Five minutes with Zinoleesky: The Nigerian streetpop star is giving voice to ‘Gen Z’

Few debut albums arrive with the kind of scale, scope and soul of Zinoleesky’s Gen Z. After two transformative years of introspection, growth and sonic exploration, Nigerian streetpop artist Zinoleesky unveils his long-awaited first full-length project — a futuristic blend of amapiano, trap, alté, and afropop. With over a billion streams to his name, co-signs from heavyweights across continents and a reputation for lyrical honesty, Gen Z captures the artist’s evolution — from freestyling in Agege to topping Billboard charts and becoming a father. It’s part self-portrait, part generational mirror, built on themes of identity, escapism, romance and resilience, and filtered through the lens of an artist unafraid to break genre rules or emotional ground.

Across sixteen genre-fluid tracks, Zinoleesky shifts gears between swagger and softness, street energy and spiritual reckoning, offering standout collaborations with artists from Nigeria, the UK, US, Jamaica and Ivory Coast. From the meditative depths of ‘Gifted’ to the amapiano bounce of ‘Abanikanda,’ the album is immersive, cinematic and intensely personal.

As he invites listeners into his virtual-meets-emotional universe, Zinoleesky opens up to HUNGER about creating a safe space through sound, embracing vulnerability and the quiet power of defining your own story in a world that’s constantly watching.

Your debut album Gen Z feels deeply personal, futuristic and generational all at once. What did you want this album to say about you — and about your generation?

Gen Z is my way of saying that in this generation we’re complex, we carry pain, ambition, swag and softness all at once. I wanted this album to show who I am beyond the hype: a young man navigating fame, fatherhood, pressure and purpose. And for my generation, I wanted it to reflect how we express ourselves — loud, stylish, vulnerable, experimental. We’re not boxed in, and this album isn’t either.

The title Gen Z sets a big tone. Why did you choose it, and how do you see yourself as both a product of and a voice for Gen Z culture?

I chose ‘Gen Z’ because I feel like I embody the duality of this generation, we hustle hard but still dream big, we use the internet to escape but also to build empires. I’m a product of that energy, from freestyles going viral to the gaming world. And through my music, I try to give a voice to that silent chaos a lot of us feel, especially those coming from the trenches.

There’s a real sense of sonic experimentation on this album, from amapiano and trap to afroswing and alté. How intentional was your genre-blending, and what new ground were you trying to break?

It was very intentional. I didn’t want to be boxed in as just street-pop or Afropop. I wanted people to hear that I can go from Fuji to trap, from amapiano bounce to emotional R&B. For me, breaking ground meant showing that street artists can be futuristic too. We can be soft, edgy and global while still keeping our rawness.

Tracks like ‘Gifted’ and ‘Born Survivor’ show a more vulnerable, introspective side of you. What was it like opening up emotionally in this way, and how has fatherhood influenced that shift?

It wasn’t easy, but it felt necessary. We hustle hard but still dream big, we use alternate reality to escape but also to realise our dreams and imaginations. Those songs came from moments where I wasn’t just Zinoleesky the artist — I was Azeez, the man. Fatherhood changed my perspective a lot; it made me more reflective. It reminded me that I’m not just living for myself anymore, so the music had to be honest, even when it hurts or feels too real.

You’ve built an alternate reality with Gen Z that’s inspired by gaming and virtual escapism. How does that world connect with your real-life experiences and musical vision?

In real life, things get overwhelming, especially as an artist in the spotlight. Gaming and digital spaces gave me somewhere to escape and imagine a world where I could be free, expressive and safe. That’s what I tried to recreate with Gen Z. The music is immersive, it feels like a world you can enter, not just sounds to vibe to.

‘Fuji Garbage’ and ‘Abanikanda’ hit hard lyrically and sonically. What role does street culture still play in shaping your sound and storytelling today?

Street culture is my foundation. That raw honesty, that survival instinct, it’s always in my DNA. Although ‘Fuji Garbage’ isn’t on the album, the song is an Ode to Nigerian Fuji legend Ayinde Barrister with a Gen Z spin. ‘Abanikanda’ is me reminding people I’m still grounded, still observing, still reporting from the street, even when the setting is global.

There’s a beautiful balance between love, pride and playfulness on tracks like ‘One of a Kind,’ ‘Ayamase,’ and ‘Doctor.’ How do you approach writing about romance in a way that still feels authentic to you?

Romance isn’t just soft, it’s also ego, confusion, desire and sometimes pride. I try to approach love like how I experience it: sometimes I’m confident, sometimes I’m obsessed and sometimes I’m just tryna play cool. Whether I’m using food metaphors like in ‘Ayamase’ or flexing gently in ‘Doctor,’ I keep it real to my voice and vibe.

You’ve got features from artists across Nigeria, the UK, the US, Jamaica and Ivory Coast. What was your goal in making the album so global, and how did those collaborations push you creatively?

I wanted the album to feel like a world tour, even before I tour. Working with people from different backgrounds gave the songs more texture and perspective. Someone like Ms Banks brought that UK grit; D’yani brought Caribbean soul. Every collaboration stretched me in the best way. And also I will be starting my UK tour in October 2025, with my London headline at the Outernet on the 26 October.

From freestyling in Agege to Billboard charts and global tours, your rise has been massive. What’s kept you grounded through the rapid evolution of your career?

My people. My background. And the fact that I’ve seen both struggle and success up close. I remind myself daily that fame can go but legacy stays. So I stay focused, stay close to my roots and stay hungry. Also, my family keeps me leveled, they don’t care about charts, they care about character.

Now that Gen Z is out in the world, what’s next for Zinoleesky? Are you thinking about touring, visuals or even building out more of this virtual universe you’ve introduced?

All of that. More visuals, more immersive content and definitely touring. I’ll be touring the UK in October, and hopefully announce more countries soon, but my aim is to be where my fans are, as well as a headline show back home in Nigeria.