Badman Pondo is the alias of Shittu Usman Damilare, an eager beaver turned oracle whose sermons of street life and trench bustles are often relayed through dour Afro-adura tunes and experimental specimens of Afrobeats sensations alike.
The weaning talent rose out of creative hibernation in February 2022 with his debut EP, Comfort Zone, a six-track project that validated Pondo’s decision to leave his comfort zone and take his music career by the horns. He however wasn’t going to let his year of emergence go without serving his fans something else to hold on to, and this led to the release of two consecutive singles, Lately and Dimension in October and November 2022 respectively. It should however be noted that Pondo had been around for a while as his first ever appearance on a track was in 2020 as a featured artist on the opening track of Dreymakanaki’s EP titled “Sonorous Sound”.
As a testament to his reputation as an eager beaver, Pondo likewise made a busy year out of 2023 with his debut solo album The Dreamer, putting legacy-stamping hits like Ayo and World (a brilliant sample of Chief Sikiru Ayinde Barrister‘s “Aiye”) on the eight-course menu. He sealed the year with Billi, an Afrobeats single with an experimental Yoruba monkey tale which also got an acapella version.
It is however unforgivable to write this piece without making a reference to the bromance between Badman Pondo and the fast-rising star, Bhadboi OML. In 2024, the duo made their first magic with OML getting featured on Pondo’s genre-defying single hit, Update. The duo would later produce the pivoting track of Pondo’s career in Life, the second track on Pondo’s second album Close to Fame, released in 2024. The album also enlists main course meals including Psalm 91/Surah Al falaq (a successful fusion of Afro-adura and Amapiano) and IG amongst other tantalising tunes on the menu. Complimentary singles including Alone, Pain and Halle also helped to clear all doubts of fans eating good from Pondo’s broth in 2024.
In February 2025, the singer opened the floor with a traditional surreal vibe on Gbajumo and a bonus acapella variant. He retains possession of this self-acclaimed floor in June with Brag bearing the flag as his latest single. This is however bound to change soon as the baton might soon be passed to the mysterious track that is currently responsible for the unruly buzz, dance challenges and massive attention that’s been bringing a positive Tiktok mob action on Pondo recently.
Written by Alaro Basit