison, commenting, “All of una know wetin una dey do … As if the first tweet no be paid ad in the first instance, make una dey deceive the people way no sharp.” Meanwhile, @AlubarikaVisual called Ayo Maff’s response “the clearance of highest order,” showing approval for his direct approach. The varied reactions highlight the polarizing nature of the Ayo Maff Olamide comparison debate, with some fans appreciating Ayo Maff’s respect for Olamide, while others questioned the authenticity of the controversy.
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Ayo Maff’s rise in the Nigerian music scene has been closely tied to Olamide and his record label, YBNL. In an August 2024 interview, Ayo Maff confirmed his strong relationship with YBNL, with Olamide publicly lauding his talent. Ayo Maff gained prominence in early 2024 with his street-hop hit “7 Days” and later collaborated with YBNL’s Fireboy DML on the crowd favorite “Dealer.” His debut album, Prince of the Street, released on June 18, 2025, features 13 songs and has been a significant milestone in his career.
Olamide, a veteran in the industry, was named one of Billboard’s Global Power Players in 2025 and has a storied history of mentoring young talents like Ayo Maff, Asake, and Fireboy DML. The Ayo Maff Olamide comparison controversy underscores the challenges young artists face when pitted against their mentors in the public eye. Ayo Maff’s response not only showcases his gratitude and humility but also serves as a reminder of the respect owed to industry pioneers like Olamide, who have paved the way for the next generation.
