“Llona is coming.”
That was my first introduction to Llona—a random retweet from a mutual in 2023. I wasn’t particularly interested at the time, so I scrolled past.
Fast forward to 2024, and he released Another Day. You couldn’t listen to that song and not pay attention. It was tender, haunting, and deeply personal. That one track pulled me in, and I decided to stay.
Homeless went on to become, in my opinion, one of the best albums released from Nigeria in 2024 and one of the strongest debut Afrobeats projects in recent memory. Every song feels like a deliberate puzzle piece in the bigger picture of Llona’s story.
The production leans towards emo, with beats that often speak as loudly as the lyrics. The featured artists didn’t just show up; they adapted to the world he built. On Cold War with Fave, for instance, there’s a stillness in the sound that echoes the emotional isolation at the core of the album. Then there’s Commander with Wizard Chan, where resilience is delivered with a steady burn, two artists who understand what it means to fight from the bottom up.
Gangsta Love Letter shows a softer edge, where vulnerability slips through the cracks of a hardened exterior. It’s one of those tracks that lingers. And the HBP Remix with Bella Shmurda breathes new life into the original, adding urgency and street soul that makes the message land even harder.
“If I get money, then my mind don rest.”
That line alone speaks to the heart of the average Nigerian youth. Llona taps into that collective struggle, not for clout, but with sincerity. His music doesn’t just reflect pain; it offers a promise. A reason to hold on.
As the album approached its one-year anniversary, Llona did something many artists don’t: he took the music to the people. Not just Lagos or Abuja, but Owerri, Benin, Ibadan, Minna, and Kano. Places that rarely make it onto the “tour” list.
He’s been on the road for most of 2025, committed to building a real-life connection with his audience. A true homeless man, not bound by one place or one version of success. For Llona, it’s not just about dropping a project on DSPs and tweeting the link. It’s about showing up offline, in person, face to face.
If music were a drug, then Llona has been the most sought-after supplier this past year. Peddling truth, hope, and something real.
The DIY Collective 
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