As this season of Afrobeats Intelligence winds down, Joey Akan sits with Peruzzi, the Nigerian singer-songwriter behind hits like “Majesty” and “Relationship.” It’s an interview long in the making, and as Akan tells him early on: “These things, when I do them, I usually think, ‘When it happens, it’s the right time.’”

Timing becomes a subtle through-line in the 47-minute conversation – the way it shapes growth, career shifts, and creative evolution.

“I had to go back and sit down and think, like, what would Peruzzi really do regardless of what’s trending,” the artist reflects. “I don’t wanna be boxed.” Still, he acknowledges that the rush of early success came with distractions. “I had to get through that phase to get here. This is the part where they really understand why I was created in the first place, why I decided to do this.”

Akan, ever the thoughtful interviewer, guides the exchange with quiet intention, curiosity, and clarity, giving Peruzzi room to reckon with his past and articulate what’s next. They’re not afraid to delve into the depths of fame; “I was lost in it, I was carried away,” Peruzzi admits, a sober reflection, delivered with the weight of someone who has lived the high life.

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The imagery of Afrobeats is massively influenced by music video directors, who curate an artist’s visual brand and consequently, their representation in the minds of the audience. Music videos have always been important, and even in the presence of several new media forms, its relevance remains visible, as clearly seen in the work of Director Pink, who has been a frontrunner in the scene over the past half-decade.

On the latest edition of Afrobeats Intelligence, we get an intimate look into the world of visuals through the experienced perspective of Pink. The episode begins with host Joey Akan asking where she finds the intersection between what goes into her ear and what people should see. “You hear some songs and it’s really hard — it’s getting harder sometimes — to really pick out what you would want to represent visually,” she says, “but most times when I get a song, I always analyze a few things; what’s the song talking about, how I research about the artist as well, then I also brainstorm on what the song actually needs to push it. So I have to boost the song with the video; it’s also important”.

Pink admits that she enjoys visualizing new artists, since music videos must have some continuity across different songs. The intricacies of visually representing an artist come to the fore, as the director reveals the tools of character-building: the mood associated with an artist, the lighting choices, the progression of scenes. She says: “I always ask some questions, ‘what’s your vibe like?’ ‘What kind of artists do you listen to?’ Some of them are also taking over very old artists that have left a legacy, some of them want to follow those footsteps. It’s more like trying to understand and know the artist deeply, and actually try to bring that out.”

From the sound to fashion to image, the episode reveals all the many considerations the video director must influence. Her work with Chike comes to mind, as she’s largely curated his perception as a warm loverboy, their creative partnership beginning from the Simi-featured remix of “Running.” Between the vivacious frames of “Egwu” and the melancholic symbolism of “Man Not God,” we see a director attuned to the work of their client, sharing the creative process with as much gusto.

In this conversation, Pink is eloquent and inspirational, revealing the stories and techniques that have shaped her career. Now in her mid-20s, she’s been on the journey for about a decade, surmounting several challenges to rise towards the zenith of her craft. “It was just making images,” she says about the initial appeal of music videos. “The fact that you’re able to do anything in just three minutes. It’s not like a film where you’d probably stick to a particular story, and you can go outside the box a bit, but you don’t really have that much leverage. With music videos, you can do a million and one things.”

The last time Joey Akan caught up with Lojay, it was at the dynamic Nigerian artist’s house. This time, the roles are reversed: Lojay is in Akan’s territory – the Afrobeats Intelligence podcast – for a free-ranging, joyful conversation that lasts just over an hour.

"It's interesting how much you've grown since then," Akan reflects, as Lojay lounges comfortably on a white sofa, dressed in a black hoodie and relaxed jeans. That growth becomes a central theme, echoed in Lojay’s thoughts on artistry, honesty, and intention. “At the end of the day, it’s like, what do you truly want? Are you doing it for something else?” he muses, a mindset he applies to everything from music-making to getting a tattoo.

Akan’s poise allows the conversation to meander without ever losing track. He riffs off Lojay’s reflections, guiding the dialogue with an ease that feels more like a catch-up between old friends than a formal interview. The result is an atmosphere that invites candor, laughter, and the occasional surprising admission.

Lojay speaks openly about the emotional layers that shape his music, like why heartbreak often inspires his most potent songwriting, how fame has complicated his relationships, and the burden of always being viewed through the lens of success.

On this week’s episode of Afrobeats Intelligence, presented by OkayAfrica, the Afrobeats story gets a new arc through one of its most intriguing characters. Bella Shmurda holds a unique place in Afropop due to his insistence on crafting only music that comes from his heart, with a distinct voice that has vivified the mainstream in no small ways.

In conversation with Joey Akan, the artist provides a conscious map of how he fought his way through the inner streets of Lagos, armed with nothing but his sound and his heart. It’s a deeply personal episode, as Bella Shmurda has always been a candid conversationalist, and here we get even deeper into his process.

The evolution of Bella Shmurda’s writing is one of the early points in the episode; the artist talked about how using songbooks made him a more precise songwriter. “I think I had more inspiration when I used to write in books,” he said. “I have to think properly about my lyrics before writing because I have to cancel, and I don’t want to cancel. So, you have to be precise about what you write on that paper, and I feel like I need to go back to that. I’m more reasonable when I’m writing.”

Entering into what Joey called the intersection in Bella’s work, aspects such as spirituality, love, and inspiration were discussed. “I just want to see people happy,” says the artist about why he has a sense for motivating people, a quality he traces back to his childhood. With a clarity that his listeners are familiar with, the episode peels back the influences behind the artist as they discuss various subjects that circle back on emotions and subjectivity.

It’s clear from this Afrobeats Intelligence episode that impact will always be central to the music Bella Shmurda makes. “At this moment, I feel like I’m not in the industry anymore,” he says. “My kind of music, I’m not doing songs now for trend, because this beat is hot, this sound is hot, let me jump on it. I don’t think I’m in that space anymore. I just want to do this music for the reason I want to do it, which is uplifting people’s souls, making people self-conscious, and helping people go through life with my music.”

Nigerian superstar Joeboy tells his truth on Afrobeats Intelligence, going in-depth on his journey from being a record label signee to now running his own imprint. In a candid, free flowing conversation with award-winning journalist and podcast host Joey Akan, Joeboy shares the spontaneous origin of his imprint’s name, Young Legend, his still-developing vision, and embracing structure to balance being an artist and an executive.

The singer also discusses the intent behind his recent album, Viva Lavida, the importance of consistency to his growth and staying power as a relatable star, and creating from a place of love.

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