Something about the unending winning streak that FOLA has been on since his breakthrough with 2024’s “alone” has the singer feeling damn near invincible. It’s a feeling that he elucidates candidly across the length of his sophomore album, ‘9,’ a quick-fire follow-up to 2025’s emotive ‘catharsis.’ More grounded in his work and assured of his staying power, he leans into the imagery of himself as a bankable striker for album number two. “Every single song I put out, it just hits,” he tells Apple Music’s Africa Now Radio. “It’s no misses. So they always call me striker because a striker never misses.”

Across the 14 songs of ‘9,’ the singer embraces the reality of his life in the limelight and acknowledges the massive strides he’s made. Importantly, he does not stray too far from the formula that has served him well so far. Songs like “miss u ii (nriri),” “treat you right,” and “waf” carry the sensitivity that he’s made a stock in trade. “I’ve always told myself that I’ll always make sure originality is my thing,” he noted in his chat with Africa Now Radio. “I won’t ever try to sound like someone else.”

This conversation has been edited for clarity.

Why is ‘9’ the perfect metaphor for where you are at in your career?

My last album was ‘catharsis,’ and ever since, I’ve always been called striker. My friends, my team, my label people, and my schoolmates. Every single song I put out, it just hits. It’s no misses. So they always call me striker because a striker never misses. A number nine in football is who the team is built around. It’s who the team depends on to score a goal.  A number nine is who you depend on to give you the winning goal. I just thought about it and, you know, number nine, striker. 

How do you maintain success and stay relevant? 

It’s not so easy, but I try to make everything as organic as possible. My numbers, everything I put out. It just comes as naturally as possible.

How do you distinguish yourself and your sound across your various collaborations? 

I’ve always told myself that I’ll always make sure originality is my thing. I won’t ever try to sound like someone else. I always try to do my thing the way I wanna do it, the way I see things, the way I perceive things, the way I see everything I put my hands on, and be myself as much as possible. I don’t even want to make music like someone else. I just want to be myself. That’s why you always hear the real FOLA. 

What was it like making “2amin Toronto“ and working with Davido on it?

There’s a little story behind the record. The song wasn’t even supposed to make the album. I had already finished my album, but not with Davido on it. I had the song already, and it was not even one of my favourite songs. It was not in contention for the songs I was going to pick for the album. So I was in Canada then. I was in Toronto, and it was 2 AM. I was just scrolling through my archives, saw the song, and just kept listening to it. I just knew I needed something special. I knew I needed some spice that was missing. After the success of “B4 B4,” I think there’s still more to come, and I just thought about it that, “You know what? I think Baddest is the right one for the record.” I sent it to Baddest. Even before Baddest recorded it, Baddest told me, “Oh my days, I killed you on this song.” I said, “Oh my, I can’t wait to listen to it.” He sent it to me, and it was mind-blowing. He took it to the next level. 

How did you create “treat you right” with Ayra Starr?

Big shout-out to Ayra Starr. We have two records together—not actual two records—I did something on a song on her album, and it was good. It was mind-blowing. I already got done with the song. I had already done my own verse because I had already finished the song. Then, I listened to one Ayra Starr song, and I was blown away. There was a particular song I listened to that very night I was blown away, and I just took my manager, and I think I went around on it, and we tried it, and it worked out. She sent back her verse in no time. 

What was it like working with BNXN on “My Type?”

Big shout-out to BNXN. He’s one of the first people in the industry to actually show me love, to actually see that in me and put me on. I’ve been making music ever since then. We share ideas. We make music and send to each other like, you know, “Do you think you’d like to do this? Do you think you’d like to do that?“ He sends a couple to me as well. He’s such a great guy. Big shoutout to him. We went into the studio to make “Shamaya,” a song on his project, and “My Type,” the song on my own album. BNXN and I have a lot of records together.

What was it like working on “It’s Over“ with Bella Shmurda and Zlatan?

Shoutout to Zlatan, big shout to Bella Shmurda. The record is mind-blowing. Bella Shmurda and I have a lot of songs together as well. The synergy is just there; the chemistry is there. I already had it in mind to put Bella Shmurda on my album. I sat down and listened to all the songs and said, “You know what? This is Bella Shmurda’s. It has to be on the album. I sent it to him; he loved it, and he did his verse. It was too good.” With Zlatan, it’s a song I already had in mind that was going to end my album. So, I wanted to end it in style. Zlatan is stylish, and he ends the album. 

When you look at this generation five years from now, where do you want your name to sit in that story? 

I still want to be the striker. I just want to be known for doing great things, shutting down the arenas, getting the Grammys, and doing everything I can for Afrobeats. The sky is the limit. A lot of things can be achieved. Five years is a lot. Five years is a whole lot. I just want to achieve great things.