Young Jonn on Life After Grief, Building Hits, TikTok Charts & World Tours | Afrobeats Intelligence

## Subscribe To Okayafrica: https://www.youtube.com/@okayafrica/?sub_confirmation=1 ## YOUNG JONN AFROBEATS INTELLIGENCE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InNX6jYNiPI&list=PLP6T-19HmwpdaXDctGQcRBxCPHRmPS5MN&index=2&t=6s&pp=iAQB ## Young Jonn on Turning Pain Into Power, Producing Classics & Building a Global Sound | Afrobeats Intelligence ## “Olamide taught me work ethic.” In this episode of Afrobeats Intelligence, Nigerian hitmaker Young Jonn sits down with Joey Akan to reflect on his rise from church keyboards in Osogbo to the global stage—first as a chart-topping producer, and now a boundary-pushing solo artist. ## From “Story for the Gods” and “Bobo” with Olamide, to solo smashes like “Dada,” “Aquafina,” “Xtra Cool,” and “Sokoto,” Young Jonn’s evolution is raw, honest, and deeply inspiring. He opens up about the loss of his mother, the push from his manager Isioma to take the mic, and the emotional courage it took to own his voice. ## He dives deep into his YBNL-era production legacy, including working on “Mafo,” “Big Big Things,” “Currency,” and more. He shares the lessons he learned from Olamide: “Work first, shine later.” ## As an artist, Young Jonn recounts early stage fright, his first show, and how recording “Dada” after his mother’s passing helped him process grief. With fans from Peckham to Houston, and streaming numbers soaring in Toronto, NYC, and Accra, Young Jonn speaks to the diaspora pulse of modern Afrobeats. ## He breaks down his new album journey, genre-bending production, and what he’s bringing to global stages—from festival sets in London to club bangers lighting up TikTok and Spotify. ## Whether you know him from Dada Remix with Davido or Chocolate City’s artist revival, this episode connects the dots between legacy, innovation, and purpose. *Timestamps* 0:00 — Performing live & early personality 5:05 — First time on stage: nerves & adrenaline 6:47 — Losing his mom & choosing to go solo 10:30 — How “Dada” changed everything 12:00 — Becoming an artist after producing hits 16:45 — Churc