Nigerian Afro pop artist Paanda is back with “911”, a smooth Afropop jam with an R&B twist a love story that feels both intimate and urgent.
Produced by 9Fingers, the track is reodered to capture deep emotion and the feeling of emptiness without his lover, it blends heartfelt lyrics with irresistible rhythm.
Rooted in Nigeria, Paanda’s music tells stories of love, emotion, and connection.
Stream “911” by Paanda
Follow Paanda on Instagram and X
As part of our About to Blow series we will be highlighting talented creatives in our Afrobeats Head community who are igniting the scene and poised for stardom.
For the first edition I spoke to Slay Papa, an artist who’s childhood dream as a devout Catholic was to become a priest but by divine intervention ended up studying Theater Arts at the University of Benin.
“My secondary school was a minor seminary,” he tells me over the phone.
“I believed it was Gods plan for me but I wrote a letter to a letter to Claritians about attending a major seminary after secondary school and they never got back to me. Then I became anxious about getting into university.
“During Benediction, whenever the monstrance was raised I would pray to God to help me get into university if it was his will. And if not, let me get into a major seminary.
A real lover boy, the Ibadan-native got his stage name thanks to his popularity with the girls in a neighboring secondary school.
“My friend Clement TYB and I used to pay 300 Naira record love songs at a studio close to our school and sent them to the girls in another school. I had a lot of female friends on Facebook so my friends called me Slay King and later I became Slay Papa
His dilemma meant that he was the last of his classmates to register for the UME exams but was surprisingly the first to be accepted into the university.
While in school his music took a back seat and until he graduated in 2024 when he released his song “Sport” inspired by Asake’s “Skating” off his Lungu Boy album
“I wrote it on a trip to Abeokuta. My friend Jumabee invited me and I just spent a lot of time checking out beats on YouTube till I found the perfect one.
“It’s a reminder to myself that I need to keep moving forward in life. I can’t be stagnant. Just like Asake in “Skating”
Slay Papa and Jumabee are also working on a new song to be released “soon”
Slay Papa’s Top Three:
Slay Papa and is confident that his music will change his life
“My greatest wish is for my music to take me around the world.”
He also has a mantra which he lives by and emphasizes on all his songs.
Before we end the call he makes me promise to include it my article.
“Slay Papa never dies.”
Stream “Sport” by Slay Papa
Follow Slay Papa on Instagram, Facebook and X
I met up with rapper Kaydee, who’s last single “Utaka” has been getting rave reviews to talk about his inspiration and all-time favourite things.
Hi Kaydee, what’s up? How’ve you been?
I’m good. Merry Christmas by the way
Yeah, Happy holidays. How did you spend Christmas?
It was okay, I went home and I saw parents. It was nice to see my family again after such a long time.
Cool! So I want to talk about your song Utaka which I really love, by the way. Lovely song. What inspired it? John Utaka? I think, obviously. Right?
Um, no. Actually. You’d think it was him but it wasn’t. It’s actually the Baba Suwe sample at the beginning of the song
Really?
Yes, where he says “Emi, (hahaha) ehhh!!!
Abi tori pe o ti try e
Abi ko gbe, Abi ko to wo.
(Hehe)
Wa mo pe Utaka, Attacker, Turaya.
Oh
So a friend of my loves that movie and one day I saw the clip on Twitter and I thought “I should be able to sample this on a song”
And I think I was doing laundry when the whole hook came together in my head.
So I wrote it down and everything just came together from there.
It’s a lovely song.
Thank you
You’re welcome. So you’re working on a new mixtape and you just dropped a song “Juice”
Yes, I wrote Juice in October 2021 but I wasn’t able to record it for the longest time.
But this year I recorded some songs for my mixtape and thought “you know what, I’ll record this. And I did and it came out nice
Cool. So when’s the mixtape coming out?
February. I’m waiting for some of the featured artists to send in their verses
Do you have a name for it?
Not yet but I’m trying to think of one. I’ll take suggestions if you have any
Okay, let me see. I’ll think of something and share with you on Twitter
Okay
So, you’re a student right?
Yes
Cool. Time for our quick fire questions: The Top Three
Let’s do this
Top three future collaborations
Droxx, King Pelz and hopefully Falz the Bahd Guy
Top three venues to perform in
Eko Convention Centre, UniLag main auditorium and the 02 Arena
Why is it so important for you to perform in UniLag? That’s your school right?
Yes, that’s my school and I’d really love to sell out my school.
Chai, I hope it happens
So Top three ways to spend a fun day
Movies, video games recording
Top three things you can’t leave the house without
Sunglasses, a face cap or a durag and my earphones
Holiday destinations
Dubai, The Maldives and my village
Where is your village?
It’s in Osun State. I’ve never been there before but I’ve been told that it’s actually a pretty cool place
Favourite things about your life right now
My family, the catalogue of music I have coming soon and my friends
Aww. How sweet. So Most inspirational rappers. Dead, living, future and past.
I’d say Falz the Bahd Guy, he’s my number one. My brother is here clapping for me
He loves Falz too?
Yes, so Falz, King Pells and Grimaldi Banks
Favourite foods
Beans, jollof rice and Jollof rice and beans
Wait, Beans, jollof rice and Jollof rice and beans ?
Yes, exactly in that order
Ok. Favourite songs of all time ?
Soft Work by Falz, Bad, Baddo, Baddest by Falz and Laxer by Falz
Favourite movies of all time
I don’t really like movies. I prefer series
Alright then. Series
How I Met Your Mother, Modern Family and The Big Bang Theory
Alright. Thank you so much for talking to me, Kaydee. Good luck with your mixtape and enjoy your holidays
Thank you
Check out Kaydee’s latest singles Juice and Utaka
Follow him on Twitter and Instagram