Afro B: How Joanna Changed My Life Forever | £20 gigs to 1 Billion views!

Afro B joins us for one of his most honest and in-depth interviews ever.From growing up in South London to creating the global smash Joanna (Drogba), Afro B breaks down the real story behind one of the biggest Afrobeats records of all time. We discuss the origins of Afrobeats in the UK, his journey from DJ to international artist, working retail at Next while chasing music, building a career independently, and what happened after worldwide fame.Chapters:0:00 intro / title sequence1:17 Local Geeza Out now! Shizzio X Mc Creed X Big Narstie1:50 Welcome Afro B / crew / World Cup4:11 born & bred5:25 happy slaps6:25 outside as a kid / gang culture7:33 nutmeg rush8:52 avoiding madness / local gangs10:53 music from young / quit producing12:41 strict parent beats14:35 school16:27 being musical from young19:06 Afro Beats origin20:59 where did Afro Beats start from?23:25 Afro Beats influence / Djing Afro Beats25:50 Afro B came from Afro Beats26:35 where did Afro Beats name come from?29:20 1st song release / singing on tracks31:39 PT job at Next / £20 gigs32:53 dropping songs / Uni34:32 Artist Vs DJ35:15 1st UK Afro Beats artist?36:17 seeing Afro Beats grow in the UK37:09 when did Afro Beats land? / Afro swing38:43 moving with times / Tion Wayne collab40:16 getting bigger / audience swap42:13 landing as an artist / radio43:31 UK Drill takes over from Afro Swing43:31 Afro Beats Africa Vs UK / reading trends44:44 Making Joanna Drogba46:40 who is Joanna?47:28 writing Joanna took 15 mins!48:25 GOAL!50:06 posting Drogba Joanna snippets50:38 why Drogba?51:43 Drogba posts the song52:45 Drogba dance challenge / Radio show56:30 NY / Funk Flex59:22 introducing Afro Beats to USA / GOAL1:01:19 USA success / no major label1:02:51 Summer Jam / money1:04:05 Shaq O'Neil remix1:04:55 celeb co-signs / 50 Cent / Beyonce1:05:57 money made / reinvesting1:08:19 French Montana / Global remixes1:09:20 globally wanted / no ego1:10:37 end of Ivory Coast World Cup match1:13:09 1B+ total views for Joanna1:13:32 ideal remix collab1:14:17 handling global fame1:15:05 follow up record pressure1:15:43 selling the song1:18:24 Joanna Drogba ownership % / selling1:19:39 trying to beat Drogba / covid / T-Pain collab1:22:12 T-Pain collab details1:23:04 independent artist always1:25:36 lack of consistency / Vybz Kartel collab1:27:41 British artist? / respect on your name1:30:15 Ashanti collab1:32:26 no manager / in-house team1:34:21 working the world's audience1:36:14 UK audience VS the world1:38:17 does the UK hate? / Central Cee1:41:22 new project / Album VS EP1:43:45 we invented Twerking1:45:51 British colonisation1:46:41 first single release / no feats1:48:06 evolving sounds1:49:34 album EP release / new music1:51:03 Capital Xtra radio show1:51:29 Afro Beats Mount Rushmore1:52:33 constant videos / algorithm1:54:38 AI Q's / Chris Brown collab1:55:34 collab list / humble1:57:35 Drogba blessing or curse?1:58:46 total money made from Joanna2:00:51 Rihanna aired me2:01:41 respect2:02:25 biggest regret2:03:15 I got sampled without clearance2:04:43 politics / choices2:06:10 Air Force 1 supply2:08:14 inner circle / trends2:09:08 why is Bhangra not like Afro Beats?2:13:27 labels / TikTok era2:13:25 quick fire Q's2:15:57 meeting Drogba for dinner2:16:42 quick fire Q's2:19:42 final message / thank you