The LD Podcast

Episode 1: Files ’26 and the Power of Building Outside the System

SEASON 2. EPISODE 1. We kick off a new season with Emmanuel Oke, also known as Emaxee. A creative quietly shaping some of the most interesting ideas in African music right now. Emaxee is the mind behind Files ’26, a fully independent project where he brought emerging artists together, produced an album, and paired it with a fiction novel to build a deeper world around the music. We talk about how the project came together, why independence matters, and what it takes to execute ideas outside the traditional system. We also get into his journey. From being an artist, to working behind the scenes across Mavin and Divizzion Music, to co-founding NoteSphere. Now, he is building Cosamote, a community-focused creative agency rooted in collaboration and long-term thinking. The conversation moves into community building, creative ownership, and why strong ecosystems matter more than hype. We also reflect on the 2016 era of Afrobeats, the songs that defined it, and the records turning 10 this year. Tap in for a thoughtful conversation on music, culture, and the people building quietly but intentionally. Listen, watch, and join the conversation. Like, rate, share, and let us know what stood out.

Episode 22: Afrobeats in the Age of "Anyhowness" ft Nina Brianna, Ajibola Grey

We kick off the year on the LD Podcast with an honest, wide-ranging conversation alongside Tanzanian and Nigerian music connoisseurs; Nina Brianna and Ajibola Grey. We get into music, and the business behind it all.  We also get into music saturation, artist behaviour, and the growing culture of “anyhowness.” There’s real talk around Burna Boy, accountability, and what comes with stardom. We close by discussing professionalism, punctuality, and how artist conduct shapes global perception, with a focus on respect for fans, community support, and collaboration. Tap in, listen through, and join the conversation. Like, rate, share, and tell us what you think.

Episode 21: Thanksgiving ft PDSTRN

It’s our 21st episode, which officially means we’ve crossed the threshold into being part of the top 1% podcasts in the world *cue applause* 🥳🥳🥳. It also doubles as our thanksgiving episode and we’re taking a moment to reflect on all we’re thankful for. Life, growth, family, friends, and most importantly, you, our listeners! We’re also joined by a very special guest, PDSTRN, as he talks us through journey, his evolution, his story. In this storytelling packed episode, we cover it all, from nature, to strippers, to rap culture, and everything in between. Enjoy the episode and thank you for rocking with us 💚

Episode 20: TMI ft B4M

This week marks our 20th episode of The LD Pod, and we had to make it special with a guest, B4M! We talk through his journey, from his latest releases to the inspirations and experiences shaping his sound, plus what’s next for him. We also discuss Sarz’s new drop "Protect Sarz At All Costs". The quality is there as always, but did it leave us underwhelmed? From there, we share our Afrobeats Mount Rushmore albums, give our thoughts on "Peace by Piece" from Pheelz & Fireboy, and look at Mavo’s motion in the industry by comparing Kilometer II to its iconic predecessor. The Cavemen’s latest release takes us back to some of our favorites from their catalog, and we share our picks for artist of the year so far. And of course, we close with some hype for Odumodu’s upcoming project Industry Machine and the features we’re most excited about. Thank you to everyone who has listened and followed along with us to this point. Here’s to 20 episodes and many more to come 🥂💚

Episode 19: Fola, Yearner of the year

We had way too much fun on this episode 😂. First, we sent love to the newest couple in town — Temi Otedola & Mr Eazi and somehow ended up in a full-on wedding song debate. So tell us: what song would you want played at your wedding? And what’s your go-to Wizkid wedding anthem? 👀 On the music side, we dived into B4M’s “Hold Me Down”, Fola’s much-anticipated "Catharsis", Wizard Chan’s "Healers Chapel", Tay Iwar’s smooth new project "Wonderful", plus new drops from Rema, Mavo, Adekunle Gold, and more. It’s banter, jokes, and plenty of music talk — just us being us, basically 😂. 💚 Don’t forget to like, share, rate, and join the conversation!