Asake – Military

Asake’s 2025 single “Military” mixes a confident Yoruba-rap flex with a 2Pac sample and a shoutout to Olamide.

The song dropped as a surprise just after the 67th Grammy Awards, where Asake walked the carpet in a two-piece camouflage outfit. He told Billboard he was in a phase where he did whatever pleased him, and “Military” turns that mood into music. He has called it his “military era.” Fans heard a man who does not care much for noise, who works hard, and who lets results do the talking.

The sound pairs his Fuji-flavoured Afrobeats style with a sample of 2Pac’s 1997 song “Do For Love,” which is an unusual mix for a Lagos star. The Yoruba lines say plenty. He reminds listeners that English is not his first language, he asks critics to hold back when it does not affect his bank account, and he says God shaped his path. Premium Times described the lyrics as a push against detractors and a reminder of his independence.

The most human moment comes near the end, when he gives a special shoutout to Olamide, the YBNL boss who helped launch his career. That tribute landed at a time when Asake was building his own Giran Republic label. “Military” does not appear on his 2026 album “M$NEY,” so it stays a stand-alone statement from that period.

For fans who like a short, tough Yoruba rap record with a bit of gratitude, it still works well. It also reminds you how quickly Asake moved from sideman to boss.

Salute the general with “Military” and tell us – what is your own “military era”?