Abuja’s rising star FirstKlaz shakes up Nigeria’s music scene with bold debut EP ‘Déjàvu’
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From the streets of Abuja to Spotify’s Greasy Tunes stage, rising Afro-Fusion artist FirstKlaz makes a bold entrance with his debut EP ‘Déjàvu’—blending northern rhythms, viral ambition, and fearless controversy on his path toward global recognition.
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Earlier this month, fast-rising Nigerian star FirstKlaz released his seven-track debut EP entitled ‘Déjàvu’. It arrives as both a statement and a love letter to the sound of Northern Nigeria—and it confirms that the he is ready to move from internet buzz to industry attention.
The musical project pairs the artist’s playful, genre-bending vocal style with traditional Arẹwà elements (Kalangu, Goje) and modern Afro-Fusion production, creating a compact project that feels at once rooted and restless.
Born and raised in Abuja (Nassarawa State), the ‘Gen-Z Fuji’ artist rise has been notably humble. He cut his teeth posting viral clips and experimenting with what he calls a ‘Gen-Z Arẹwà’ aesthetic—a youthful reimagining of northern folk textures—and those grassroots beginnings show on ‘Déjàvu’: The songs still carry an intimate, DIY energy even as the production widens. Early singles from 2024 gave him a foothold; This EP tightens that sound into a focused artistic identity.
Standouts on ‘Déjàvu’ have already emerged as streaming favourites. Tracks like ‘Soyaiya’ and ‘Gen-Z Arẹwàzobia’ have been singled out by reviewers and playlists as the EP’s strongest statements—earworms that blend fiddle-like hooks with modern percussion and clever, everyday lyrics. ‘Lili’, a cheeky number that name-checks Cardi B in its hook, has become central to his current push; The artist has been actively promoting the song on social media and even tagging Cardi B as part of that campaign.
His true breakout, though, traces back to the ‘Gen-Z’ singles that circulated in 2024. The earlier ‘Gen-Z Arẹwà’ tracks are widely credited with bringing him to wider attention and establishing the persona listeners now hear on ‘Dejavu’—the playful storyteller who wears cultural specificity like armour and invitation. Review coverage of the EP highlights that continuity, noting how the project crystallizes the promise listeners saw in his earlier work.
Collaboration is part of the EP’s DNA: Guest verses and co-productions from artists such as Jeriq and Zlatan add grit and texture across the tracklist, helping the project bridge indie credibility and commercial reach. Those features make ‘Déjàvu’ feel like a community record rather than a solo manifesto.
Not everything around the release has been quiet. FirstKlaz has publicly accused established star Kizz Daniel of borrowing — or, as he puts it, “stealing” — elements of his sound, calling attention to what he describes as repeated instances of creative appropriation; clips of him addressing Kizz Daniel have circulated on social platforms and video channels. The charge is framed as an allegation from FirstKlaz and has provoked debate in online music circles.
On the live front, the sizzling new artist recently brought his band to Lagos for Spotify’s Greasy Tunes pop-up, performing to an enthusiastic crowd and earning a spot on the event’s Fresh Finds programming—an important signal that tastemakers are watching. Video and photo posts from the event show him working a stage and connecting the EP tracks to a live audience hungry for something new.
Behind the scenes, team sources and the cheerful artist’s own social posts say ‘Déjàvu’ has been submitted for GRAMMY consideration for the 2026 cycle—a move that, if nothing else, demonstrates ambition and belief in the project’s global potential. The submission, the artist notes online, is for general consideration rather than a nomination. It’s a step many rising acts take to widen their profile.
‘my fans we have submitted #dejavu for the Grammys @RecordingAcad ! let’s go ❤️ pic.twitter.com/64vrX4IDDF
— Firstklaz (@firstklaz_) October 17, 2025
If ‘Déjàvu’ does for him what his early singles hinted it could, the EP will be remembered as the pivot when a young man with a phone and a vision started being treated like an artist to watch. For now, he’s capitalising on momentum by touring, pushing the spicy, shouty ‘Lili’ across platforms (and yes, tagging Cardi B), and leaning into the very public mix of praise, disputes, and live performance that marks a musician on the rise. Keep an ear on Abuja. FirstKlaz is making sure the rest of the world can’t ignore it.
‘call me now @iamcardib , now pic.twitter.com/EkjxE5XLws
— Firstklaz (@firstklaz_) October 24, 2025
