Underground Unreleased
Underground Unreleased is a Nigerian music podcast hosted by Wuchi (Okwuchi Okaa) alongside co-host Wale. Each episode premieres unreleased music and shines a spotlight on underground Nigerian talent. The hosts also offer unfiltered commentary on the music industry, tackling topics that most people avoid. New episodes are released every Sunday at 6PM CST and Monday at 12AM WAT.
Episodes
The Dishonest Bunch
We're calling it. This is the last Odumodublvck episode. Unless something wild happens (and it might), we're closing the file. We kicked things off with the music : Flairr Amalii's "RiRi" off Project More Swag before laying the Odumodublvck & Blaqbonez saga to rest for good (0:46). Our resident lawyer friend weighs in with a full legal breakdown on the 2M naira settlement
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Three-mic episode. Taiwo pulled up as our biggest Davido fan on record, and we came in wrecked from the Asake concert the night before. We switched things up again and opened with the music: Kimi's "Westside Tides," Guess where he's from. We liked the song so much that we also got suspicious about whether AI had something to do with it (1:28)Two listener hot takes and one hot hat
Family Feud
Rap day. We flipped the format and opened with the music for once: two underground rappers we're actually fucking with (0:31). If you can't hang, sit down. Literally.A listener hot take on whether "Afrobeats" needs to be split into real subgenres the way South Africa does and the double standard where a man can sing "I look into your eyes, I see your waist" and it's
The Lazarus Project ft. Laz
On this episode of Underground Unreleased, Wuchi sits down with Afrofusion’s next big story, Laz, fresh off signing to Wande Coal’s Black Diamond Collective. We recorded this whole conversation once, lost it to a botched platform, and brought it back from the dead. But since the guest's name is Lazarus, we leaned all the way into it (00:00). Laz breaks down the 20 seconds of silence on "P
Sun-Kissed and Tell
Episode 29 -Back on the pod and we came in hot. The "sun-kissed" debate kicks things off before we get anywhere near the music (0:00). We handled it appropriately. 100 lashes, town square.World Cup season had us all the way in: Messi's silence on his teammates' antics, England vs. Argentina, and an Argentine restaurant with an unreal name (5:00). Yeah; we're rocking with Spai
Can't Look Away
Mr P dropped "Can't Look Away" and the internet is gassing it up - except the lyrics, the vocals, and the cover art all scream AI. I break down exactly why, why Davido's co-sign doesn't change that, and why an OG with Mr P's catalogue shouldn't need a robot to write his hooks. Then I get into the escalating Qing Madi situation - her TikTok Live callout of JTON's C
Cemetery Chillin
Ody joins Wuchi for a different kind of episode on Episode 26.It's time for the P-Square brothers to hang up their individual music careers and we explain exactly why.Davido dropped a snippet too, and we discuss whether he's rewarming rice. We also talk about the company he keeps: what Cubana Chief Priest's "Cemetery Chillin" moment at a funeral says about his character, and how being surrounded b
State of Mind
Episode 25 - We're back on video and Wale took over song selection.We revisit the South Africa boycott stance after a listener pushed back. The argument: you can't selectively condemn - if Nigerian artists stay silent on domestic issues, advocating for boycotting SA artists is hypocritical. We unpack the accompanying receipts and discuss whether it's the proof the argument needed and w
Pan-African Smoke
South Africa is in the streets - mobs, machetes, students being chased out of schools, two Nigerians dead...and Nigerian artists are nowhere to be found. We open with the full timeline of the xenophobic attacks, the political response on both sides, and the question that keeps going unanswered: where is the solidarity?Then we turn to the music. Asake's Flaunt interview tells you more about M$N
SHOW ME THE M$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
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 w
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 calculate
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. Th
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
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
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.He
Episode 15 - Industry Plant
This week on Underground Unreleased, we're going audio-only but still doing what we do best! First, we break down Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl performance and debate whether any Afrobeats artist right now could’ve done it better. We talk Davido losing another Grammy to Tyla and what it’ll actually take for a Nigerian artist to win on that stage. We also unpack why Mavin Records artists aren’t connec
Episode 13 - Underground or Underground
Underground or Underground | Episode 13First episode of 2026. First, we address the gap - Detty December, travel, and why it took a minute to get back behind the mic.Recorded during Nigeria vs Morocco, this episode turns into a wider conversation about pressure, narratives, and culture.We unpack what “underground” means in Nigerian music today, debate the state of the Underground rap scene, and to
Episode 12 - If It Ain't Broke
On the new episode, the guys discuss Asake's Red Bull Symphonic concert, Asake and Wizkid's upcoming "Real" EP, T-Pain's status in Nigeria, the state of Hip-Hop post-war between Drake and Kendrick Lamar and lots more!
Episode 11 - Fire Your Sound Guy
In this episode, the guys break down Burna Boy’s canceled Chicago show and his so-called “apology,” debate AI’s growing influence in Afrobeats, and dive into whether the culture is truly ready for openly LGBT artistes. They also react to a music review request from a new listener. Tap in!
Episode 10 - AFROBEEF & BACKWASH
The guys discuss the issues with attending Burna Boy concerts, beef between Rema and Wizkid, Mavins' new signing, Cupid, Gunna's place in Afrobeats and lots more!
Episode 9 - Afro Orange Chicken
Wuchi and Wale discuss whether Afrobeats needs a reset or not and what separates the underground scene from the mainstream. Also featuring an unreleased song from a dope underground artiste you should tap in with, so don't miss it!
Episode 8 - The Soul Commute
Welcome aboard Soul Commute - a smooth ride through Soul music by Nigerian and Black artists from the diaspora. From vintage textures to modern blends, this episode captures the mood, stories, and sound of underground Soul like you’ve never heard before.Spotlight artist: F3miii, a Dublin-based genre-bender whose Soul-leaning tracks bridge alt-R&B, gospel, and modern pop.Also featuring Lou Val,
Episode 7 - Black Out. Blow Up.
Welcome to the underground where the lights flicker, the bass hits like a curse, and the stars are ghosted on socials. This episode taps into the shadowy sound of Opium-inspired rap - dark, hypnotic, and drenched in mystery.What started as a spotlight on South Africa’s rising underground has now evolved into a cross-continental cipher. From the haunting echoes of Drae Sativ to the glitchy growl of
Episode 6 - Vintage Heat, Modern Beat
Vintage Heat, Modern Beats is a journey through the past, present, and future of Highlife music - the sound that laid the foundation for so much of today’s Afrobeats.This episode features:4 vintage slept-on Highlife songsA spotlight on a modern Highlife actAfrobeats tracks with Highlife flavor3-4 modern Highlife recordsAnd a final classic to close it out full circleWhether you’re a Highlife head o
Episode 5 - Love, Lies & Letting Go
Heartbreak lingers, trust shatters, and the echoes of love lost still burn. This episode of Underground Unreleased dives deep into the raw emotions of deception, betrayal, and the struggle to move on. From lovers who played pretend to the ones who left scars, each track tells a story of heartbreak, lessons learned, and the strength to walk away. Whether you’re reminiscing about the past or finally
