Born Osayaba Andrew Ize-Iyamu in Lagos, Cruel Santino, formerly known as Santi, is one of the fearless architects of Nigeria’s Alté movement, a boundless universe where Afrobeats flirts with punk, hip-hop, and dreamlike pop. A self-taught visionary who began writing, rapping, and directing as a teenager, Santino built his sound and visuals from a deep well of Nollywood nostalgia, anime aesthetics, gaming culture, and the limitless spirit of the internet. His work thrives on storytelling and worldbuilding, drawing from the imaginations of creators like Junji Ito and Hideo Kojima, but always finding its own pulse in the chaos.
His 2019 breakout album Mandy & The Jungle introduced listeners to his lush, layered world through records like Rapid Fire and Sparky—songs that blurred the lines between genre and feeling. Then came Subaru Boys: FINAL HEAVEN in 2022, a 21-track odyssey that expanded his creative universe into something larger than music, blending trap drums, Afrofusion textures, and surreal worldbuilding. With features from Amaarae, Skepta, and Koffee, the project earned acclaim from Rolling Stone and Fader, further proving Santino’s place among the architects of modern sound.
Beyond the studio, his vision stretches into fashion and film, with collaborations alongside Mowalola, Tyler, The Creator, and Odumodublvck, and performances with Rema, FKA Twigs, and Blood Orange. His work has crossed global stages from ICA London to MoMA PS1, Triennale di Milano, and Sole DXB, with mentions in Pitchfork, GQ, Billboard, NME, Crack, and Dazed.Songs like Final Champion and I Told Gus I’m Dreamin’ capture his raw, cinematic, and endlessly curiousworld perfectly.