Nigeria: Zinoleesky shares debut album Gen Z

Gen Z, available for streaming and download on major digital platforms, serves as a deeply personal milestone, blending Afro-futurist themes with the raw vibrancy of street culture. Inspired by Zinoleesky’s passion for gaming and virtual worlds, the album creates an alternate reality where music becomes a sanctuary and form of self-expression, a mirror for a new generation navigating identity and ambition in a hyper-connected world.

Sonically, Gen Z is a genre-fluid offering, fusing Afropop, amapiano, R&B, hip hop, trap, and alté. The Agege-born singer delivers his vocals in Yoruba, Pidgin, and English, creating a multicultural soundscape that bridges Lagos street culture with global sensibilities. The album is anchored by standout singles ‘Element’, ‘Fuji Garbage’, and ‘Abanikanda’ — the latter having charted on Billboard and contributed to over 200 million global streams.

Production credits include a powerhouse line-up of collaborators such as Babybeats, Lekaa Beats (Central Cee, J Hus), Niphkeys (Stormzy, Rema), and JAE5 (Skepta, Dave), who help build the album’s futuristic yet familiar sonic identity. Guest features include UK rap duo Young T & Bugsey, Ms Banks, American rapper Toosii, Ivorian star Didi B, Jamaican singer Dyani, and UK funky house legend Donae’o, highlighting Zinoleesky’s global vision.

Thematically, Gen Z offers a bold portrait of modern youth, told through the lens of a maturing artist. Tracks like ‘Lifestyle’ and ‘Steph Curry’ reflect his ambition and swagger, while ‘Born Survivor’ and ‘On Go’ emphasise discipline and perseverance. ‘On Movie’ and ‘Mandela’, ‘Zinoleesky’ explores the emotional toll of fame, combining spectacle with solitude.

Love and vulnerability also feature prominently. Songs like ‘One of a Kind’, ‘Ferrari’, and ‘Suit and Tie’ explore romance in its various forms, while ‘Doctor’ takes a playful, metaphorical approach to desire. Tracks such as ‘Jollof’ and ‘Ayamashe’ celebrate cultural pride using food as a symbol of authenticity and attraction.

One of the album’s most striking moments comes with Gifted — a meditative reflection on purpose, spiritual struggle, and the weight of expectation. Altogether, Gen Z balances bravado and honesty, standing as Zinoleesky’s most complete artistic statement to date.

“Gen Z is more than an album,” Zinoleesky’s team said. “It’s a declaration of identity, resilience, and reinvention. Zinoleesky is not just contributing to Nigeria’s musical legacy — he’s redefining what it means to be young, African, and global.”

With over a billion streams and accolades from BBC 1Xtra, NME, Clash Magazine, and Capital Xtra, Zinoleesky has emerged as a defining voice of his generation. Gen Z confirms his place at the forefront of African music, bridging street credibility with mainstream appeal, and delivering a debut that resonates far beyond borders.