FOLA Is Playing To Win On ‘9’

When FOLA speak about his location in the music market, he frequently goes back to the language of football. A long-lasting fan of the video game, he has actually constantly related to the striker position where the expectation is easy: make your opportunities count. It is a concept that has actually followed him into music too. His pals identified a comparable quality in the method his tunes regularly gotten in touch with listeners, ultimately providing him the label that would motivate the title of his 2nd album, ‘9’. “Everything I touch becomes an objective,” he states, discussing the believing behind the title. It is an expression of self-confidence however likewise of an artist intent on developing himself as somebody the market can depend upon.

The previous couple of years have actually provided him a lot of factor to feel guaranteed. Following the success of “alone” in 2024 and his launching job catharsis in 2025, Fola has actually turned into one of the Nigerian artists whose existence is progressively felt throughout the scene. His voice has actually taken a trip beyond his own releases appearing on records with a few of the nation’s most significant names consisting of BNXN, Ayra Starr and Davido. When asked whether the speed of his profession has actually altered how he sees himself, he is fast to withstand the concept that success has actually made him a various individual. He is still Fola, he states, just more positive, more deliberate and formed by experiences he might not have actually thought of a couple of years earlier.

With ‘9’, he is making a case for his remaining power while providing listeners a much better understanding of the individual behind the growing brochure. The title brings the self-confidence of a striker who understands what he gives a group however the album likewise shows somebody still finding out, taking in brand-new experiences and discovering his footing as life modifications around him. Talking with CLASH, Fola talks about the journey from catharsis to ‘9’, individuals who have actually formed his profession, and why regardless of whatever that has actually altered, he stays directed by what feels right to him.

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You open’ 9′ with ‘Awade,’ making use of K1 De Ultimate’s music while assessing your own journey and what lies ahead.Why was it essential for you to integrate that Fuji impact and discuss where you are today? Why did you desire the opening to show that?

Yell out to K1 De Ultimate. He’s a legend, somebody we’ve constantly listened to in Nigeria. He’s a Fuji legend. My daddy, my father’s buddies, everyone listened to him. His music was all over. I simply constantly like to instill my native tongue into my music.It was simply something I wished to do. I’m likewise somebody who likes to inform my story through my albums. If you pay sufficient attention. I desired “Awade” to be a tune that informs my story. It was simply something that entered your mind. I instilled it, and it exercised.

It felt really reflective too. It drew us into your world, practically like you were informing us about your own experiences. I enjoyed that. Proceeding to the title, I understand you’ve constantly explained yourself as a striker. As somebody who has constantly played football, what did being a number 9 teach you that you wished to bring into your music? What made you provide the album that title?

I’m simply attempting to seal my location. Like you stated, number 9 signifies a striker in football. My buddies in fact began calling me a striker due to the fact that of the tunes I was putting out. They understand I like football a lot, and the position I played when I was truly, truly enthusiastic about it was a striker. It simply made good sense. What I wished to let the world understand through the album is that whatever I touch becomes an objective. A striker is somebody you require to construct a group around. It’s somebody you can’t do without, somebody you depend upon to score objectives. It’s somebody you constantly require to have around.

You’ve plainly sealed yourself and the numbers do not lie. On the track ‘How Many?’, I understand you tested Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s words where she’s discussing insecurity and self-belief. Why did that specific message resonate with you and how do you feel it links to the larger photo of your profession today?

Yell out to the legend, Chimmanda. Really, the sample was consisted of due to the fact that she was mentioning whatever I was speaking about. She simply simplified and I liked how it made good sense. I discovered it on TikTok, and it spoke with me. I was truly down at the time and I simply seemed like I required that message. It made things much easier for me.

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It was truly good hearing that message, particularly towards completion of the tune. I likewise understand’ WAF’ began getting attention after the unreleased variation dripped online. What was it like seeing individuals get in touch with the tune even before its main release? In some cases, when an artist’s tune leakages, they may not wish to put it out any longer. Did seeing individuals get in touch with it form your choice to lastly launch it?

I actually desired this tune on the task due to the fact that I really called my launching EP after it. It didn’t make the EP. I wished to put it on catharsis too, however I took it out at the last minute. Now I’ve lastly put it on this album, and it’s capturing on all over. Everybody still enjoys it. It’s such a strong tune. It’s simply among those things where you never ever can inform. It’s incredible. I’ve constantly understood it’s a fantastic record, however I seem like I had a little doubt about it.

Simply to return to what you stated about consistently eliminating it, why did you ultimately seem like it belonged on 9 this time around?

It was expected to be on catharsis, however I took it out at the last minute. I enjoy the tune. I seem like the tune itself seethes at me today. I can simply inform. Paired with the truth that everybody currently enjoys it and individuals keep inquiring about it, I simply could not await it to come out. I personally could not wait on it to be launched, I needed to make that choice.

Another track, ‘Miss U II’ reviews your older tune ‘Miss You’ which came out in 2023. Why did you wish to go back to that story? What made you wish to offer us a follow up?

I simply seemed like the story wasn’t total. I likewise seemed like the very first ‘Miss You’ was worthy of to explode. I simply felt it required some more attention. I wished to end up the story. I didn’t wish to put out the very same music once again due to the fact that it was currently out. I needed to finish the story with ‘Miss U II’.

Can we state your point of view on love has altered given that the very first ‘Miss You’?

Possibly a bit. Clearly, I made the very first one 3 years earlier so I’ve seen things now. I’ve discovered a couple of things, and I’ve chosen to put what I’ve discovered into this brand-new tune.

Another incredible track is ‘Crime. I understand you remodelled 2Baba’s ‘If Love Is A Crime’. How did you approach revamping a classic like that? What made you wish to put your own twist on it?

‘If Love Is a Crime’ is among 2Baba’s tunes that I truly like. I constantly listen to it after ‘African Queen’. It’s constantly that tune. Everybody enjoys it. I was simply listening to it one day, and I began considering doing something various with it. There belonged where something wasn’t coming together in the tune or the beat, and I was thinking of how to make it work. I constantly make my choices rapidly. If something sounds great to me, I simply desire us to get it done. It was truly sounding great, so I called my manufacturer and stated, “Let’s get this done. I believe we can do something excellent with this.” We attempted it, and it exercised. A huge shout-out to 2Baba. He actually liked what we did. He revealed me a lot love. I needed to go and play it for him, and he kept informing me to run it back. There were a number of Yoruba words in the tune, too, so I needed to keep describing their significances to him. He was so inviting and really delighted to listen to it. I truly delighted in that experience. A huge shout-out to him for clearing the sample for us. Everybody likes the tune.

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I likewise talked to BNXN last month, and he was informing me about the stunning musical chemistry you both share. I wished to hear your viewpoint on what makes that musical chemistry work, specifically when you keep going back to each other’s tasks and working together.

Huge shout-out to BNXN. It’s simply filled with love. He’s one of the extremely first individuals who actually revealed me authentic love in the market. I’ve always remembered that. We’ve constantly made music together, and we share concepts. We have a great deal of tunes together. It was practically choosing one out of our brochure.’ My Type’ was expected to be on BNXN’s album, and ‘Shamaya’ was expected to be on mine. We simply fulfilled one day, discussed it and chose, “You understand what? Let ‘My Type’ be on my album, and we’ll do the other one for yours.” That’s how it took place. It’s method more than simply music. We’ve done a great deal of things together, and I like that.

He essentially stated the very same thing when I spoke with him. He pointed out that you both needed to switch the tunes.

Yeah.

I understand you’ve likewise worked with both Ayra Starr and Davido appearing on their tasks. On your album, you have ‘2 AM in Toronto’ and ‘Treat U Right’. How did those cooperations come together? Were you currently dealing with their tasks when you chose to team up with them by yourself album, or how did whatever occur?

We dealt with them on July 1st. I believe they actually liked what we were doing so they chose to let me do something on their own tunes. I’m pleased with how whatever came out.

Both tunes?

Both tunes, yeah. I truly like how whatever came together.

And how did ‘Treat U Right’ happened?

I simply had the sensation that something was missing out on. I do not understand. I connected to her group, and she didn’t even worry me. She simply sent it to me. We were still in the studio, and I resembled, “Ah, this is too great”. We rapidly got the 2nd tune done.

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And what about’ 2am in toronto’?

You understand after the success of’ B4 B4′, it was simply something that got me going. I remained in Canada at the time, which’s when I came across the tune. It was something I had actually made however I wasn’t truly listening to it at that point. I simply stumbled upon it once again, took notice of it and actually enjoyed it. My supervisor listened to it. He simply asked me,” Can Davido do this?” And I believed that was actually incredible. It was such an excellent fit due to the fact that it seems like something Davido would do. It has a comparable development to his noise. ‘November’ came about. I sent it to him. He offered me a timeframe for when he would send it back, and he ultimately did.

I likewise wished to discuss the other functions on the album, consisting of Bella Shmurda, Darkoo and Zlatan. How did you choose to bring those artists into the job?

When I satisfied Darkoo, I remained in London. I simply constantly understood that we would collaborate. ‘Hold U Down’ was the last one we did when I concerned London. I believe that was the very first time I remained in London. I have a couple of tunes with Darkoo.

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I understand you’ve likewise been on a run of cooperations appearing on various artists’ jobs. I’ve been listening to many jobs and talking to various artists this year, and your name keeps turning up as a repeating function. How deliberate have you had to do with picking the partnerships you handle?

I similar to making music. I similar to doing lots of things. It does something for me. Any cooperation that comes my method, I get it done if I like it. The ones I get in touch with, the ones that feel right simply come naturally through the procedure of making music.

Recalling at your journey and how rapidly your profession has advanced, has the method you see yourself as an artist altered considering that your launching album?

I do not believe it’s altered that much. I’m still the very same Fola, however I’m more positive now. I’m likewise more deliberate. I’ve found out brand-new things, seen brand-new things and had brand-new experiences. I’ve remained in spaces I’ve never ever remained in previously. It’s not truly that I’m brand-new to anything, however I’ve grown. That’s it.

I likewise wish to discuss your relationship with Bella Shmurda. He’s played an important function in your journey, consisting of with Dangbana Republik. How has that relationship shaped your development, and what lessons have you gained from interacting?

There’s a lot I’ve gained from him. He’s my sibling. Huge shout-out to him. He’s such a fantastic guy.I have actually understood Bella for a while and it’s constantly still been the exact same. We still share the exact same little concepts all the time. He constantly lets me be myself. He does not even require his own concepts on me. He permits me to make my choices and do what I wish to do. He’s likewise somebody I can rely on. When I made “It’s Over”, I felt in one’s bones it was Bella’s sort of tune. I didn’t even need to send it to him. I drove to him and informed him I required to reveal him something. I played it for him, and we got it done that exact same day. I have a great deal of tunes with him. It’s constantly excellent working together. Zlatan is my huge brother. Everybody simply reveals me love. I simply wished to end the album with that tune. I ‘d currently informed him what I wished to do and he comprehended the project. He offered me precisely what I desired.

With ‘9’ now out in the world, and individuals revealing it so much love, what do you desire listeners to comprehend about you as an artist? We understand you’re absolutely here to remain, however what would you like individuals to remove from this chapter of your profession?

You understand whatever, like I stated, the development, the accomplishments and the real me. I simply desire individuals to understand me much better after listening to the album. I desire them to comprehend that this guy is simply living his life and doing whatever feels great to him.

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9′ is out now.

Words: Temiloluwa Adeyemo

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