9ice reveals the artists catching his eye lately

Veteran Afropop star 9ice has praised a new generation of Nigerian artists for their originality and lyrical courage, describing their sound as a refreshing departure from mainstream trends.

In a recent interview captured on video, the Gongo Aso crooner expressed admiration for several rising talents, including Fola, Ayo Maff, Shoday, Rybeena, and Fido, whose latest single Joy is Coming particularly caught his attention.

“I love a whole lot of them,” 9ice said, explaining that what makes these young artists stand out is their willingness to explore different subjects and musical directions. “Their style is quite different, and at least, they are testing that topic that people are running away from,” he added.

The singer highlighted Joy is Coming as an example of this shift, noting that it breaks away from the repetitive themes of romance and nightlife often found in contemporary Afrobeats. “It’s not about girls now and everybody loves it,” he said, emphasizing that having a unique voice and perspective is what sustains an artist’s relevance. “Once you have your own niche, that’s it.”

9ice’s comments reflect growing recognition of a new creative wave in Nigerian music, one that values experimentation and deeper storytelling. Coming from an artist who helped shape the country’s modern Afropop sound, his endorsement adds meaningful validation to the younger acts redefining what Nigerian music can sound like.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Notjustok.com (@notjustok)

Get Fresh updates from NotJustOk as they drop via X and Facebook

The post 9ice reveals the artists catching his eye lately appeared first on NotjustOk.