Underground Unreleased

Okwuchi Okaa
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  • MUSIC COMMENTARY

Underground Unreleased is a Nigerian music podcast hosted by Wuchi and co-hosted by Wale. We premiere unreleased music, spotlight underground talent, and say the things about the industry that most people won’t. New episodes every Sunday at 6PM CST and Monday at 12AM WAT.

  1. 3 MAY

    SHOW ME THE M$NEY

    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.

    1hr 17min

  2. 26 APR

    It's All Her Fault

    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.

    2h 6m

  3. 20 APR

    What's Beef

    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.

    1hr 9min

  4. 6 APR

    Clarity of Mind

    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.

    1hr 33min

  5. 22 MAR

    Episode 19 - On Losing Color

    This week on Underground Unreleased, we ask: is Afrobeats losing its color? We start by comparing the originality of early 2000s artists to today’s “global sound,” and reflect on the era of buying CDs when music felt more unique and intentional. From there, we break down Crayon’s post-Mavin rant, Ayra Starr opening up about burnout, and the backlash Tiwa Savage faced after attending a banquet hosted by King Charles III for Bola Tinubu. We also touch on Asake’s interview with Korty EO, before diving into a wild AI case where a North Carolina man allegedly made over $8M using fake streams. To close, we debate AI’s place in music - including speculation around Kanye West - and put you onto 3 underground artists you need to hear.

    1hr 21min

  6. 15 MAR

    Episode 18 - Friday the 13th

    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.

    1hr 55min

  7. 8 MAR

    Episode 17 - Where Are We Doing Here?

    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.

    1hr 14min

  8. 22 FEB

    Episode 16 - Culture Vultures

    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!

    1hr 9min
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About

Underground Unreleased is a Nigerian music podcast hosted by Wuchi and co-hosted by Wale. We premiere unreleased music, spotlight underground talent, and say the things about the industry that most people won’t. New episodes every Sunday at 6PM CST and Monday at 12AM WAT.

Information

  • Creator
    Okwuchi Okaa
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    28
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Okwuchi Okaa
  • Show Website
    Underground Unreleased