Smooth by Design,
Global by Nature

"A Nigerian-born artist raising the Afrobeats flag from Canada — with a sound built to travel, and a heart set on celebrating women."

100K+

Total streams

5K

Instagram followers

1K

Monthly listeners

Apr 24

Cola release date

The Artist

From Lagos to Canada, Without Losing the Lagos

Born Adeyemo Boluwatife Isaac — and known to the world simply as Bolu — this Nigerian-born, Canada-based artist has been quietly building something that feels both personal and universal. His sound does not choose between where he came from and where he is now. It carries both.

Rooted firmly in Afrobeats, Bolu layers his music with the kind of smooth melodic storytelling that draws from R&B intimacy without losing the infectious rhythm and bounce that defines contemporary African music. The result is a signature blend — warm, emotionally present, and built for both heartfelt listening and the dancefloor.

What sets Bolu apart isn't just the sound — it's the intent. A consistent thread through his catalogue is his love and admiration for women. He doesn't just write about romantic attraction; he writes about presence, aura, and strength. That authentic honoring of feminine energy has become one of his most recognizable artistic fingerprints.

"He doesn't just sing about love — he honors it. His music celebrates women across all backgrounds, reflecting admiration, gratitude, and the beauty he sees in their strength and presence."

New Music

Meet "Cola" — His Most Infectious Record Yet

Released on April 24th, Bolu's latest single "Cola" is a feel-good Afrobeats anthem that does what only the best records do — it makes you feel something before you even fully understand why.

The record was born from a spontaneous studio session, where the melody led before the words caught up. The title emerged naturally — the perfect vessel for a song centered on beauty, desire, and the electric energy of a woman who commands every room she enters.

"Cola" — Single

Afro R&B / Afrobeats · April 24, 2025

Smooth vocal textures, warm melodies, and lifestyle-driven production fused into a replay-worthy record. Built around genuine admiration — celebrating women across all races, backgrounds, and identities. Radio-friendly, dancefloor-ready, and designed for the social media moment.

Sonically, "Cola" leans into smooth Afrobeats rhythms layered with rhythmic percussion and an easy bounce that never forces itself. It lives at the intersection of mainstream Afrobeats and feel-good lifestyle music — the kind of record that finds a home on every playlist it touches.

The bigger picture

A Diaspora Voice in a Global Conversation

As a Nigeria-born artist operating out of Canada, Bolu occupies a fascinating position in the global music landscape. He is part of a growing generation of diaspora artists who carry Afrobeats not as an imported genre but as a lived identity — reinterpreting it through the dual lens of homeland roots and international exposure.

His ability to write and perform across English, Pidgin, and Yoruba gives his music a rare fluidity, making it accessible to long-standing Afrobeats fans and new global listeners alike. With "Cola" already positioned for radio rotation, club play, and digital streaming traction, the trajectory is clear — Bolu is building something with longevity at its core.

Final word

"Bolu's music carries a message as consistent as his sound — women deserve to be celebrated, not just desired. With 'Cola,' he makes that point in the most effortless way possible: by making you move while you listen."

 It’s Double Trouble in  here, as  Afrobeats artist; Top Tier, preps a fiery two pack in the works that kicks off a party like no other!  

        Emerging as one of the fresh voices to look out for in the Afrobeats scene, Top Tier brings energy, charisma, and an unapologetically vibrant sound with his new releases, “Turn Up” and “Like That”

    “Turn up” is a bold, feel-good anthem designed to light up dance floors and set the tone for your unforgettable nights. Blending elements of Afropop with subtle infusions of Afro-hip hop, “Turn Up” delivers a smooth yet high-energy rhythm that instantly pulls you in. With its catchy hooks, infectious beat, and  delivery, the track captures the essence of carefree enjoyment and pure vibes.

       It embodies the spirit of good times,  the kind where the music is flowing, the energy is right, and nobody’s holding back. It’s an open invitation to let loose, step out, and fully embrace the moment. Whether you’re at a house party, in the club, or just vibing with your friends, this track sets up the perfect mood.

      With a playful edge and a nod to the “baddies in the room” and the DJ spinning the turntables, Top Tier crafts a sound that is inclusive and electric,  a celebration of fun and living in the moment. 

        He raises the stakes with his second track; “Like That”, an infectious Afro-hip hop jam that strikes a smooth balance between smooth music and a thrilling energy.

     From the very first beat, the track pulls you into its world, a sonic blend of rhythm, bounce, and groove that’s effortless and electrifying. It’s layered with some amusing, dynamic musical elements that hit you all at once, creating that rich listening experience that stays with you long after the song ends.

     “Like That” captures that pre-party excitement, the anticipation of a great night, the thrill of stepping out, and the promise of unforgettable moments. 

       There’s a lightness and vital energy woven into the track, making it the perfect soundtrack for good times, whether you’re getting ready with your friends or already in the middle of the dance floor.   “Like That” takes you to a moment in time, where the music is good and the drinks flow. 

     Top tier is that artist, that finesses lyrical bars and keeps things melodic at the same time. His whole MO here is to get the party started and these two singles do it perfect justice.        Soon to be out on all streaming platforms, watch out for the magic he has in store for you!

 

Purp Kulture unveils Purp Sessions, a live performance series spotlighting raw artistry and intentional sound, debuting with a powerful set from Reespect.

As the first artist on Purp Sessions, Reespect sets the tone with a performance rooted in authenticity, musicality, and refined visuals.

The debut session was brought to life in collaboration with a tight-knit creative team. Recorded at Beezle Studios and visually directed by Wemimo, the performance blends sonic precision with clean, immersive visuals.

Backed by a live band, the session features:

* Drums: Chuks Osifo

* Guitar: Emmanuel Igwe

* Electric Keyboard: Kelechi Obioha

* Bass: Elubode Sinmiloluwa

Released April 14, 2026, on YouTube, the first Purp Sessions marks a new era for Purp Kulture, documenting sound in its purest form.

With this launch, Purp Kulture builds a platform that showcases talent and archives key moments in contemporary music culture.

Purp Sessions is now live.

Ultima Limited is proud to announce the release of Heat & Heart, the debut EP from Afrobeats artist Ayo Benzi. Set for release on April 8, 2026 across all major digital streaming platforms, the 4-track project marks the arrival of one of Nigerian music’s most exciting new voices and fulfills a promise made under national television lights.

FROM THE SCREEN TO YOUR SPEAKERS

Ayo Benzi is the winner of Next Afrobeats Star Season 1, Nigeria’s flagship televised music competition for emerging Afrobeats talent. Every track on Heat & Heart is an original composition, songs that were written, crafted, and performed across the competition’s run, now remastered and packaged for the world. This is not a compilation or a greatest hits; it is a fully conceived debut body of work, shaped under pressure and delivered with purpose.

The transition from television audience to streaming audience is a defining moment in any artist’s journey. For Ayo Benzi, it is the natural next step in a story that millions of Nigerians have already been watching.

Heat & Heart is an Afrobeats-forward project rooted in culture, texture, confession, and groove. Where most debut EPs ease listeners in, Ayo Benzi opens the door wide, four tracks that move between heat (energy, swagger, the tension of wanting) and heart (vulnerability, faith, the weight of what matters). It is the duality that defines this generation of Nigerian artists: deeply spiritual, intensely ambitious, and wholly themselves.

Lead single “Oil Dey My Head” sets the tone. Drawing on the imagery of divine favour and anointing, the oil that marks, protects, and consecrates, Ayo Benzi delivers a statement of faith wrapped in one of the most infectious Afrobeats productions of the year. It is the kind of record that plays at church and at the party, and sounds perfectly at home in both.

“Every song on this EP is a piece of me that Nigeria has already heard, but now it’s yours to keep. Heat & Heart is just the beginning.”

— Ayo Benzi

“Ayo Benzi did not just win a competition, he earned a platform. Heat & Heart is what happens when raw talent gets the time and space to say something real. We believe in these songs. Nigeria will too.”

— Femi Ayeni, C.E.O, Ultima Limited

RELEASE DETAILS

Artist: Ayo Benzi

EP Title: Heat & Heart

Release Date: April 8, 2026

Format: 4-track EP | Digital / Streaming

Genre: Afrobeats

Lead Single: “Oil Dey My Head”

Available On: Spotify, Apple Music, Audiomack, Boomplay, YouTube Music, and all major DSPs

 

ABOUT AYO BENZI

Ayo Benzi is a Nigerian Afrobeats artist and the winner of Next Afrobeats Star Season 1. Known for a performance style that fuses vocal range with raw stage presence, he rose through one of Nigeria’s most competitive music platforms and emerged with both a title and a fanbase. Heat & Heart is his debut EP and his formal introduction to the global music market.

Ohlay, a young new artist in the Nigerian music scene, recently dropped his new single, “Whyne”, last Friday. This artist has a knack for blending melody, emotion, and rhythm into a fresh sound that draws on Afrobeats and global music.

Known for his catchy hooks and honest storytelling, Ohlay is building a growing fanbase with every release as he pushes toward that global stage.

Following his first release “Ohh no” in 2025, he’s back and stronger this year with something fresh and compelling; “Whyne”, a simple, catchy, and rhythmic Afropop jam.

Ohlay holds a shrill, yet soft and chill voice that gives the rhythm the flow it deserves, helping this artist stand out effortlessly. 

Out now on all streaming platforms, check out “Whyne”, smooth music that’s easy to love

Creative Currents With Bemistudi0 
Issue 8.0  Mar. 2026
Interview Conducted by Olulana Mofiyinfoluwa & Chiagozie Mbuba
Design by Chiagozie Mbuba

Bemistudi0 exists at the intersection of what can be seen and what can only be felt. Trained in Law, International Relations, and Medical Law; disciplines built on precision, definition, and doctrine and she has turned her practice toward something altogether different: the moment before thought becomes language, before perception hardens into certainty. Her paintings don't explain the human condition; they dissolve it back into its raw materials. Vibrant figuration blurs into abstraction, figures emerge and recede, and somewhere in between, the viewer catches a glimpse of their own mind at work. This is not art made to be understood. It is art made to be experienced.

Q. Can you take us back to the moment you first realized visual art was something you wanted to pursue?

A. I don’t think it was a moment, more like an accumulation of moments. It was gradual and then it just was.

Q. Walk us through your creative process; from the first spark of an idea to the finished piece. What does that journey typically look like for you?

A. Different paintings come to me in different ways. It varies truly. Personally, I don’t over think the process. I think one of the most important elements of the creativity is time. Time to develop an idea until it takes life of its own.

Q. Your work often blends abstraction with human figures. How do you translate feelings or experiences into visual language?

A. I don’t think about translating anything when i paint. I think about what’s true and then paint that. Truth in conception, truth in emotion, truth in thought. Whatever kind of truth it is… that's what I paint

Q. What moulds perceived reality, and how can I paint that?" - is a deeply philosophical one. How did you arrive at this as the driving force behind your practice, and has your answer evolved over time?

A. I think my craft in itself has evolved over time. With my art, It’s always been important for me to paint beyond what meets the eye. I’m fascinated with the human mind and how we understand the world around us.

Q. Your work positions thought and perception as forces that intertwine and shape each other. When you're mid-painting, do you feel that process happening in real time or are you thinking through the work as you make it?

A. This is an interesting question. I believe the connection between thought and perception is impalpable. I don’t necessarily believe it’s something we can “feel” but it’s often observed in hindsight. Painting is a wonderful way to master the art of complex thinking. I couldn’t say that I think about one thing or the idea of trying to “ make art” when I paint… art isn’t about art. It’s about life, so naturally I have a series of thoughts.

Q.  The human figure appears throughout your paintings, yet you're drawing viewers toward something intangible; the parts of humanity that resist simple definition. How do you decide when a figure has said enough?

A. It’s a balancing act. I try not to get in the way of what’s happening on my canvas. I let the work be. It’s vital to allow the create process. 

Q. You hold degrees in Law international relations and Medical Law, disciplines that are deeply concerned with defining the human condition in precise terms. How does that training sit alongside a practice that deliberately explores what can't be defined?

A. It creates beautiful dimension. I understand thoughts have the capacity to influence doctrines while creating establishments. Thoughts form and shape our relations and theories. My work seeks to dissect the genesis of this, in a sense. I find that there's a lot of depth to it. In the most beautiful way.

Q. Your work has been described as sitting between vibrant figuration and abstraction. Is there a tension there you're working with, or is that interplay the point entirely?

A. Yeah I have deep appreciation for abstraction. I think it yields power that’s quite unique.

Q. Looking ahead, what new directions or ideas are you excited to explore in your artistic journey?

A. I guess we’ll see lol

After tracing her path from the courtrooms of theory to the quiet authority of the canvas, one thing becomes clear: Bemistudi0 is not chasing answers. She is sitting with the questions, and inviting you to do the same. The work is still unfolding; the next direction kept close, with a quiet confidence that what comes next will arrive exactly when it should. What molds perceived reality? Step inside the painting and find out.

Olulana Mofiyinfoluwa
For Solid Guy Magazine