Afro B joins us for one of his most honest and in-depth interviews ever.
From growing up in South London to creating the global smash Joanna (Drogba), Afro B breaks down the real story behind one of the biggest Afrobeats records of all time. We discuss the origins of Afrobeats in the UK, his journey from DJ to international artist, working retail at Next while chasing music, building a career independently, and what happened after worldwide fame.
Chapters:
0:00 intro / title sequence
1:17 Local Geeza Out now! Shizzio X Mc Creed X Big Narstie
1:50 Welcome Afro B / crew / World Cup
4:11 born & bred
5:25 happy slaps
6:25 outside as a kid / gang culture
7:33 nutmeg rush
8:52 avoiding madness / local gangs
10:53 music from young / quit producing
12:41 strict parent beats
14:35 school
16:27 being musical from young
19:06 Afro Beats origin
20:59 where did Afro Beats start from?
23:25 Afro Beats influence / Djing Afro Beats
25:50 Afro B came from Afro Beats
26:35 where did Afro Beats name come from?
29:20 1st song release / singing on tracks
31:39 PT job at Next / £20 gigs
32:53 dropping songs / Uni
34:32 Artist Vs DJ
35:15 1st UK Afro Beats artist?
36:17 seeing Afro Beats grow in the UK
37:09 when did Afro Beats land? / Afro swing
38:43 moving with times / Tion Wayne collab
40:16 getting bigger / audience swap
42:13 landing as an artist / radio
43:31 UK Drill takes over from Afro Swing
43:31 Afro Beats Africa Vs UK / reading trends
44:44 Making Joanna Drogba
46:40 who is Joanna?
47:28 writing Joanna took 15 mins!
48:25 GOAL!
50:06 posting Drogba Joanna snippets
50:38 why Drogba?
51:43 Drogba posts the song
52:45 Drogba dance challenge / Radio show
56:30 NY / Funk Flex
59:22 introducing Afro Beats to USA / GOAL
1:01:19 USA success / no major label
1:02:51 Summer Jam / money
1:04:05 Shaq O'Neil remix
1:04:55 celeb co-signs / 50 Cent / Beyonce
1:05:57 money made / reinvesting
1:08:19 French Montana / Global remixes
1:09:20 globally wanted / no ego
1:10:37 end of Ivory Coast World Cup match
1:13:09 1B+ total views for Joanna
1:13:32 ideal remix collab
1:14:17 handling global fame
1:15:05 follow up record pressure
1:15:43 selling the song
1:18:24 Joanna Drogba ownership % / selling
1:19:39 trying to beat Drogba / covid / T-Pain collab
1:22:12 T-Pain collab details
1:23:04 independent artist always
1:25:36 lack of consistency / Vybz Kartel collab
1:27:41 British artist? / respect on your name
1:30:15 Ashanti collab
1:32:26 no manager / in-house team
1:34:21 working the world's audience
1:36:14 UK audience VS the world
1:38:17 does the UK hate? / Central Cee
1:41:22 new project / Album VS EP
1:43:45 we invented Twerking
1:45:51 British colonisation
1:46:41 first single release / no feats
1:48:06 evolving sounds
1:49:34 album EP release / new music
1:51:03 Capital Xtra radio show
1:51:29 Afro Beats Mount Rushmore
1:52:33 constant videos / algorithm
1:54:38 AI Q's / Chris Brown collab
1:55:34 collab list / humble
1:57:35 Drogba blessing or curse?
1:58:46 total money made from Joanna
2:00:51 Rihanna aired me
2:01:41 respect
2:02:25 biggest regret
2:03:15 I got sampled without clearance
2:04:43 politics / choices
2:06:10 Air Force 1 supply
2:08:14 inner circle / trends
2:09:08 why is Bhangra not like Afro Beats?
2:13:27 labels / TikTok era
2:13:25 quick fire Q's
2:15:57 meeting Drogba for dinner
2:16:42 quick fire Q's
2:19:42 final message / thank you
