Peruzzi takes the cover with “INFERNO,” alongside Zlatan and Shoday, as Phyno, Omah Lay, Tiwa Savage and a wide-ranging cast of African artists shape a week of collaborations, creative identity and musical discovery on Afrobeats Heat Different.
The Editorial Overview: Different Voices, Shared Musical Histories
Peruzzi’s place in Nigerian popular music is an interesting one. His voice has carried memorable records, his songwriting has contributed to the wider Afrobeats landscape, and his collaborations have kept him connected to different generations of artists.
For the final New Music Friday (Afrobeats Heat Different) of October, he leads Music Custodian’s Afrobeats Heat Different playlist with “INFERNO,” featuring Zlatan and Shoday.
The sixteen-track selection brings together familiar names and newer voices, with music from Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda and Tanzania sharing space. Phyno joins Wande Coal on “Ndewo,” Omah Lay connects with Gunna on “BACK TO LAGOS,” while Tiwa Savage appears both as a solo artist and alongside Joshua Baraka.
Elsewhere, Kirk Franklin and Davido collaborate on “Hope In You,” and Anendlessocean contributes “FREEDOM,” bringing spiritually rooted music into a selection that also embraces hip-hop, Afropop and contemporary R&B.
It’s a week shaped by the different histories and experiences that continue to inform African popular music.
Afrobeats Heat Different Cover Story: Peruzzi, Beyond the Pen
Born Tobechukwu Victor Okoh, Peruzzi emerged as a recognisable voice in Nigerian Afropop during the late 2010s, building a reputation for his melodic songwriting and distinctive vocal delivery.
His association with Davido Music Worldwide brought him into a network of musicians responsible for some of the period’s most familiar records. Contributions to songs such as 2Baba’s “Amaka” and DMW’s “Aza” helped introduce his artistry to wider audiences.
As a solo performer, he developed a catalogue that includes “Majesty,” “Nana,” Huncho Vibez and Rum & Boogie, demonstrating his ability to move between romantic songwriting, rhythmic Afropop and more expansive musical arrangements.
His career also speaks to an important aspect of the Nigerian music industry: the creative contributions that happen beyond the spotlight.
Songwriters, producers and collaborators are central to the development of popular music, even when their names are not the most visible on a record.
Peruzzi has occupied both positions. He has been the voice at the forefront of his own releases and a contributor to music associated with other performers.
That dual identity makes him a fitting cover artist for a playlist concerned with collaboration and musical relationships.
On “INFERNO,” he joins Zlatan, whose street-pop identity has become an important part of contemporary Nigerian music, and Shoday, a voice associated with a newer generation of performers.
The collaboration brings their different musical backgrounds into the same recording.
It also illustrates how Nigerian pop continues to develop through connections between established artists and emerging talent.
Rather than framing this appearance as a dramatic comeback, Peruzzi’s selection recognises his continued participation in an industry he has helped shape.
Across the Playlist: Language, Identity and Collaboration
Phyno’s “Ndewo,” featuring Wande Coal, is another noteworthy meeting of musical identities.
Phyno has built much of his career around the expressive possibilities of Igbo-language rap, demonstrating how indigenous languages can thrive within contemporary hip-hop and popular music.
Wande Coal, meanwhile, remains one of Nigerian Afropop’s influential vocalists, recognised for his melodic instincts and distinctive approach to singing.
Their collaboration brings these artistic histories together, offering another example of the relationship between indigenous expression and modern African popular music.
Omah Lay takes a different direction with “BACK TO LAGOS,” featuring American rapper Gunna.
Drawn from Clarity of Mind Extended, the recording connects Nigerian popular music with American hip-hop while continuing Omah Lay’s exploration of personal experiences and emotional expression.
Lagos, referenced in the song’s title, remains central to the creative infrastructure and international circulation of Nigerian music. The collaboration reflects the ongoing exchange between African artists and their counterparts abroad.
Tiwa Savage also makes two appearances in this week’s selection.
Her solo record “African Baddie” sits alongside “Commando,” a collaboration with Ugandan singer Joshua Baraka.
The pairing highlights different dimensions of her career: an established performer maintaining her own artistic identity while continuing to work with musicians from other parts of the continent.
For an artist whose influence has extended across successive phases of Afrobeats, these appearances provide another opportunity to consider longevity, reinvention and the place of women in African popular music.
From Ghana to East Africa
The playlist’s regional breadth becomes particularly evident through contributions from Ghanaian and East African artists.
M.anifest and Black Sherif appear together on “ROAD RAGE,” bringing different approaches to Ghanaian hip-hop and contemporary popular music into the selection.
Sarkodie joins Olivetheboy on “Cold,” another collaboration connecting established and younger voices within Ghana’s music ecosystem.
In East Africa, Joshua Baraka’s appearance alongside Tiwa Savage reflects the increasing visibility of cross-regional collaborations.
Tanzanian artists Zuchu and Diamond Platnumz also feature with “Mvua Ya Baraka,” bringing East African popular music into a listening experience that moves comfortably between different African markets.
These contributions are an important part of Afrobeats Heat Different.
Although the playlist takes its name from Afrobeats, its editorial purpose extends to the wider African musical landscape, recognising the distinct traditions, languages and artistic communities contributing to contemporary music.
Faith, Reflection and Contemporary Sound
One of the more interesting contrasts in this edition comes from Kirk Franklin and Davido’s “Hope In You.”
Franklin’s career in contemporary gospel has long demonstrated the possibilities of bringing faith-based songwriting into conversation with R&B, hip-hop and other popular styles.
His collaboration with Davido places that tradition alongside one of Afrobeats’ most recognisable performers.
Anendlessocean’s “FREEDOM” contributes another perspective.
His work draws from contemporary gospel, soul and alternative R&B, exploring spirituality through musical arrangements that speak to audiences beyond conventional genre boundaries.
Together, these selections broaden the emotional and thematic range of the playlist.
They remind us that African popular music encompasses celebration, vulnerability, personal reflection and spiritual expression, often within the same listening experience.
Artists to Watch This Week
Phyno — Language as Cultural Identity
Through his continued commitment to Igbo-language expression, Phyno remains an important figure in conversations about regional identity and indigenous-language music. His Let That Sink In (LTSI) project offers another opportunity to appreciate that contribution.
Tiwa Savage — Longevity and Creative Independence
With “African Baddie” and Joshua Baraka’s “Commando,” Tiwa Savage demonstrates the continued relevance of an artist whose career has helped shape the international visibility of Afrobeats.
Omah Lay — The Introspective Voice
Omah Lay’s music frequently explores vulnerability, relationships and internal conflict. His Clarity of Mind Extended project continues that artistic conversation while introducing new collaborative possibilities.
Anendlessocean — Spirituality Across Genres
Through “FREEDOM,” Anendlessocean contributes to the growing space occupied by artists whose music moves between gospel, soul and alternative contemporary sounds.
More Than a Playlist: Why This Week Matters
The October 30 edition of Afrobeats Heat Different brings sixteen recordings into a shared listening experience, but its significance extends beyond the individual releases.
Peruzzi’s cover appearance recognises the importance of songwriting and creative collaboration. Phyno and Wande Coal bring different musical traditions together. Tiwa Savage represents artistic longevity and cross-regional connection, while Omah Lay continues to explore the emotional dimensions of contemporary Nigerian music.
Across Ghana and East Africa, contributions from M.anifest, Black Sherif, Sarkodie, Joshua Baraka, Zuchu and Diamond Platnumz reinforce the breadth of the continent’s musical landscape.
The inclusion of Kirk Franklin, Davido and Anendlessocean also creates room for faith and reflection within a playlist that embraces several musical directions.
For Music Custodian, the value of this weekly selection lies in documenting these relationships as they unfold.
African music continues to evolve through the exchange of ideas, languages, influences and creative experiences. Each release contributes something to that larger story.
And with Peruzzi leading this edition, we are reminded that the people who help shape the music are just as important to its history as the voices we hear.
The Complete Playlist — Afrobeats Heat Different
| # | Track | Artist(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | INFERNO | Peruzzi, Zlatan, Shoday |
| 02 | Ndewo | Phyno, Wande Coal |
| 03 | BACK TO LAGOS | Omah Lay, Gunna |
| 04 | African Baddie | Tiwa Savage |
| 05 | Commando | Joshua Baraka, Tiwa Savage |
| 06 | ROAD RAGE | M.anifest, Black Sherif |
| 07 | Home Training | Mayorkun |
| 08 | Hope In You (with Davido) | Kirk Franklin, Davido |
| 09 | Jaiye | Naira Marley, Rexxie |
| 10 | Leg In Leg Out (LILO) | Skales |
| 11 | Sunita | Rybeena, Tml Vibez |
| 12 | Cold | Sarkodie, Olivetheboy |
| 13 | I Wan Knvck | BhadBoi OML, Zinoleesky |
| 14 | SFD (SWEET FANTA DIALLO) | Yarden, Dxtiny |
| 15 | FREEDOM | Anendlessocean |
| 16 | Mvua Ya Baraka | Zuchu, Diamond Platnumz |
Listen to Afrobeats Heat Different on Spotify
Afrobeats Heat Different is Music Custodian’s weekly editorial playlist celebrating established artists, emerging voices and the evolving sounds of African popular music.
Curated by Oyedeji Ayodeji | Music Custodian™
