Afrobeats Intelligence

• Young Jonn on Life After Grief, Building Hits, TikTok Charts & World Tours | Afrobeats Intelligence

  “Olamide taught me work ethic.” In this captivating episode of Afrobeats Intelligence Podcast, host Joey Akan sits down with Nigerian sensation Young Jonn, the hitmaker who transitioned from a prolific producer to a chart-topping artist. Known for bangers like “Dada” and his game-changing work with YBNL, Young Jonn shares the raw journey behind his music and his rise to global stages. Young Jonn opens up about his vibrant personality and early stage performances (0:00–7:00), recounting his first-ever show (5:05–6:07). He details his emotional switch from producer to artist, sparked by the loss of his mother (6:47–11:56), and how manager Isioma pushed him to drop “Dada” (10:30–11:58). He reflects on settling into his new artistic identity (12:00–16:45) and his musical roots, from church to abandoning football dreams (16:45–21:30, 20:10–21:30). Young Jonn dives into his producer come-up, meeting Olamide, and crafting “Story for the Gods” (21:31–31:46, 23:45–26:43), sharing hustle lessons from Olamide (27:25–29:00). He breaks down his fast-paced production style that reshaped Nigerian music (31:50–37:02, 31:50–33:36), his growth with Chocolate City (37:33–46:00), and the global reach of Afrobeats through his performances in Europe and the US (46:00–end). Join Joey Akan and Young Jonn for an inspiring deep dive into creativity, resilience, and the pulse of Afrobeats.

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• Tiwa Savage on Motherhood, Nigerian Fame & Why Afrobeats Overlooks Women | Afrobeats Intelligence

  In this unforgettable episode of Afrobeats Intelligence, Joey Akan sits down with the one and only Tiwa Savage — singer, songwriter, and enduring icon of the African music movement. With a career that’s spanned continents and broken barriers, Tiwa gets candid about her journey, from joining Mavin Records to navigating fame, motherhood, and her return to R&B. She opens up about being pregnant while recording the RED album, the hunger for money as a rising star, and what it really took to build a career that has lasted over a decade. Joey and Tiwa explore the challenges of championing sensuality in a conservative industry, Tiwa’s Afro-RnB sound, working with Beyoncé on Keys to the Kingdom, and what it means to raise a son while also raising a legacy. 0:00–1:45 – Separation between home and work 1:45–3:43 – Tiwa’s hopes for her son 3:43–8:34 – Laying the foundation for longevity in music 8:34–11:15 – “I started late” – on timing and career doubts 11:15–13:56 – Navigating structure in a chaotic industry 13:56–15:44 – Scaling and surviving as a woman in music 15:44–19:15 – Championing sensuality in conservative Nigeria 19:15–20:59 – “Come home, Tiwa” – Leaving L.A. for the Nigerian market 20:59–24:39 – Becoming ‘Tiwa Savage’ full time 24:39–26:48 – Defining Afro-RnB 26:48–27:45 – Telling stories through projects 27:45–32:30 – From Mavin Records to the major leagues 32:30–34:48 – A popstar becomes a mother 34:48–36:41 – Ten years later: reflecting on a legendary run 36:41–40:02 – Staying true while staying versatile 40:02–42:53 – Working with Beyoncé and approaching perfection 42:53–46:29 – Building a sustainable music industry in Nigeria 46:29–end – Tiwa on Afrobeats to the World and her legacy

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• Lojay on Making 'Billions", Crafting His Sound, and Starting A Legacy | Afrobeats Intelligence

  “We’re here fighting over the tiniest, most fickle things. When in reality the numbers are not matching up.” In this powerful episode of Afrobeats Intelligence Podcast, host Joey Akan sits down with Nigerian Afrobeats star Lojay, the voice behind global hits like “Monalisa” and “Billions.” Lojay delivers a raw and introspective look at his quest for legacy, his creative process, and the state of the Nigerian music industry. Lojay opens by sharing his drive to create work that outlives him (0:00–9:40), revealing a past fear of death that shaped his ambition (3:10–4:34). He traces his musical roots from high school fame (8:00–17:00) and early experiments at age 10 (17:00–20:30) to dropping out of a UK university to pursue music in Nigeria (20:30–27:15, 21:40–23:47). Lojay breaks down his growth markers, including writing classes (27:15–29:36), and his unique songwriting process, admitting “I don’t write” (30:59–32:39). He recounts crafting “Billions” with Wizkid and Sarz (32:39–35:55, 32:39–33:50) and turning Sarz’s beat for Wurld into the crossover hit “Monalisa” (53:20–56:03, 53:20–54:54). Lojay explores how love fuels his creativity (39:10–42:00) and why he prioritizes internal taste over trends, praising Asake’s bold sound (42:45–53:00, 49:02–51:15). He closes with a passionate critique of the Nigerian music industry’s lack of foresight, urging Afrobeats to aim higher (1:00:30–end, 1:01:58–1:05:50). Join Joey Akan and Lojay for an inspiring journey through artistry, ambition, and the global rise of Afrobeats.

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• Bella Shmurda on Losing Millions, Belief in Purpose & Knowing The Why | Afrobeats Intelligence

  “When I blew and started making money, I went broke.” In this gripping episode of Afrobeats Intelligence Podcast, host Joey Akan sits down with Nigerian Afrobeats star Bella Shmurda for a raw and revealing conversation. From the streets of Agege to global fame with hits like “Cash App,” Bella shares the highs, lows, and spiritual truths behind his meteoric rise. Dive into Bella’s world as he opens up about his spirituality (5:02–6:43) and how it guides his music, including the spiritual powers that shape his hit singles (16:24–21:13). Hear him reflect on empathy and charity (6:56–16:22), recounting personal stories of giving back, and a costly $40,000 lesson when he ignored his dreams (16:24–18:55). Bella doesn’t hold back on the music industry’s materialism (24:59–44:00), calling out predatory labels (36:42–38:27), OGs chasing trends (27:08–28:50), and the need for purpose over aesthetics (30:10–32:02). He also shares his vision for Dangbana Republik, explaining why he signed rising star Fola (44:45–46:15). This episode is a deep dive into authenticity, resilience, and the spiritual pulse of Afrobeats. Join Joey Akan and Bella Shmurda for a conversation that’s as enlightening as it is electrifying.

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• Tems’ manager Donawon reveals how he built her career without clout, co-signs, or major label deals — just conviction, systems, and spirit.

  In this revealing episode of Afrobeats Intelligence, Joey Akan sits down with the elusive strategist behind Tems, one of Afrobeats’ most powerful voices. From spiritual practices to music industry frameworks, Donawon shares how he helped turn a misunderstood talent into a global force. Before the Grammy buzz, the Drake feature, and the Coachella stage, there was just a $500 bet and a belief. “If this fails, I’ll give you everything I have,” he told Tems.And then he built a team. A system. A legacy. Across this unfiltered conversation, Donawon breaks down: Why he walked away from gospel rap — and how that failure gave him purpose Why he built Faceless Management — and stayed in the shadows on purpose The system that scaled Tems’ career beyond algorithms or virality Why he fasts every month and lets faith guide business What’s next for the movement — including artists like Nsikak, Naya Akanji, and a new wave of Nigerian talent How rising stars like Rema, Fireboy DML, and Ayra Starr represent both inspiration and warning signs in today’s industry “Clout is for visibility. But conviction is what makes artists timeless.”“The artist is the fruit. But the tree? That’s where the real work happens.” Whether you’re a fan of Tems’ soulful R&B, an aspiring manager, or someone studying the Afrobeats industry from the inside, this episode is a blueprint for building greatness without shortcuts. Watch this if you’re building a team, launching a label, or dreaming of a music career. It’s long-term thinking for a short-term world. Timecodes: 4:55 - 5:50 {Managing Afrobeats artistes}  7:50 - 8:52 {External influences}  10:30 - 11:25 {Afrobeats as a collective?}  13:18 - 14:32 {Information/educational gap}  17:58 - 18:38 {Ownership and cataloguing}  22:40 - 23:49 {Conversion of the Afrobeats to the world movement}  27:30 - 28:41 {Choosing the artiste}  29:33 - 30:30 {Choosing the artiste 2}  33:46 - 34:54 {Management model vs Company model Nonso Amadi experience}  35:00 - 36:12 {Management model vs Company model 2}  36:25 - 37:30 {Manager - Artiste relationship}  41:41 - 42:43 {Music as a business vs Music as a brand}  58:40 - 59:48 {Managing Omah lay/Clarity of mind}

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