Ayo Maff wears his heart on his sleeves, and pours it straight into the mic. So much so that his debut album opens with a vocal chop of a popular Nigerian influencer telling him to chill on sharing so much in his music, especially as a young artist. The 21-year-old Lagos-bred artist broke into the mainstream with his Fireboy DML-assisted single, “Dealer.” Released in April 2024, the song is about relying on substances to numb emotional pain, painting a picture of grief, loss and struggle. It’s a story Ayo Maff has lived and a reality many Nigerians can relate to, which could explain why it became the most streamed song on Spotify Nigeria in 2024
The emotional vulnerability behind “Dealer” is an enduring trait of his music. Records like “Jama Jama,” “7 Days,” “Are You There,” “Panic” and his latest single, “Malaria,” are all chronicles of his pain and struggles, but also of his belief, his hopes and his love. “Music lets me pour out exactly what I’m going through, what I’m feeling at that moment,” he shares. “The mic is my friend, my lover, my partner, my brother.”
On his debut album, Prince of the Street, which features BNXN, Chike, Seyi Vibez, JAZZWRLD and Thukuthela, he owns his street-adorned title without any pressure. “They (the streets) gave me the title, so they know I deserve it,” he says. True to his calling, he is one of the new vanguards building on the street-pop foundations laid by Nigerian rap heavyweights Olamide, Reminisce and the late Dagrin.
In 2026, Ayo Maff is at his most experimental as he gears up for his sophomore album, HIGHSTAR. He has delivered new soundscapes on singles like “Ya Man (Lifestyle),” “Attack” and “God Is Working,” and has worked with a diverse roster of artists, including UK Afroswing group NSG, EF MOON, Nigerian rapper Ladipoe, Uganda’s Joshua Baraka and South Africa’s MaWhoo. It all points to a deviation from the sounds that defined his debut and earlier releases. “I’ve been experimenting a lot” he says of HIGHSTAR. “The process has been long, and I’ve been putting my producers under a lot of stress lately.”
While fans wait on the full project, his latest single, “Malaria,” featuring Zinoleesky, will keep them fed for a while. Ayo Maff and Zino are only just releasing music together, but the two have known each other for a long time, way before either of them blew up. “Back when Zino and his people were still freestyling on the street, I was behind the camera and watched the growth, from street freestyles to blowing up,” he reveals.
In this interview, we speak to Ayo Maff about the new single, HIGHSTAR, and being the Prince of the Street. Read the full chat below.
This interview has been edited for clarity and conciseness.
First of all, congratulations on the release of your new single with Zinolesky, ‘Malaria. The title is an interesting metaphor for being vulnerable in love. What’s your own experiences with love and how has it influenced this record?
‘Malaria’ is an amazing record. A special record that defines this phase of my life. It’s basically about how we as men try as much to form “hard guy” but at the end of the day, we later find the butterfly that makes our hearts tingle and all of a sudden we’re all overboard. That’s literally the message of Malara. I’ve always been the type of artist that talks about my personal life, and everything in my music. So I just interpreted the situation I was in at that moment through my music
So, basically, you’re saying that you’ve found someone that gives you the butterflies?
Maybe. Maybe not
Your music is deeply personal and vulnerable. You name real people (Ojo, your mom) and tell real stories, and that openness is a big part of why listeners connect with your sound and story. Where does that come from? Is music simply the channel you’ve chosen to express yourself, or is there something deeper behind it?”
Music is one place where I find comfort and peace. When I get into the studio and speak to the mic, it’s like a partner that I believe understands me better and gives me results no one else in the world can. Music lets me pour out exactly what I’m going through, what I’m feeling at that moment. And when I hear the sound after recording, it makes me feel better. It makes me feel like I’m giving my people what they want to hear. The mic is my friend, my lover, my partner, my brother, my homecomer. It’s just part of me.
Who inspired this vulnerable style in your music? Which artists made you think, “this person translates what I’m feeling”?
To be honest, nobody really inspired it. I look up to a lot of people, but when it comes to expressing my feelings, na my own experiences dey inspire me. I’ve always been myself from day one. I came up with my own sound and my own way of expressing myself. I just express myself the way I feel, and I think that’s what makes it real.
Did you find music, or did music find you?
Music has always been my first priority. Even back in primary and secondary school, I was that guy who would drum on anything he could find. Everybody knew me for it. In a way, music found me just as much as I found music. It’s a part of who I am, music is me.
How did the Zinoleesky collaboration on the new single happen? You’ve said you always wanted to work with him.
Big love to Zinoleesky. I used to live in Shomolu and I’d visit friends in Agege, back when Zino and his people were still freestyling on the street. I was behind the camera and watched the growth, from street freestyles to blowing up. That motivated me, so featuring him was always the goal. In 2022 I was going through some crazy stuff, and his music comforted me in a way I didn’t expect. Big up to Kizz Daniel too. He helped make this record happen. Zino was busy with his project, but Kizz kept pushing me while I pushed Zino.
How’s your relationship with Kizz Daniel? There’s no joint record out yet.
There’s no joint record out yet, but there are a lot of them recorded. He’s my big bro. I love being around him, I’ve learned a lot from him, and recording with him is always fun. When I played this record for him, we agreed Zino was the best person for it, and that was exactly who I’d been thinking of too. We were on the same page.
When do we get the collab with Kizz Daniel? Is it on his next project or yours, and is it still this year?
As soon as possible. That could be this year, it could be next year.
You’ve worked with NSG, EF MOON, Ladipoe, and more. How do you blend into such different environments?
Music is natural, and it brings everybody together. I connect with someone’s sound and say, “Let’s make this work.” It’s about the music, not the product. I’ve proven I’m a versatile artist, and I don’t think there’s any sound I can’t be comfortable with.
Any dream collaborations you’re targeting?
A lot of names. If I start, we won’t leave here. The album is coming, and I believe a few of those names will be on it.
What can you share about the coming album, HIGHSTAR?
It’s very personal to me. It’s my sophomore album, and I’ve never recorded as much as I did for this one. I’m giving it my heart, and I can’t wait to share it. On timing, I can wake up tomorrow and decide to drop it. It depends on whether I feel satisfied that it’s done. But HIGHSTAR is coming so be ready.
Your debut, Prince of the Street, introduced you properly. What’s different this time, and what are you trying to prove?
I’ve been experimenting, but I’d rather let people hear it. The process has been long, and I’ve been putting my producers under a lot of stress lately.
How did growing up in Shomolu affect your music, and how do you look back on it now?
I don’t think living in Shomolu was a “situation.” It was fun, to be honest. Growing up there and having that kind of childhood makes you stronger.
Did you feel pressure taking on the “Prince of the Street” title?
They (The streets) gave me the title, because they thought I deserved it. I feel no pressure. I am the Prince of the Street, and I’m forever going to be. No pressure
What legacy do you want people to take from your music and career?
I want to be remembered for peaceful music, comfort music, and Afrobeats, and for amazing stories. One day people should be able to point at my name and say, “You did a great job.”
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