1-on-1 Interview: Priesst is Hell-bent on Cutting His Coat Oversize This Year

Lagos-based Afrobeats artist Priesst has taken over the airwaves early on in the year with the release of his single ‘Akonuche.’ Released on the 3rd of January 2026, the song has done almost 1.8 million streams on Spotify alone, over 80,000 Shazams and tens of thousands of TikTok creations. It is safe to say the prolific Nigerian wordsmith might have scored himself a hit with this particular song. We caught up with him to find out more about how long this early success story has been in the making.

F.A: Your new single, “Akonuche” has been making waves since its release earlier this month, what inspired the title and the idea behind this track?

Priesst: It was really just where my head was at a the time. Toward the end of 2025, I was tired, mentally drained and I knew that in 2026 I wanted to do things differently. I wanted to be more audacious, take control, and really take the bull by the horns. That mindset naturally turned into a song. For the title, I needed balance. In the record, I was bragging a lot, saying big things like “I go cut my coat oversize this year,” “I go this, I go that.” If you stay in that space alone, it can start to feel excessive or even negative. So I needed something to ground it. That’s where “Akonuche” came in. In the middle of all those big dreams and bold statements, you still have to use your senses. Too much of anything isn’t good.

F.A: You’ve been dropping music for some years now, how does it feel to finally debut on the official music charts?

Priesst: It feels very, very amazing. At some point, it was all just a dream, and now it feels like I’m actually living it. Glory be to God.

F.A: There is this notion about African rappers finding it hard to often make mainstream hits, how have you been able to approach music making to demystify this notion?

Priesst: It took me a long time to understand this, but I realized that hip-hop in Nigeria and Africa as a whole isn’t completely Western. After doing music for a while, I noticed that African fans don’t really want to stress. They don’t want to think too hard. Give them something that blows their mind without making them overthink it. That was a big shift for me, especially because at the beginning of my career I was very hardcore; strictly about bars. But who would’ve thought that a line as simple as “I go cut my coat oversize this year” would connect this deeply? The key is observing where you are, understanding what works around you, and leaning into it. I’m not saying hardcore rap can’t pop but you have to understand your community and move accordingly.

F.A: You once had a song you made with Falz taken off DSPs for copyright reasons, what lessons about the music business did you learn from that experience?

Priesst: Pay attention to every detail and do the needful before releasing. I can’t afford to make the same mistake twice. Even though the initial issue wasn’t really my fault, it was that of the producer but I’ve learned to be extra careful. I ask more questions now, I double-check everything, and I know how to handle and negotiate situations better.

F.A: As a relatively new artist in the mainstream trying to pay more attention to the music and creativity, what do you think makes you different from the others?

Priesst: Honestly, it’s both nothing and everything. Nothing, because what makes me different is the same thing that makes everyone different, I’m just being myself. I sing how I feel and express what’s in my head, and anyone can do that too. But at the same time, it’s everything, because there will never be another me. What makes me different is my personality, my truth, and my relatability. I try to talk about myself in ways that everyone can connect to.

F.A: What are some of the challenges you have faced coming up in the music industry, and how have you scaled them?

Priesst: It’s God, honestly. There were times I felt completely done. I found myself in situations I never thought I’d survive. Then something would happen to rekindle my hope, and suddenly I’m back on my feet again.

F.A: As your career grows, what legacy do you want to build for yourself in Nigeria’s music scene and beyond?

Priesst: Right now, I’m more intentional about consciousness in my music. I want to stand for something. I want people to hear my songs and feel hope, motivation or something that helps them in their everyday lives. I want my music to make an impact and become part of their daily routine.