Zlatan has released a soul-stirring new single, “Demons,” featuring Afro pop-soul delight Qing Madi.
The song serves as the second lead track, following the Fola-assisted “Get Better,” from Zlatan’s highly anticipated third studio album, “Symbol of Hope”. The 16-track album is set to arrive on October 17 via ONErpm and Zanku Records.
Opening with ambient piano chords and the African trailblazing street hop maverick’s thunderous “Ibile” slogan, the track blends uplifting street hop bars with Qing Madi’s soothing harmonies. Zlatan offers vulnerable storytelling in his melodic bars, sharing his silent struggles:
“Y’all see what’s going on all on the camera/ But hard to see when I’m losing focus & stamina/ It’s not always about the money & the doe/ I’m fighting my own demons I just thought to let you know.”
The song is intended as a form of “therapy,” a cry for understanding and patience, reminding listeners that everyone is fighting something. It encourages perseverance while clinging to the assurance that hope still abounds. This theme of hope is central to the upcoming album, which pulses as an inspirational, celebratory, and victory-lap anthem for every hustler.
The “Symbol of Hope” album promises a more sombre and introspective gazette on fatherhood, business, and survival, leaping from the larger-than-life punch of his 2021 sophomore album, Resan.
Having risen from a gritty survivalist experience in Lagos’ bustling Ikorodu suburbs to a superstar status and cultural programmer in the globally acclaimed Afrobeats space, Zlatan embodies the idea that dreams come true. His overriding message is simple: “I made it, that means you can make it, too”. The album is poised to be a milestone legacy record and a pivotal moment for African hip hop.
Zlatan (born Omoniyi Temidayo Raphael) is an award-winning hitmaker, rap artiste and all-round culture driver whose pioneering street-hop energy has helped shape contemporary Afrobeats and Nigerian pop culture. A multitalented performer and creative business mogul, he ignited a pivotal movement with his era-defining Zanku and Gbeku legwork dance styles.
“Demons (with Qing Madi)” is available now across all streaming services.
