Afropolitan
Afropolitan
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1 hour 29 minutes Posted Jul 2, 2025 at 2:45 pm.
– Looking Back at 16-Year-Old Asa
– What Makes an Artist Worth the Risk
– CKay & the Unplanned TikTok Breakthrough
– Legacy, Impact & Building Behind the Scenes
– Lessons from the Sony Deal & Afrobeats Missteps
– The Birth of The Plug: Partnership as a Superpower
– Covid, Introversion & Growing as a People Person
– Business Roles & Knowing When to Step Back
– Real Friendship in the Industry
– Tour Life: When the Body Breaks Down
– Management as Emotional Labor
– Storm Records Lessons: It’s Never About Just You
– Intuition vs. Data in Afrobeats
– Are Nigerian Artists Pricing Themselves Out of Nigeria?
– The Break, the Reunion, the Evolution
– 2017’s Run of Hits: If, Fall, Fire, Like Dat
– Sitting on Hits & Timing Releases
– The Wedding Speech: A Full-Circle Moment
– Marriage, Maturity & Merging Lives
– Advice to the Next Generation
– Success, Decline & Knowing When to Pivot
– Rapid Fire: Rituals, Venues, and Unexpected Contacts
– Selling Out the O2 & Core Memories
– Missed Opportunities & Celebrating Each Other
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Show notes
What does it take to shape culture from behind the scenes, without chasing the spotlight?
In this powerful episode of the Afropolitan Podcast, we sit down with Asa Asika—longtime manager to Davido, co-founder of The Plug, and one of the key architects behind Afrobeats' global rise.
Asa opens up like never before about the emotional cost of success, what it really takes to build legacy in the music business, and the blueprint for sustaining relevance after 20 years in the game.
From CKay’s viral breakout to the behind-the-scenes drama of Davido’s 2017 run to navigating fame, friendship, and the future of Afrobeats—this is a masterclass in long-term impact.
🎧 If you're a builder, a visionary, or anyone navigating high-stakes culture work—this episode is for you.
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