“Most of these records I give to people — they couldn’t give them to me if it was them.”
In this unfiltered episode of Afrobeats Intelligence, award-winning host Joey Akan sits down with Peruzzi, the DMW star and songwriting mastermind behind some of Afrobeats’ biggest records. From penning classics like 2Baba’s “Amaka” and Davido’s “Assurance” and “Risky,” to shaping his own standout tracks like “Majesty,” “Gunshot,” and “Southy Love” with Fireboy DML, Peruzzi pulls back the curtain on the creative highs, industry pressure, and internal battles that shaped his sound — and nearly broke him.
Peruzzi opens up about the moment he realized he was no longer making music from the heart. Though his Huncho Vibes and Rum & Boogie eras produced fan-favorite tracks and expanded his global fanbase, he admits he got lost in the amapiano wave and the financial rush that followed. Chasing chart-toppers and chasing trends began to cloud the original voice that made him special. The fans were dancing. The streams were climbing. But deep down, the music no longer felt like him. In an era of algorithm-driven creativity, Peruzzi shares what it means to disconnect, go silent, and rediscover your core.
He dives into why so many Nigerian artists — particularly in Lagos’ competitive pop ecosystem — end up trapped by the very sounds that made them famous. With brutal honesty, he explores how audience expectations, performance feedback, and industry incentives in cities like London, Houston, and Toronto distort the growth curve for African artists trying to evolve their sonic identity. For creatives in the diaspora watching closely, this episode hits home.
But beyond the critique, Peruzzi shares deep insight into the craft of songwriting in Afrobeats. He reveals the behind-the-scenes discipline of making hit records, often without credit, and his philosophy on mentoring younger artists in the booth. From spontaneous studio sessions to seven-day songwriting marathons with producer Fresh VDM, Peruzzi details what it was like to live with Davido for two years at the height of DMW’s dominance — and how records like “Assurance” and “Unavailable” were born out of proximity, pressure, and pure intention.
In describing his informal mentorship style, Peruzzi sheds light on the underground school of Afrobeats. There’s no formal curriculum for how to create Lamba, blend Yoruba and English melodies, or capture the emotional layers of Nigerian love songs. Instead, knowledge is passed through studio osmosis, conversation, and vulnerability. For A&Rs, producers, and creative professionals worldwide studying how Afrobeats crafts stars, this is a roadmap disguised as a confession.
Now preparing to release his new 2025 album, Peruzzi says he’s finally free. Not just free to make the music he wants — but free to express himself without compromise, regardless of what the algorithm, labels, or fans expect. The new project, teased throughout the episode, promises a layered and personal evolution — one grounded in songwriting finesse, sonic experimentation, and emotional honesty.
Whether you’re a fan of his DMW classics, a Gen Z creative mapping your journey from Enugu to Edmonton, or a Nigerian abroad grappling with identity and independence, this is your episode. Afrobeats Intelligence continues to lead the conversation around the African music industry — and this week, Peruzzi delivers one of its most emotionally intelligent and creatively revealing interviews to date.
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