For many upcoming artists who have dreams of going big, there is the never-ending search for that one song, the one that spurs a watershed moment. That quest leads to these acts constantly refining their output or simply throwing things at the wall and seeing what eventually sticks. For FOLA, born Odunlami Afolarin, that moment was catalysed by “alone,” a mid-2024 release that changed the trajectory of the Lagos-based singer’s rapidly ascending career. 

The warm, love-inspired single–ambient, relatable, everyday-life music–featuring BhadBoi OML was almost irresistible, slipping its way into airwaves, charts and introducing the soulful dreadhead singer to the mainstream audience. However, the success of “alone” did not come out of the blue. It emerged from years of gradual growth that necessitated constant creation and evolution, seeing the singer mutate from an adolescent rapper to a serviceable vocalist who excels at crafting soothing melodies and extracting the allure in the mundane. 

FOLA’s debut single, “Ginger Me,” arrived in early 2022, a smooth collab with Bella Shmurda, which showcased the early stages of his dreamy R&B and Street-Pop alchemy that he would go on to perfect in the coming years. “Ginger Me” was quickly followed by five other singles in the same year, gradually building a sturdy discography and fanbase. Another string of singles like “Money Chaser,” “Miss You,” and “Feeling” helped his renown grow even more, setting the stage for his breakthrough moment in 2024.

On the 1st of August, 2025, the singer announced the imminent release of his debut album ‘catharsis,’ with a post on Instagram. ‘I’ve been writing these songs for over a year now, long before most of you even knew FOLA,’ he stated in the caption. ‘I wrote these songs to mend what life tried to break, to let go of what I couldn’t hold onto, and most of all, to heal.’ That announcement came almost a year after the release of “alone,” but the reputation and growth he has been able to earn and achieve in that period belie how long he’s been in the public eye.

Post-release, “alone” worked its way up to number seven on the Official Turntable Top 100 chart a few weeks after its release. Yet it’s its remix with BNXN, which arrived almost three months after the original, that made it even more ubiquitous. In the same month that the remix was released, it was confirmed that the rising singer had signed to Bella Shmurda’s record label, Dangbana Republik. Leveraging his new deal and the success of “alone,” he released ‘what a feeling,’ his debut EP, in early December 2024. The six-track project spurned another sleeper hit titled “who does that?,” a glossy R&B-inspired rendition with his label boss that ensured that he continued to gain momentum. 

The singer kicked off an impressive run at the start of the year with a standout contribution on Zlatan’s “Get Better,” helming the song’s memorable hook. Less than a month later, he teamed up with Bella Shmurda again, this time for a more upbeat number in “Dangbana Riddim,” proving that his slick, supple voice can flourish on groovy tracks as well as well the more down-to-mid-tempo production that he had tended to favour for much of his blistering rise. Thanks to the success of both “Get Better” and “Dangbana Riddim,” the singer’s stock rose immensely, commanding the attention of other heavyweights in the industry. 

In early April, FOLA released his first official single of the year, “lost,” alongside Kizz Daniel. The single, which became an instant streaming favourite, peaked at number three on the Official Turntable Top 100 chart, and it only just slipped out of the top 20 spots after 14 weeks on the charts. The following month, the duo teamed up again, this time for “Titi,” a standout cut from Kizz Daniel’s latest project, ‘Uncle K: Lemon Chase.’ 

The success of these collaborations meant that his ascent was unimpeded, and he’d arguably become the defining voice of the current zeitgeist, putting him in an esteemed class of artists who have similarly burst onto the scene with the Midas touch. His mellifluous style, which excellently melds the native lingo of Street-Pop with R&B-inspired melodies, has made his refreshing sound pretty much irresistible at the moment, making him a great foil for many of the artists he’s collaborated with. 

Ahead of the release of his latest album ‘CAPTAIN,’ BNXN put out “Very Soon,” another lustrous collaboration with the young singer that continued his hot streak. Everybody seemed to want a piece of him, as he continued to represent a breath of fresh air on all his collaborations and even solo releases. What appears to be his biggest moment yet came recently when he teamed up with DJ Tunez and Wizkid for “One Condition.” 

The pop titan had initially co-signed FOLA earlier in the year, supporting the then-unreleased “lost.” While Wizkid delivers on the new single, it’s FOLA who truly sprinkles stardust over Ozedikus and DJ Tunez’s house-inspired production, making “One Condition” an instant favourite. The single debuted at number four on the Official Turntable Top 100 chart, and it also helped DJ Tunez make history as the first Nigerian DJ to hold the number one spot on both Apple Music Nigeria and Spotify Nigeria’s charts simultaneously, highlighting Wizkid’s obvious pull but also FOLA’s fast-rising cache. 

If there have been any queries about FOLA’s inspiring run, it’s his standalone power.  While the singer’s stock has quickly risen thanks to his smooth R&B-inspired style, it’s undeniable that the star power of his collaborators, which currently reads like a who’s who of the industry, has also aided his ascent. With ‘catharsis,’ FOLA is looking to firmly step into the spotlight, proving that he’s worth the attention all by himself. 

The album’s solo singles “you” and the recently released “eko” are already proving he’s worthy of the spotlight by himself, also indicating what the rest of the album could sound like. The Kel-P-produced “you” is another warm, love-inspired single similar to his breakout single, while “eko,” a hustler’s anthem that also doubles as a homage to Lagos, dials the energy up a little, showcasing his clever songwriting skills as well as a more expansive style that could go on to define his forthcoming album.