New age Afrobeats has never sounded so good! A couple of artists broke out last year but there’s this particular one that has most recently captured my attention. He is by the name Fola (born Folarin Odunlami).
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Using R&B as a foundation, the rising star defied genre boundaries by rolling out his impressive EP ‘What A Feeling’, earning his spot as one of Apple Music’s emerging musical stars to watch out for in 2025.
Established in 2020, Apple Music’s artist development programme Africa Rising has showcased the best and brightest emerging artists from around the continent, putting them and their craft out to global audiences and allowing their music to reach fresh ears. Africa Rising has in the past provided ample editorial support to emerging African artists across the Apple Music ecosystem, including Tyla, Omah Lay, Rema, Tems, Ayra Starr, Amaarae and many more. Fola and his career peers Kaestyle and others were shortlisted last year are among the new acts carving a niche for themselves in Nigerian music.
To launch Fola’s career was an EP, that housed star studded collaborations from Magixx, BNXN (fka Buju), Bella Shmurda and Badboy OML and each track on there enjoyed commercial success.
The Afrobeats newcomer was first brought onto the scene after he signed with Bella Shmurda, who unveiled him as the inaugural signee under his imprint Dangbana Republik Records.
While in interview with Culture Custodian, FOLA revealed that his working relationship with Shmurda runs deep. He revealed that Shmurda was among the first to recognize his musical potential. FOLA credits this friendship as foundational to his artistic growth.
One standout feat about Fola is his compelling honesty as showcased in his lyrics, for he channels R&B’s emotive core, blending it seamlessly with Pop, Amapiano, and other genres. Though his breakthrough came late last year, he had spent six years honing his craft and this was evident in the confidence he exuded throughout his six track debut EP, ‘What A Feeling’.
Many may finally get onto the wave of Fola’s music a bit late but the one thing that is undeniable: FOLA is a talent poised for the big stage and this is quite evident in every lyric, and every track.
