Omah Lay, born Stanley Omah Didia is a Nigerian musician recognized for his work as a singer, songwriter, and record producer.
With two EPs and a studio album under his belt, he has collaborated with various artists such as Spinall, Justin Bieber, Masterkraft, and Jul. Noteworthy achievements include multiple chart-topping singles and Gold Certifications for tracks like “Understand,” “Attention,” and “Soso.” His accolades also include winning the Headies in both 2020 and 2023.
Early life and Education 
Born on May 19, 1997, in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, Lay grew up surrounded by music. He attended Comprehensive High School in Rivers State before furthering his education at the University of Port Harcourt. His family background is steeped in music; his grandfather was a musician who played instruments for Celestine Ukwu, while Lay’s father was a drummer.
Career
Lay embarked on his career as part of a rap group under the moniker “Lil King,” but transitioned to songwriting and producing for various artists by the age of 16. In 2019, he ventured into a solo career with the releases of “Do Not Disturb” and “Hello Brother,” after signing with KeyQaad record label. His debut EP, “Get Layd,” was a product of intense dedication, with Lay expressing the need to disconnect from distractions to focus on perfecting the project.
In 2020, Lay’s singles “Bad Influence” and “You,” both from the “Get Layd” EP, gained significant traction, with “Bad Influence” emerging as the most streamed Nigerian song on Apple Music by the year’s end. The EP itself topped the Nigerian Apple Music charts, with all its tracks achieving top 15 rankings. Lay’s collaboration on “Infinity” with Olamide on the album “Carpe Diem” further solidified his presence in the music scene, contributing to the album’s success on Apple Music in Nigeria.
Recognized for his talent and potential, Lay was featured prominently in various platforms and lists, such as Apple’s Africa Rising Campaign, BBC Radio 1Xtra’s “Hot for 2021” list, and BET’s Amplified International Artist of the Month for November 2020. Additionally, his second EP, “What Have We Done,” released in November 2020, continued his streak of success, with all tracks making significant impact on the Apple Music charts in Nigeria.
On June 25, 2021, Lay collaborated with Alpha P on the official remix of Justin Bieber’s single “Peaches,” produced by Nigerian producer Masterkraft. Following this, on July 8, 2021, Lay released his own single titled “Understand.”
In March 2022, Lay collaborated with Bieber once again on “Attention,” which was featured on Lay’s debut album “Boy Alone,” released the same year. The album’s launch was accompanied by the Boy Alone Tour, spanning both the United States and Canada. In the summer of 2023, Lay released a deluxe version of the album, earning him a Headies Award for Best Male Artist and Album. This prolific year also saw Lay surpassing 1 billion streams on Spotify for all his music. Additionally, he contributed to the deluxe edition of the soundtrack for “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” with the track “I Can’t Stop,” featuring Big Boss Vette.
Continuing his musical journey, Lay embarked on the European leg of his Boy Alone Tour in 2024. However, a performance in London drew criticism when he invited a female fan on stage to dance, causing her boyfriend to leave the venue in disappointment. Despite this, Lay continued to release new music, including the single “Holy Ghost” and a remix featuring French DJ and producer Martin Solveig. The remix quickly gained popularity, topping African streaming platforms with over 100 million streams.
Personal life
Lay has been vocal in his support for the #EndSARS movement in Nigeria, emphasizing in an interview with Harper’s Bazaar that the protests are solely about addressing police brutality and injustice without any political agenda. He highlighted the rampant harassment, extortion, and violence perpetrated by the police against young people, stressing the urgent need for government intervention and accountability.
Legal issues
On December 14, 2020, Lay and Tems were arrested in Uganda following a performance, with the Ugandan Police citing violation of COVID-19 lockdown protocols as the reason. Both artists believed they were set up. However, two days later, the Ugandan government released them, issued an apology, and cleared them of any wrongdoing.
Net Worth
Omah Lay’s current estimated net worth stands at over $500,000, reflecting his growing success and popularity in the music industry.