“I’ve just realised that there are certain things I’m not able to say or convey in my day-to-day interactions,” Ladipoe tells me on call one Friday evening. “I feel that certain thoughts can only really be expressed in music. Part of why I do music is to stay alive, to stay tethered to life and not lose hope. Music is very important for me to function optimally.”

It’s that quest to reach the core of his thoughts and feelings that often drives the Lagos-based rapper and songwriter to the studio, but over a decade into his career, Ladipoe is now the master of his destiny. Having experienced whirlwind success during the pandemic, his track ‘Know You’ with singer Simi kickstarted a run into a different stratosphere. Follow-up hits included ‘Feeling’ and ‘Running’, the former winning in the Best Rap Single Category at the The Headies, and he’s since performed at the 02 Arena alongside Rema. “It’s been a big transition period for me because it’s one thing being an artist, and it’s another thing doing the music business on a bigger scale,” he says. “That changed how we looked at the music, performances and the brand. I’ve become a father as well, so a lot of things in my life have changed.”

Ladipoe’s approach to that change has been to knuckle down and accept the evolution. “I was ready to be on bigger stages; I wasn’t nervous at all,” he says. “Maybe what I wasn’t ready for was the strain it might put on my family. I wasn't ready for what it means to be creating on the go, while you’re in the air and on tour. Looking back, it was a mixed bag, learning some new things and unlearning a lot of things at the same time.” Now, the singer is in a settled place after straightening out his priorities. “You need to be very aware of your voice, and you need to protect yourself and your support system that keeps you grounded. Those things are important because they can be clouded in an instant, and you’re left wondering what you were doing all of this for.”

This new zest for life is powering a new, more melodic era in his music while still maintaining his widely-respected reputation as an elite wordsmith. “It’s very clear that the rap ability and the wordplay are key to my music but I’ve always felt like people could tell that I also have these melodic tendencies and leanings.”

For long-term Ladipoe fans, that inclination has always been an added bonus of the listening experience since he started cutting his teeth in the Lagos underground scene. After announcing his arrival on ‘Victoria Island of Broken Dreams’ from Show Dem Camp’s ‘Clone Wars, Vol. ‘1 mixtape, he joined the rap duo the alternative music group, Collectiv3. This led to his first hit ‘Adore Her’ in collaboration with Funbi. Blessed with a pristine flow, Ladipoe Ladipoe signed a deal with Mavin Records in 2017, ushering in a new era for the label.

These days, he’s taking on ambitious projects like an official refix of the classic Styl-Plus track, ‘Olufunmi’ that he describes as “legacy stuff,” adding: “When I sent it to my sister to listen to, she called and was like, ‘Yo, is that the Styl-Plus singing?’ She was so moved by the moment that I realised that I was doing something that’s way beyond me. It was also cool because they are approachable guys, and they allow you to do your thing. I appreciate that.”

In 2025 alone, Ladipoe has released three singles, including the latest ‘Folasade’. It’s a noticeable departure from the drip-fed approach that the artist has maintained for much of his mainstream career. “This year has been a love letter to the lifelines, my core fans,” he explains. “There’s been so much noise about my music and how often I release. So, I wanted them to feel the outpouring of music and to feel my intention leading up to a next album.”

It’s been seven years since he released his debut album, ‘T.A.P (Talk About Poe),’ and four years since he put out the ‘Providence’ EP, and he admits his sophomore is overdue. “I’ve been working on it intentionally for almost two years. It feels right, like that’s where I’m headed right now.” As for what to expect, he’s not giving too much away. “It’s hard to say what the album sounds like because I hardly ever do the same sound twice, but the overall theme is self-discovery. It’s realising how far I’ve come on this journey of being Ladipoe. It also shows where I am now in my career and where I fit.”

Sonically, rather than focus on sourcing beats from big-name producers, he went in search of instrumentals that appealed to him in ways that big shiny beats couldn’t. Drawn to sounds that are rooted in the hip hop tradition, he’s keen to lead a revival of the genre in Nigeria while paying homage to the doors opened by afropop. And encouraged by the success of stars like Shallipopi and ODUMODUBLVCK, who are melding hip hop with indigenous sounds, Ladipoe believes a resurgence is on the way. “I want rap stars to be the biggest names you see when you pull up to a performance,” he says. “It’s such a beautiful genre: wordplay, lyricism, and telling stories. There’s still a way to go, but I’m excited about the journey.”