GEN Z is the long-awaited and highly anticipated debut album from Billboard-charting Nigerian streetpop star ZINOLEESKY set for release on April 25, 2025. Crafted over the course of two transformative years, Gen Z is a bold and personal milestone for one of afrobeats’ most compelling young voices, with the project capturing Zinoleesky’s depth, complexity, and multi-dimensional evolution – from streetpop sensation and global superstar to introspective artist and first-time father. Built on a foundation of afro-futurist escapism, the album invites listeners into Zinoleesky’s alternate reality – where his music becomes a game, a safe space, and a form of self-expression. Drawing on Zinoleesky’s love of gaming and virtual worlds, it’s both a personal universe and a generational mirror.
Blending afropop, amapiano, trap, R&B, hip-hop, and alté influences, Gen Z sees Zinoleesky pushing the boundaries of contemporary African music while staying grounded in his Lagos roots. Singing in Yoruba, Pidgin, and English, the Agege native weaves a multicultural, genre-fluid tapestry that speaks to a global generation. Driven by acclaimed lead singles ‘Element’, ‘Fuji Garbage’, and Billboard-charting ‘Abanikanda’, which have combined for over 200 million plays online, the Gen Z album is built around rich storytelling, captivating melodies, and emotional candour from Zinoleesky, as well as genre-defying production from trusted collaborators like Babybeats, Lekaa Beats (Central Cee, J Hus), Niphkeys (Stormzy, Rema), and JAE5 (Skepta, Dave). Together, they create an immersive sound that feels both futuristic and familiar, over which Zinoleesky makes his boldest artistic statement yet.
With guest appearances from UK heavyweights Ms Banks and Young T & Bugsey, New York rap star Toosii, Jamaican rising star Dyani, Ivorian sensation Didi B, and funky house pioneer Donae’o, Gen Z underscores Zinoleesky’s global outlook, and his mission to connect cultures, and transcend borders. Thematically, the album is a bold and unfiltered portrait of a generation in motion, told through the lens of an artist evolving in real time. On tracks like ‘Lifestyle’ and ‘Steph Curry’, Zinoleesky’s ambition, confidence, and resilience take centre stage, while on ‘Born Survivor’ and ‘On Go’, he doubles down on discipline and perseverance, with ‘Movie’ and ‘Mandela’ exploring the highs and solitude of success, offering both spectacle and introspection. Throughout the Gen Z record, Zinoleesky’s pen is purposeful – driven by lived experience and clarity of voice.
Elsewhere on the album, love and vulnerability weave seamlessly into the narrative. ‘One of a Kind’, ‘Ferrari’, and ‘Suit and Tie’ present different shades of romance, from soft admiration to indulgent devotion, while ‘Doctor’ turns desire into a playful, metaphor-laced performance. Cultural pride shines on ‘Jollof’ and ‘Ayamashe’, where food becomes a symbol of attraction, authenticity, and fire. The swagger of ‘2 Baba Flex’ channels superstar status with a nod to icons, but it’s ‘Gifted’ that cuts deepest – a profound reflection on pressure, purpose, and spiritual reckoning. With Gen Z, Zinoleesky delivers a rich and cohesive debut that balances street-born bravado with soul-searching honesty, the outcome is a powerful offering from an artist claiming his space with intention and nuance.
Gen Z is a statement of identity, escapism, resilience, and reinvention, as Zinoleesky ushers in his most defining era yet. The deeply resonant album reflects Zinoleesky’s singular ability to connect raw street energy with melody, vulnerability, and vision. Tapping into his passion for gaming and virtual escapism, the album explores alternate realities and afro-futuristic themes, while championing Afican music sub-genres such as afropiano and afroswing. As he unveils Gen Z, Zinoleesky not only cements his place in Nigeria’s rich musical legacy, but also bridges the gap between street pop and global stages, offering the world a new lens through which to view African youth culture. With over a billion global streams under his belt, and rave reviews from BBC 1Xtra, NME, Clash Magazine, and Capital Xtra, Zinoleesky is not just representing the voice of his generation, he’s defining it.
