Zlatan has delivered his highly anticipated third studio album, Symbol of Hope, released today via Zanku Records in partnership with ONErpm. The 15-track project is a potent sonic memoir chronicling his inspiring “grass-to-grace” journey, from the streets of Lagos’s Ikorodu suburbs to global superstardom, according to a statement.
The album arrives hot on the heels of the 2025 Afrobeats song-of-the-year contender “Get Better” featuring Fola, which debuted in the Billboard US Afrobeats Songs Chart Top 10 and charted for eight weeks on the Official UK Afrobeats Chart Top 20.
On Symbol of Hope, Zlatan offers a kaleidoscope of the struggles and triumphs that have defined his career, transforming his personal story into a soundtrack for motivation and perseverance. Blending his signature high-octane street-hop with Afropop sensibilities, gospel uplift and dance-floor energy, the album spreads a message of resilience, street wisdom, and self-growth.
“I made it out of the hood, and that means anyone can make it out too,” Zlatan notes, reflecting on the album’s core inspiration.
The star-studded offering features a compelling lineup of special guests, including: Davido on the bold statement anthem “Hip Hop Messiah,” Olamide on the Detty December hit “Gimme Your Love,” and Qing Madi on the stripped-back, introspective “Demons,” where Zlatan confronts mental pressure and the weight of being a provider.
There is also Victony on “Bebe,” Shallipopi on “Jeserewa,” and Mayorkun on the hard-hitting street-pop fusion “Paypal.”
Other standout tracks include the victory-lap opener “Pay Day,’ the aspirational blueprint of “Better Life,” and the afro-R&B joint “Diamond,” where Zlatan pays tribute to Lagbaja’s 2005 classic, “Never Far Away.’ The album closes with “Alpha & Omega” featuring Bhadboi OML, a reflective track where Zlatan looks back at his earliest hustles and his rise as a true symbol of hope.
Produced primarily by longtime collaborator Chechdaproducer, ‘Symbol of Hope’ is described as “dancefloor therapy,” a cathartic yet joyful listening experience that encourages an inward search for truth and purpose. For his day-one fans, it is the classic Zanku DNA levelled up; for newcomers, it’s a front-row seat to the engine of Lagos street culture.
