From the vibrant, chaotic streets of Lagos to global stages, Ayo Maff’s music is a raw, unfiltered reflection of life as he’s lived it and as his people continue to live it. A natural storyteller with an infectious energy, Maff doesn’t just make music; he bottles the hopes, struggles, and resilience of the streets, delivering them in a sound that’s as versatile as his experiences.
His journey isn’t one of overnight fame but of steady grind, shaped by the realities of Lagos, where dreams and hardship walk side by side. Whether through his breakout project “Maffian” or his highly anticipated debut album, Maff’s artistry thrives on authenticity. His sound? A dynamic blend of Afrobeats, street pop, and soulful lyricism, refusing to be boxed in. His personality? Magnetic, unapologetically positive, and deeply rooted in the community that raised him.
Behind the scenes, Maff is surrounded by a tight-knit crew who keep him grounded even as his ambitions soar. For Maff, success isn’t just about accolades; it’s about lifting his hood with him, staying true to the stories that define him, and making sure the world hears Lagos exactly as it is: raw, real, and relentlessly alive.
In a conversation with iMullar, Ayo Maff talks about his sound, fealty to the sound of the streets of Lagos, his dreams, and debut album, “Prince Of The Street”.
This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
Who is the man behind Ayo Maff that people don’t get to see?
That would be Olu. Over time, he’s become like a big brother to me. He and my manager, AY, have been there for me since I got into the music scene professionally. Both of them and the rest of my team have helped me navigate the many sides of the music game, from the art to the business. Olu has a very creative mind and has been in the industry for a while. We call him my creative director, but he does much more than that. He also acts as an A&R, among many other things. So yeah, I’d say him.
Your music is rooted in your experiences in Lagos. Can you share specific moments that shaped you into the kind of artist and storyteller you are today?
One specific moment? No, because it’s a series of things. Many times, I even make music from the experiences of others, not just mine. I’m a street boy, and the stories from the streets are numerous, and many of them are very similar. I tap into those stories to make my music. That’s why I always say I don’t just make music for myself. A lot of what you hear in my songs are stories of other people who come from where I come from. I’ve experienced poverty and hardship. I’ve always been a positive person, but I know what hopelessness and helplessness look like. I’ve seen it all around me. I can describe it. I can relate to it. I know the wishes and dreams of an average street kid. I know the drive, that hunger to make it out of the mud. So when I talk about it, I describe it exactly as it is, raw and real in a way my people can relate to it. And for those who can’t relate, maybe they’ll never fully understand but at least, they’ll get a picture of what it’s like. These things define me as an artist, and they shape how I tell stories in my music
How do you stay true to your roots while making music for a global audience?
It’s to never forget where I’m from. It would be hard to forget, It’s one of the recurring things my mom always says to me, also I make sure to go back to the hood that made me, now and then. Be it to give back, or just to see my people, or even in private, just to remind myself who I am. I have a track on my album called Remind Me. That record is very personal to me, it was pretty much me making a song to remind myself not to lose my head, no matter how big I grow or how famous I get. My dreams are wild and big. I want to achieve a whole lot. And even though I’m grateful for where I am right now and all I’ve done, it’s still nothing compared to where I want to be.
I know the people I look up to, the accolades I aspire to, the heights I’m reaching for. So I made a song that will always be mine, one that reminds me not to lose myself, no matter what, and to always remember where I’m from and why I’m doing all of this. So while I strive to make music for a global audience and chase big achievements, who I am and where I come from will always mean everything to me and I’ll stay true to that. That, and the people I have around me, my team, my brothers. They’re always there to guide me and talk to me, always. Most of them are from where I’m from too. We all tap into the same vision, and that’s why we’re working together. The vision aligns.
How do you approach writing the lyrics for your records?
My creative process is dynamic, it varies. Sometimes, the beat leads the way. Other times, it’s a personal experience that sparks it. There are also times when a word or phrase just lands in my mind, and that leads me to a sound that can carry the message. From there, the rest of the lyrics flow. So really, there’s no one way I approach it. I just go as the spirit leads.
You’ve got an energetic presence. How do you transfer that energy into your studio sessions, live, and acoustic performances?
It’s a part of me. Like I mentioned, I’m a very positive person. I try to stay that way no matter what, and operating on a high vibration, high energy helps me maintain that mindset. That has somehow made me find people who operate on that same energy and being surrounded by that makes it easy to pour it into everything I do. My music, performances, visuals, and even my everyday interactions with my guys, my team, and colleagues. It’s just my norm: high spirit, always. And then God blessed me with fans who constantly gas me up. That steady ginger had to be reflected into my guys, the same guys you see with me on stage, in visuals, and behind the scenes. It’s a movement, and my squad, always.
How involved are you in your visuals? How do you translate your oral storytelling to a visual one?
I’m quite involved. I have a creative director, and sometimes even from the very first recording of a song, I’ll call or text him to share ideas about how I see things, or how I’d love it to look, all of that. Over time, working closely together, he’s come to know me well. So even when he’s not the one directly creating a visual I’m part of, we collaborate with whoever is, just to make sure it stays on brand. Like I said, I have a team that’s fully in sync with me. The vision aligns, and we carry that through into everything that represents Ayo Maff, Visuals included.
Your debut album has been a long-awaited one. How much pressure did you put on yourself, especially after a great project like “Maffian”?
At first, I piled a lot of pressure on myself probably because it was my first body of work, and I wasn’t exactly sure how to go about it. I knew what I wanted to do, but the fear of doing something for the first time made it feel heavier than it needed to be. The beautiful part, though, is that I have a big, loving fan base. This project was for them. So many times without even trying they’d remind me how much they love and support me and all I needed to do was be authentic, stay true to myself, and do what I do the only way I can. So I just had to chill, and have fun with it. Don’t think about it too much, be real and undiluted.
What are some of the sounds and themes explored in this album?
The sounds are diverse, and I hate to be boxed in. Music comes to me in different forms, so I express myself across different sounds and in different ways. The themes vary too: love, life, happiness, disappointments, life on the streets, dreams … so many things. It’s all a reflection of how I feel and what I see.
What inspired the collaborations? What did they individually add to the storytelling and overall message of your debut album?
Friendship and admiration that’s what shaped these collaborations. I made music with people I genuinely love and whose art I deeply respect. And the music we created? It sounded exactly like I imagined it would. These are very talented individuals whose careers speak volumes about their hard work and dedication to the craft. I’ve enjoyed listening to them, watching them, and I feel privileged to have made music with them. The collaborations on this project are very personal to me. I’ve worked on songs in the past that never saw the light of day, for one reason or another but these ones? They’re special. And if you listen, I truly believe you’ll love them too.
Your music and artistic expressions denote life on the streets of Lagos; its sounds and culture. How important is it for you to be a representative of street music and culture in Nigeria and Africa?
It’s pretty important especially because I didn’t choose that path, it chose me. And once it did, I knew I had to uphold it as best as I could. It’s not even about pressure, because I’m living life and making music on my terms. Since it’s not faked or forced since it’s my reality and my truth it comes naturally. And as long as I stay true to myself, I believe my people will always find me just as relatable as they do now.
As an artist, what keeps you up at night?
My dreams? Omo, my aspirations are huge not just about what I want to achieve as an artist, but also about what I hope to do for where I’m from and how I want to positively impact society. I think about how I want to represent my roots, how I’d love to help position my community in the best possible light. The heights I’m aiming for, the kind of voice I want to become, those are the things that keep me up at night, in the way you mean. But in reality? I sleep very well. I don’t joke with my sleep, please.
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