… Damola Taiwo, Lau Lau dedicate laurel to Rubies Fans
Afrobeat Star, Adedapo Aderele popularly known as Daapo has won Confirm News Virtual Award Next Rated Artiste of the year .The award was presented to him by Publisher Www.confirmnews.com.ng, Adegbola Shehu Tijani and Charles Collins ‘Chaloma’ , Rubies Entertainment Manager at Rubies Club, Egbeda , Lagos on Friday 11th September 2026 . Adeoye Olabiyi who represented Daapo who is on UK musical tour was very excited to receive the award on his behalf the artiste. “It is a privilege to receive this award on behalf of my artiste. Daapo is on tour currently in United Kingdom. We appreciate the love Confirm News management has extended to us. We thank Nigeria media who have been supporting us. The sky is our limit. This award speaks volume. It tells us to work more. Our team will not relent. We are working on our new EP. We are very optimistic that it will go far when we release the project”, Adeoye Olabiyi said. However, C E O, Rubies, Mr Damola Taiwo also won Best Club Owner of the year while Adetola ‘Lau Lau’ Babatunde was presented Club Manager of the year. He has been working with Rubies Club for almost Six years. Lau Lau had worked with Club Royal, The Place and West End Club respectively. Daapo on the other hand, is Nigerian-born Afrobeat star known for his distinctive sound, soulful vocals, emotional depth, and energetic party music. His artistry cuts across multiple genres and influences, including Afrobeats, pop, acoustic music, house, and contemporary fusion. It would be recalled that Daapo began his musical journey in Lagos, Nigeria, in 2021 under the name , Sir Derick. In January 2022, he released his debut four-track EP, In the Beginning. The project introduced audiences to his soulful and relatable songwriting, with “Victory Song” emerging as a standout track. Its reception earned him invitations to Nigerian television and radio platforms, including TVC, Max FM, and Top Radio, providing an early indication of the connection his music could create with listeners.Encouraged by the response to his debut, Daapo continued developing his sound and expanding his artistic vision. In October 2022. Daapo has released a growing body of music, including multiple singles, his solo EP ‘Transcendence’, and the collaborative EP ‘Synchro’ the EP with Rrichy. In November 2025, he released his album ** ‘Adedapo’ featuring Nigerian artists **Lhilfrosh and Rrichy**, marking another significant chapter in his evolution as an independent artist.In July 2025, he officially changed his stage name from **Sir Derick to Daapo*. The new name represents a more personal and authentic identity, reflecting his roots, individuality, and evolving musical sound. For Daapo, the name change is part of a broader artistic transformation as he continues to grow and establish his place within the global music landscape.As an independent artist, Daapo is focused on constantly improving his craft, expanding his audience, and creating music capable of crossing cultural and geographical boundaries. His ability to move between soulful, emotional records and energetic, feel-good music gives him a versatile identity within the Afrobeat and Afro-fusion space.With an ambition to take his music to a global audience, **Daapo represents a new generation of independent African artists building bridges between African sounds, UK influences, and contemporary global music.** His journey is still unfolding, but with each release, he continues to refine his sound, strengthen his identity, and move closer to his goal of becoming a globally recognised artiste.
