Meet Badman Pondo – The Street Oracle
Shittu Usman Damilare, known as Badman Pondo, is the voice of street sermons and everyday hustle, weaving stories of grit, growth, and glory through Afro-adura rhythms and experimental blends of Afrobeats. After a quiet spell of honing his craft, Pondo stepped out in February 2022 with his debut EP Comfort Zone — a six-track confession of faith and fearlessness that marked his entry into the scene. He kept the fire burning with two follow-up singles, Lately and Dimension, before the year’s close, proving he wasn’t just testing waters but staking his claim. Long before his spotlight moment, Pondo made his first recorded appearance back in 2020 as a featured artist on Dreymakanaki’s Sonorous Sound EP. Now, with every release, he continues to shape a sound that’s versatile enough to explore spiritual, streetwise and zestful as evident in his trending TikTok sound set to release on the 15th of October. This is undoubtedly a balance only a true oracle could master.If you’re new to his sound, start with tracks like Update, Lately and Brag.
Music Licensing and Sync Deals: The Hidden Goldmine Artists Are Finally Tapping Into
Most people think streaming is where artists make their money, but the real fortune actually lies behind the scenes of music licensing and sync deals. This is evident in the context of Afrobeats artists like: • Tems – “No Woman, No Cry” (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever)Her emotional delivery on the song helped define the movie’s tone hereby landing her massive licensing payout plus global attention. • Rema – “Calm Down”Beyond being a hit, Calm Down has been licensed for international ads and campaigns. This means more money for the young Afrobeats talent. • Burna Boy – “Destiny”Featured on Barack Obama’s playlist and multiple documentaries, showing how African music is being woven into global storytelling, Burna Boy is making making money off that track due to sync deals. How It Works • Music Supervisors Search for a Track: A film or brand looks for the perfect sound. • License Negotiation: The artist, label, or publisher agrees to terms and usage. • Payment: The artist receives an upfront sync fee, and continues to earn royalties whenever the song airs. • Split Between Rights Holders: Both the writer/publisher and the recording owner (often the label) get paid. That’s why owning your masters is such a big deal, it means you control your licensing income. Key Takeaways for Artists • Register with a Performance Rights Organization (PRO) like ASCAP, BMI, PRS, or COSON. • Add your songs to sync libraries like Artlist, Musicbed, or Epidemic Sound. • Keep an instrumental version of each track ready — many syncs prefer vocals light or clean. • Build relationships with music supervisors; they’re the gatekeepers to placements. The drill is, music licensing isn’t just about exposure, it’s a career game-changer. From Lagos to Los Angeles, artists are realizing that one song in the right film or ad can make more than a million streams ever will. In today’s music economy, as an artist, your next big break might not be a hit single, it might just be a sync deal. Written by Alaro Basit
Jaws (1975) – A Broken Prop Turned Masterpiece
The Shark That Refused to Swim When Steven Spielberg began filming Jaws in 1975, he expected the film’s mechanical shark which they nicknamed “Bruce” to be the centerpiece of his sea monster thriller. But there was one big problem: Bruce barely worked due to a lot of constant mechanical breakdowns that plagued production. The salt water corroded gears, ruined circuits, and made filming a nightmare so the crew spent hours waiting for the shark to move, only for it to fail again. Turning Limitations Into Legend Instead of letting the setbacks sink the movie, Spielberg decided to hide the shark for most of the film.He relied on the following: • POV shots to make audiences feel like the shark was lurking nearby • John Williams’ haunting two-note score to signal its presence • Clever editing and shadows to build unbearable tension All of these yielded a fantastic result. By not showing the shark directly, Spielberg tapped into a universal truth of horror which is that “the unseen is often scarier than the seen.” A New Era of Suspense What started as a technical failure became one of the greatest storytelling pivots in film history. Jaws terrified audiences worldwide, grossed over $470 million, and became the first-ever summer blockbuster a model Hollywood still follows today.The film’s iconic score and minimalist suspense techniques are now studied in film schools as examples of how creative restraint can make a story more powerful.
Badman Pondo, Biography
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
Meet Kehinde Bankole – Nollywood’s Leading Lady
Kehinde Bankole is an award-winning Nigerian actress, model, and television host, widely recognized for her remarkable versatility and commanding screen presence. She first gained public attention as a finalist in the 2003 Miss Commonwealth Nigeria beauty pageant and later in Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN), before making her acting debut in Wale Adenuga’s Super Story — a move that marked the beginning of a flourishing career in Nollywood. Over the years, Kehinde has built an impressive filmography, featuring in several acclaimed productions such as October 1 (directed by Kunle Afolayan), The Set Up, Prophetess, Dear Affy, Render to Caesar, Perfect Church, Two Brides and a Baby, and the critically lauded biopic Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, where she portrayed the iconic activist and matriarch. Her range extends beyond film to television, with standout performances in Desperate Housewives Africa (the African adaptation of the U.S. hit series) and the Netflix original thriller Blood Sisters, where she showcased her depth and emotional nuance. A multiple-award-winning actress, Kehinde has received several industry recognitions, including the Africa Movie Academy Award (AMAA) for Best Actress in a Leading Role and nominations from platforms such as Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA).Beyond acting, she has made her mark as a TV host and media personality, notably anchoring the daytime talk show Soul Sisters and other television programs that highlight women’s voices and societal issues. Kehinde Bankole is celebrated not only for her artistic range but also for her ability to embody complex characters with authenticity and grace — cementing her reputation as one of Nollywood’s most respected and enduring talents.
New Music Friday
It’s a busy Friday in the music scene, and you know we always got you covered with our spicy New Music Friday playlist! Tap inn!
Music Updates
The Nigerian music scene is highly active today, Friday, October 3, 2025, with major chart dominance, new projects, and continued global recognition for Afrobeats stars. We have them served below; ~Afrobeats star, Rema was named to the prestigious 2025 TIME100 Next List, an honor that celebrates the world’s most influential rising stars. He also happens to be the only Nigerian artist featured this year, with TIME noting him as “an embodiment of the international success of Afrobeats.” ~Burna Boy, Wizkid, Rema, Asake, and Ayra Starr were named the top Afrobeats artists on Spotify’s 2025 Afrobeats list, hereby reinstating the global reach of the genre. ~Kenyan artist, Bien was announced as a performer for the 2026 Afronation festival in Portugal, joining Nigerian headliners like Asake and Wizkid, alongside South Africa’s Tyla. ~Taylor Swift has released her 12th studio album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” signaling a return to upbeat pop. One track titled “Wood,” has already started to generate buzz for its explicit lyrics. ~Bryson Tiller dropped his highly anticipated double disc album titled “Solace & The Vices,” featuring artists like Rick Ross and T-Pain. ~David Guetta has reportedly been named the World’s No. 1 DJ for the fifth time in the Top 100 of 2025. ~Bella Shmurda releases his highly anticipated sophomore album, “Sanity”. ~Adekunle Gold drops his genre-bending album, “Fuji”.
Meet Sarz – The Architect behind Hits
Osabuohien Osaretin, professionally known as Sarz with the signature tag,“Sarz On The Beat.”, has been one of Afrobeats’ most essential producers & a major driving force of modern Afrobeats since 2007. Born in Benin City, March 17th, 1989, you probably know him as the mastermind behind everlasting hits like Wizkid’s Come Closer (ft. Drake), Niniola’s Maradona & Reminisce’s Kako Bi Chicken while also producing for the likes of Obongjayar, Drake, Tiwa Savage, Wurld, and Skepta. A pioneer and innovator, beyond singles, Sarz has a catalogue of projects that are a testament to his artistry, from the experimental I Love Girls With Trobul (2019) with Wurld, to LV N ATTN (2021) with Lojay, which gave the world Monalisa & Tonongo. Now he’s fully owning the stage himself with his recently dropped body of versatile brilliance, a 12-track debut studio album titled Protect Sarz At All Costs released on September 26, 2025 and packed with features including Wizkid, Asake, Lojay, Fireboy DML, Skillibeng, Joeboy, Libianca, Shallipopi, Theodora, amongst others. It’d also interest you to know that he runs The Sarz Academy where he grooms the next wave of producers with producers like P. Priime, Tempoe, Kel-P & STG being products of his tutelage. The academy released an alumni and academy compilation titled Memories That Last Forever 2 in 2023. All of these come off as Sarz’s contribution to pushing Afrobeats into new territories by bending dance, R&B, and electronic textures, hereby cementing his name on the hall of fame of Africa’s most sought-after producers. New to Sarz? Start with Monalisa(Lojay ft. Sarz), Billions(Lojay & Sarz), Maradona(Niniola), Gone Girl(Obongjayar) and Getting Paid(Wizkid, Skillibeng & Asake). @Alaro Basit