“5hrs Till Nairobi,” one of the standout tracks from BNXN’s sophomore album, ‘Captain,’ perhaps best reflects his state of mind while recording the project. Wrestling with the persistent anxiety that follows even the most successful artists, yet anchored by an unshakeable belief in his talent, BNXN lays bare the emotional tension that underpins the album: “Five hours till I land Nairobi, my passport with me,” he sings. “I’m kinda nervous if they even know me ’cause I went number one and I ain’t been there lowkey.”

Arriving three years after he emerged as the winner of The Headies’ coveted Next Rated category, and two years after his acclaimed debut, ‘Sincerely, Benson,’ ‘Captain’ vividly portrays the complexity behind the music that has earned him a place on global stages. His ability to introspect and tug at heartstrings as precisely as possible, without overly refining or simplifying the emotions at play–whether romance, heartbreak, survival, or even hedonism–has always been his greatest armour. 

Which is why, a year after the release of ‘Captain’, its songs have remained in rotation, dominating charts at different times.  On the goal for the project, Bnxn reveals that he aimed to outdo his debut. “I was spending late nights and early mornings working on it. I was doing things I hadn’t done on my last album and touching on topics I hadn’t explored before,” he tells Native Mag. “Before I dropped the album, my main goal was to surpass what I did with the last project. Looking back a year later, I can honestly say I did that and more.”

Over the past year, he has kept the project’s momentum alive, touring various cities and bringing the album’s experience directly to his fans. So far, “Phenomena” and the FOLA-assisted “Very Soon” have been his favourite songs to perform, the latter bringing into focus his excellence at collaborations. Bnxn glides smoothly through all his features, a trait exemplified by his recent joint effort with Sarz on ‘The Game Needs Us,’ a five-track EP that’s home to “Back Outside,” one of 2026’s irrefutable summer jams. 

While forging ahead, he’s still revelling in the remarkable success of  ‘Captain‘ while working on his third studio album and a couple of other projects on the side. Despite the increasing demands of fame, he remains steadfast in his strengths and continues to believe in himself. “In this industry, there are always moments of doubt,” he admits. “You doubt the music, you doubt whether the song will do what you expect it to do. But you need an unshakable mind that allows you to face things head-on.”

It’s been one year since ‘Captain’ dropped, what were your goals for the album and would you say you’ve achieved them so far?

Before I dropped the album, my main goal was to surpass what I did with the last project. Looking back a year later, I can honestly say I did that and more.The album exceeded my expectations in terms of statistics, impact, and how far it traveled. I was able to tour multiple cities with it and give people a real feel of what the album means to me. I’m just happy and grateful that I was able to accomplish that.

Was there a moment during the recording process when you knew the album was becoming something special?

Yes, there were several moments when I knew I was making something special. One moment was when I played the project for Burna Boy. He had no corrections, no pointers, nothing he wanted changed. He just wanted to be part of it. Another moment was recording “In Jesus Name” in South Africa. The whole studio froze. Everyone was just listening to what I was saying. Moments like that, from producers’ reactions to the mixing and mastering process, made me realize this project was different. I was spending late nights and early mornings working on it. I was doing things I hadn’t done on my last album and touching on topics I hadn’t explored before. That dedication made me feel like the album was going to be special.

Are there songs that almost didn’t make the final tracklist? How do you feel about them now?

There were a few songs that didn’t make the tracklist, including one with Burna Boy. But the songs that didn’t make it didn’t necessarily change the vibration of the project. I don’t have any regrets about the songs that made the album. Every song served its purpose and did well in its own way. One song that almost didn’t make it was “Realize.” It has more of a long-lost Galala sound from Western Nigeria, and I felt it was important to have a record that represented that. If anything was going to be replaced, it probably would’ve been that one, but I still felt connected to it and what it represented.

Which song do you enjoy performing the most so far? 

If it’s a solo record, I really enjoy performing “Phenomena.” Every song has its own feeling, but “Phenomena” is definitely one of them. If it’s a feature record, I love performing “Very Soon.”

Was there a risk you took on this project that paid off?

The biggest risk was choosing when to release the album. I released it around a time when a lot of other albums were coming out, so I had to trust that my project could stand the test of time. Thankfully, it did. It’s one of the albums from last year that is still charting on Apple Music and Spotify, and that says a lot.

Is there something people still misunderstand about the album?

I wouldn’t necessarily call it a misunderstanding, but the album was originally meant to support a name change for me, but it became more than that. It became more than just an album or something I wanted people to identify me with. It became a statement. It was me communicating emotions and experiences that didn’t fully play out until months after the album dropped. That made me realize the album was timeless. It was something special.

You’ve established yourself as a proficient collaborator throughout your career, what’s your secret sauce?

It really comes down to dedication to my art and my craft, staying in tune with my emotions, and staying connected to God.

Are you currently working on any personal projects?

Yes, I’m currently working on my third album. I’m also working on some short-form projects and other things.

If you could pick three things that you’ve found useful or inspiring to your work or career, what would they be and why?

The first thing would be having a diligent team. You can’t do everything by yourself. You need people who are dedicated to seeing you grow as a person and as an artist. You need people who can correct you, support you, and keep you on track. Structure is very important. The second thing would be having a mind of your own. There were a lot of things I had to stand firm on and say, “This is what I want, and this is what it’s going to be.” In this industry, there are always moments of doubt. You doubt the music, you doubt whether the song will do what you expect it to do, but you need an unshakable mind that allows you to face things head-on. The third thing would be having a listening ear. It’s important to listen to people around you, whether they’re listening to the music or the message. Sometimes they can tell you when something doesn’t sound right or when something can be better. All three work hand in hand: having a dedicated team, trusting yourself, and still being open enough to listen and gather opinions. If you have those things, you can keep growing.