Unleash: A Nigerian creative blending sound, story and vision
Bodun Kareem Tobiloba Emmanuel, widely known as Unleash, is one of the new generation of Nigerian creatives steadily shaping the global soundscape. His journey into music began not in a studio, but with a simple childhood gift: a piano bought by his mother when he was six. That gesture became a turning point. Through his local church, he taught himself to play, discovering that music was not a hobby to be toyed with, but a calling that demanded his devotion.
Born in Ogun State in 1994, Emmanuel grew up with a hunger to refine his gift. By 2016, he shifted his focus to music production and began an apprenticeship under the renowned producer Indomix, a relationship that lasted until 2021. The experience was both rigorous and rewarding, sharpening his technical ear and giving him the confidence to build soundscapes that could carry emotion and vision.
That discipline translated into collaborations with some of Nigeria’s most celebrated musicians. Jaywon, Sound Sultan, Minjin, Korede Bello, Pepenazi, W4, Soft and Jiron are among the names he has worked with. Behind the scenes, his fingerprints were on songs that helped define moments in Nigerian popular culture. His work was recognised with awards, cementing his reputation as a versatile and reliable producer.
But producing others’ stories was never going to be enough. In 2020, Emmanuel reintroduced himself, this time as a recording artist. His chosen sound, Afro fusion, is an evolving blend of African rhythms with global influences. He describes it as music that welcomes every culture, reimagining them through an African heartbeat. His singles “Number 1” and “Feelings” have enjoyed wide airplay, and his forthcoming extended play “Love or Lust” delves into heartbreak, obsession, addiction and the possibility of finding love again. It is a project rooted in his personal journey and one that underscores his refusal to make art that is detached from lived reality.
For Emmanuel, creativity is inseparable from identity. He often says that remembering his roots is itself a source of motivation. That rootedness keeps him grounded even as he draws influence from wider sources. He listens widely to contemporary music and speaks often of how much inspiration he owes to Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti, whose influence continues to guide a new generation of Nigerian musicians taking their sound global. He is convinced Afro fusion will propel Afrobeat to new heights.
His artistry is not limited to music. In recent years, Emmanuel has ventured into cinematography, directing and producing music videos as well as comedic short films. For him, visual art and music are not separate disciplines but parts of the same creative expression. He acknowledges the difficulty of balancing multiple passions, but insists that true creativity does not leave one at rest until every idea is pursued.
Unleash is not simply a stage name; it is a statement of intent. It speaks to his philosophy that creativity must be liberated, ideas must be given space to breathe, and art must find its way into the world. His career so far mirrors that conviction. From the boy with a piano in Ogun State to a producer trusted by industry giants, from the apprentice in Indomix’s studio to an independent artist in his own right, Emmanuel’s trajectory reflects both resilience and vision.
What makes him remarkable is not just his talent but his clarity of purpose. He sees himself as part of a larger moment, one where African music is no longer just exported but has become a global language in itself. In an industry crowded with voices, his story is a reminder that authenticity remains a currency of its own. For Unleash, music is not background noise. It is destiny written in melody, and he is determined to let the world hear it.
