Underground Unreleased

SHOW ME THE M$NEY

Sun, 03 May 2026 23:00:00 GMT

Episode 23 - Asake dropped M$NEY on May 1st and we were ready. The verdict? Album-making culture in Afrobeats is in trouble and unfortunately, M$NEY is exhibit A. We break down why one of the genre's most consistent artists delivered what might be his weakest project yet, what the absence of Olamide's pen reveals, and why being rich and being creative don't always go together. Then we get into Davido publicly mocking DJ Tunez over the Burna Boy situation - what that says about where the Big 3 dynamic actually stands right now. We also discuss Elestee parting ways with Mavin Records, why it didn't work out, and what her path forward looks like as an independent artist. We close with our Put You On segment.

Episode 8 - The Soul Commute

Mon, 12 May 2025 23:16:19 GMT

Welcome aboard Soul Commute - a smooth ride through Soul music by Nigerian and Black artists from the diaspora. From vintage textures to modern blends, this episode captures the mood, stories, and sound of underground Soul like you’ve never heard before.

Spotlight artist: F3miii, a Dublin-based genre-bender whose Soul-leaning tracks bridge alt-R&B, gospel, and modern pop.

Also featuring Lou Val, Moses Ideka, Aussie Maze, and more.

Curated by: @Okwuchiii

Presented by: @unreleasedng

Episode 7 - Black Out. Blow Up.

Mon, 28 Apr 2025 22:42:10 GMT

Welcome to the underground where the lights flicker, the bass hits like a curse, and the stars are ghosted on socials. This episode taps into the shadowy sound of Opium-inspired rap - dark, hypnotic, and drenched in mystery.

What started as a spotlight on South Africa’s rising underground has now evolved into a cross-continental cipher. From the haunting echoes of Drae Sativ to the glitchy growl of Nigeria’s Zaylevelten, this playlist is for the nightcrawlers and mood benders.

No backstories. No bios. Just blackout energy. Tune in.

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Twitter: @unreleasedng

Instagram: @unreleasedng

SoundCloud: Underground Unreleased

Spotify: Okwuchi Okaa

Episode 6 - Vintage Heat, Modern Beat

Mon, 28 Apr 2025 22:38:08 GMT

Vintage Heat, Modern Beats is a journey through the past, present, and future of Highlife music - the sound that laid the foundation for so much of today’s Afrobeats.

This episode features:

4 vintage slept-on Highlife songs

A spotlight on a modern Highlife act

Afrobeats tracks with Highlife flavor

3-4 modern Highlife records

And a final classic to close it out full circle

Whether you’re a Highlife head or just discovering the genre, this one’s a vibe.
Hit play, feel the groove, and let the culture move you.

Follow Underground Unreleased on
Twitter: @unreleasedng
Instagram: @unreleasedng
SoundCloud: Underground Unreleased
Spotify: Okwuchi Okaa

Episode 5 - Love, Lies & Letting Go

Mon, 28 Apr 2025 22:24:37 GMT

Heartbreak lingers, trust shatters, and the echoes of love lost still burn. This episode of Underground Unreleased dives deep into the raw emotions of deception, betrayal, and the struggle to move on. From lovers who played pretend to the ones who left scars, each track tells a story of heartbreak, lessons learned, and the strength to walk away. Whether you’re reminiscing about the past or finally closing the door on it, these underground gems will have you feeling every emotion.

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Instagram: @unreleasedng

Twitter: @unreleasedng

Can't Look Away

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 05:00:00 GMT

Mr P dropped "Can't Look Away" and the internet is gassing it up - except the lyrics, the vocals, and the cover art all scream AI. I break down exactly why, why Davido's co-sign doesn't change that, and why an OG with Mr P's catalogue shouldn't need a robot to write his hooks. Then I get into the escalating Qing Madi situation - her TikTok Live callout of JTON's CEO, the EP that got pulled from streaming, and the second lawsuit from Richie Music Empire claiming she breached an earlier contract before ever signing with JTON. Two label heads, two lawsuits, one artist. I lay out where I stand and why.

Follow the podcast on TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter: @unreleasedng

Cemetery Chillin

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 18:30:00 GMT

Ody joins Wuchi for a different kind of episode on Episode 26.

It's time for the P-Square brothers to hang up their individual music careers and we explain exactly why.

Davido dropped a snippet too, and we discuss whether he's rewarming rice. We also talk about the company he keeps: what Cubana Chief Priest's "Cemetery Chillin" moment at a funeral says about his character, and how being surrounded by people like that might be costing Davido creatively.

Then it's Qing Madi; we break down the difference in songwriting between I Am the Blueprint and the new Barely Legal EP, and what that shift tells you about where she's heading.

We also get into something bigger: whether the decline of Hip-Hop is part of why Afrobeats feels stale right now, and how the early 2000s Hip-Hop influence shaped the Afrobeats artists we grew up on.

Before you dive in, follow us on TikTok, Twitter and Instagram: @unreleasedng

State of Mind

Mon, 25 May 2026 13:30:01 GMT

Episode 25 - We're back on video and Wale took over song selection.We revisit the South Africa boycott stance after a listener pushed back. The argument: you can't selectively condemn - if Nigerian artists stay silent on domestic issues, advocating for boycotting SA artists is hypocritical. We unpack the accompanying receipts and discuss whether it's the proof the argument needed and why holding the people advocating for accountability to a higher standard than the people perpetrating violence can come off as its own kind of dishonest.Then it's Drake. Iceman is out and we sit with it. We discuss how the impact of the beef on Drake shows on the album and whether Drake does the telling of his experience justice. We also address some of the criticism of the album and our expectations of Drake's next album should he be independent.Afrobeats artists are leaning on AI for cover art and visualizers and it's getting harder to ignore. We name names and discuss whether or not their usage of AI is justified and acceptable and under what circumstances.The final discussion involves Wuchi addressing some of the criticism he received for his review of Asake and Wizkid's REAL EP and he details why his critique has been vindicated.The episode ends with a review of two song submissions.Heads up - next episode is audio-only. Find it on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Follow us on TikTok, Twitter and Instagram: @unreleasedng

Pan-African Smoke

Sat, 16 May 2026 14:36:04 GMT

South Africa is in the streets - mobs, machetes, students being chased out of schools, two Nigerians dead...and Nigerian artists are nowhere to be found. We open with the full timeline of the xenophobic attacks, the political response on both sides, and the question that keeps going unanswered: where is the solidarity?

Then we turn to the music. Asake's Flaunt interview tells you more about M$NEY than the album does; we break down what he actually said and what it means for where he goes from here. Seyi Vibez called Adekunle Gold wack on Twitter. AG posted his North American orchestra tour link and kept it moving. We discuss. Rihanna used Ayra Starr's music in her Met Gala recap and the internet has been at war ever since, so we get into what's really up and what the July timeline actually tells you about who's playing chess here.

We close on Burna Boy and Shakira as the official FIFA 2026 World Cup song and what it means that Nigerian music is the global soundtrack of a tournament Nigeria didn't qualify for.

Put You On features Ema Onigah, Roju, Makinde, and Tay Iwar

It's All Her Fault

Sun, 26 Apr 2026 23:00:00 GMT

Episode 22 - It's been a wild week in Afrobeats and somehow, the women keep getting blamed. We break down GoodGirl LA's contract termination with VMF less than a year after signing, Qing Madi's allegations against her former label, and the industry insiders insinuating both situations are somehow the artists' fault. Then we get into Zinoleesky going independent from Marlian Music with his new "Zinodict Music" label and what that says about artist-label relationships across generations. Fat Joe claims Afrobeats came from Jamaica and tried to take credit for making BNXN change his name; BNXN had something to say about that. We also break down the upcoming May release calendar: Asake's M$NEY, Adekunle Gold's FUJI XTRA, Drake's Iceman, plus the Tyla vs Ayra Starr July situation. We close with our Put You On segment featuring some of the underground artists who've reached out to us since the MillyMay clip.

What's Beef

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 00:32:32 GMT

Episode 21 - What’s Beef? We’re getting into all of it. We break down the Burna Boy and DJ Tunez situation - the fight at Obi’s House, the oath Burna swore on his mother invoking Ogun, and the video evidence that tells a very different story. Then we get into Odumodublvck vs Blaqbonez - the ACL beat drama, the personal backstory behind a beef that was never really about rap, and the most calculated power move in recent Nigerian hip hop history. We also revisit a debate that’s been going on since secondary school - Chris Brown vs Michael Jackson vs Usher; and where that conversation stands today. We close out with our Put You On segment: underground Nigerian and African artists you need to hear right now.

Clarity of Mind

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 01:58:37 GMT

Omah Lay dropped Clarity of Mind and we have thoughts. We get into the album, the promo campaign that preceded it, and whether his bold claim of being the best artist of the last 20 years holds up when you actually press play. We also discuss two former DMW signees - Dremo and Liya - who opened up about their time under Davido, and what their stories say about the artist-label model in Nigeria. Then we address Panther7, one of our most dedicated listeners, who says Afrobeats feels stale to him right now - we get into whether he’s right, and if so, whether it’s something to worry about. We close out with our Put You On segment: five underground Nigerian artists you need to hear.

Episode 18 - Friday the 13th

Sun, 15 Mar 2026 23:00:00 GMT

This episode covers everything from Afrobeats history debates to the evolving podcast industry and viral moments shaping conversations online.

We discuss Omah Lay’s controversial comments about Afrobeats and the role of Fela in the genre’s legacy, the rise of exclusivity deals in podcasting, and the viral story of Ella - a Lagos commuter whose activism highlighted transportation issues and sparked real change.

Later, we get into Ari Lennox and Tiwa Savage’s recent reflections on relationships and societal expectations, before closing out with a spotlight on emerging female artists worth checking out.

Episode 17 - Where Are We Doing Here?

Sun, 08 Mar 2026 23:00:01 GMT

This week on Underground Unreleased, we explore the evolving landscape of Afrobeats. With fewer foreign labels giving artistes huge advances, we ask whether the genre is slowing down or simply entering a new phase. We also unpack the economics behind cultural success, including the complicated role piracy has played in spreading African music globally. The conversation then turns to female stardom in hip-hop and Afrobeats, using Ayra Starr's career as a lens to examine what it really takes for women artists to reach megastar status.

Episode 16 - Culture Vultures

Sun, 22 Feb 2026 06:00:00 GMT

A lot of wars have started over food and this one is one of them. On the menu, we discuss Ghanaian restaurant staff attempting to take credit for egusi, break down Billboard calling Rema a one-hit wonder, Rolling Stone Africa publishing an AI article on Wizkid & Asake, Buju Banton saying Afrobeats lacks substance, and whether Mavin Records is positioning Ayra Starr like the superstar she is.

Heads up: this episode might make your head hot. Enjoy!

Episode 15 - Industry Plant

Sun, 15 Feb 2026 21:30:01 GMT

This week on Underground Unreleased, we're going audio-only but still doing what we do best! First, we break down Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl performance and debate whether any Afrobeats artist right now could’ve done it better. We talk Davido losing another Grammy to Tyla and what it’ll actually take for a Nigerian artist to win on that stage. We also unpack why Mavin Records artists aren’t connecting like they used to, and whether J. Cole stepping away from Kendrick Lamar changes how we view his legacy.

Episode 14 - Unreal

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 05:52:00 GMT

The guys give their review of Asake and Wizkid's collab EP, REAL, and discuss Dremo's "Man2Man" challenge.

Episode 13 - Underground or Underground

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 00:14:04 GMT

Underground or Underground | Episode 13

First episode of 2026. First, we address the gap - Detty December, travel, and why it took a minute to get back behind the mic.

Recorded during Nigeria vs Morocco, this episode turns into a wider conversation about pressure, narratives, and culture.

We unpack what “underground” means in Nigerian music today, debate the state of the Underground rap scene, and touch on:

Ayra Starr’s recent image shift
Seun Kuti vs Wizkid FC
African categories at the Grammys
Why The Headies lack credibility
The Tyla Afrobeats debate
Asake & Wizkid pushing back their EP

And Sleepers: two song recommendations for our listeners.

ENJOY!

Episode 12 - If It Ain't Broke

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT

On the new episode, the guys discuss Asake's Red Bull Symphonic concert, Asake and Wizkid's upcoming "Real" EP, T-Pain's status in Nigeria, the state of Hip-Hop post-war between Drake and Kendrick Lamar and lots more!

Episode 11 - Fire Your Sound Guy

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 06:00:00 GMT

In this episode, the guys break down Burna Boy’s canceled Chicago show and his so-called “apology,” debate AI’s growing influence in Afrobeats, and dive into whether the culture is truly ready for openly LGBT artistes. They also react to a music review request from a new listener. Tap in!

Episode 10 - AFROBEEF & BACKWASH

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 02:20:08 GMT

The guys discuss the issues with attending Burna Boy concerts, beef between Rema and Wizkid, Mavins' new signing, Cupid, Gunna's place in Afrobeats and lots more!

Episode 9 - Afro Orange Chicken

Sat, 08 Nov 2025 17:21:30 GMT

Wuchi and Wale discuss whether Afrobeats needs a reset or not and what separates the underground scene from the mainstream. Also featuring an unreleased song from a dope underground artiste you should tap in with, so don't miss it!