Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
This episode of Afrobeats Intelligence is powered by OkayAfrica, the pulse of African culture, and presented by Martell.
In this episode of Afrobeats Intelligence, Joey Akan sits down with one of Nigeria’s fastest-rising stars, Shoday, to unpack the journey behind his breakout run. From the viral success of Purr and Hey Jago to the meaning behind “Caution Boy,” Shoday explains how he’s building a career rooted in authenticity rather than hype.
He reflects on his early struggles, the pressure that comes with viral success, and why consistency matters more than chasing trends. Shoday also opens up about working with his team, trusting God’s timing, creating records that connect emotionally, and why he wants listeners craving his music before it even drops.
As the conversation unfolds, Joey and Shoday discuss the future of Afrobeats, the responsibilities of a new generation of artists, and what it truly takes to build a lasting legacy in today’s music industry.
0:00 - Intro
0:33 - Getting into music professionally
3:05 - Having confidence
5:07 - That spark to launch a career
8:12 - Getting into content creation
12:54 - Working to get an iPhone to create content
15:51 - Transitioning from comedy to music
18:20 - Shoday’s message to the audience
23:11 - Balancing the “game” and sharing your message
25:33 - “Colorado” Song
27:46 - Anxiety being an artist
31:36 - Hit songs, relevance & relationships
39:19 - Defending your position
41:50 - Proving yourself
47:00 - Measurement of success
49:10 - Dropping new music early in the year
50:45 - Debut album
53:23 - Experience
55:20 - Converting Tik Tok Audience to Music
59:04 - What are you most grateful for?
1:01:22 - Giving a platform to newer artists
1:03:56 - Credits
Discover more about Martell’s journey with Afrobeats: martell.com/en/martell-afrobeats
Follow Joey Akan for the latest coverage on African music culture and news.
Substack: afrobeatsintelligence.substack.com
instagram.com/joeyakan
instagram.com/afrobeatsintel
Follow Shoday: instagram.com/official_shoday
🌍 For more music, news, and culture from the continent, check out OkayAfrica here: okayafrica.com
Follow us on socials:
Instagram: instagram.com/okayafrica
Facebook: facebook.com/okayafrica/#
X: twitter.com/OkayAfrica
TikTok: tiktok.com/@okayafrica
Join the OkayAfrica Whatsapp channel! : whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaEhs9oIN9isCqSED809
Shop OkayAfrica merch here: shop.okayplayer.com/collections/okayafrica-shop
This episode of Afrobeats Intelligence is powered by OkayAfrica, the pulse of African culture, and presented by Martell.
In this episode of Afrobeats Intelligence, Joey Akan sits down with one of Nigeria’s fastest-rising stars, Shoday, to unpack the journey behind his breakout run. From the viral success of Purr and Hey Jago to the meaning behind “Caution Boy,” Shoday explains how he’s building a career rooted in authenticity rather than hype.
He reflects on his early struggles, the pressure that comes with viral success, and why consistency matters more than chasing trends. Shoday also opens up about working with his team, trusting God’s timing, creating records that connect emotionally, and why he wants listeners craving his music before it even drops.
As the conversation unfolds, Joey and Shoday discuss the future of Afrobeats, the responsibilities of a new generation of artists, and what it truly takes to build a lasting legacy in today’s music industry.
0:00 - Intro
0:33 - Getting into music professionally
3:05 - Having confidence
5:07 - That spark to launch a career
8:12 - Getting into content creation
12:54 - Working to get an iPhone to create content
15:51 - Transitioning from comedy to music
18:20 - Shoday’s message to the audience
23:11 - Balancing the “game” and sharing your message
25:33 - “Colorado” Song
27:46 - Anxiety being an artist
31:36 - Hit songs, relevance & relationships
39:19 - Defending your position
41:50 - Proving yourself
47:00 - Measurement of success
49:10 - Dropping new music early in the year
50:45 - Debut album
53:23 - Experience
55:20 - Converting Tik Tok Audience to Music
59:04 - What are you most grateful for?
1:01:22 - Giving a platform to newer artists
1:03:56 - Credits
Discover more about Martell’s journey with Afrobeats: martell.com/en/martell-afrobeats
Follow Joey Akan for the latest coverage on African music culture and news.
Substack: afrobeatsintelligence.substack.com
instagram.com/joeyakan
instagram.com/afrobeatsintel
Follow Shoday: instagram.com/official_shoday
🌍 For more music, news, and culture from the continent, check out OkayAfrica here: okayafrica.com
Follow us on socials:
Instagram: instagram.com/okayafrica
Facebook: facebook.com/okayafrica/#
X: twitter.com/OkayAfrica
TikTok: tiktok.com/@okayafrica
Join the OkayAfrica Whatsapp channel! : whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaEhs9oIN9isCqSED809
Shop OkayAfrica merch here: shop.okayplayer.com/collections/okayafrica-shop
