Bella Shmurda

Bella Shmurda has always been a voice of the people; urgent, honest, and unfiltered, but his new album Sanity presents something deeper. It is the voice of a man evolving in real time, navigating the pressures of success and the quiet wars within. “You know, they say more money, more problems,” he reflects with a slow exhale. “It’s true, especially if you are a man. I’m grateful to lift people and take care of family, but sometimes I just want to be alone. Instead of taking care of people, can somebody take care of me?”

That is the emotional engine of Sanity: the honest tension between strength and vulnerability. Bella isn’t just singing about survival anymore, he’s documenting maturity, loss, responsibility, and the delicate balance required to stay whole in a world that constantly takes from you. “I’ve lost people close to me,” he says. “As a man, there’s not enough time for yourself. There’s pressure to keep winning, even when you’re tired. That affects your sanity… but vanity is what puts food on your table.”

Raised in Okokomaiko, Bella carries the streets with both reverence and realism. They shaped him, sharpened him, and gave him a spiritual discipline that continues to guide his music. That duality sits at the heart of “Dangbana Riddim,” one of Sanity’s standout records. “To make it out of Okoko, you need faith,” he says. “Every struggle is part of a process. ‘Dangbana Riddim‘ is a full-circle moment. I’m reflecting with gratitude because I’ve overcome so much. Now I move with confidence. I can take care of my people, and they don’t have to worry. My music is my ministry.”

Across the album, Bella’s storytelling is sharper and more grounded. Fatherhood, marriage, and time itself have deepened his perspective. “I will say it is growth,” he admits. “In 2020, I was a young man singing Vision 2020, and now I’m a father and a husband. Time teaches you. You start dropping some habits and develop a new mindset.”

Part of that mindset is refusing to allow Afrobeats, or the industry, to confine him. Sanity is a bold fusion of Fuji, Apala, Afropop, Street Pop, and the unique cadence that made him a Dangbana original. “I grew up listening to Fuji, Apala and different genres,” he says. “With this album, I wanted to take you into my world. There’s more to Bella Shmurda making Afrobeats. It would be a disservice to limit myself. The fusion was intentional, it’s who I am.”

The album also benefits from meaningful collaborations with artists like Seyi Vibez and King Promise, who bring texture and emotion to the sonic palette. “I’m a fan of everyone on the album,” Bella says with a small smile. “Seyi sent me multiple records… I told him the direction I wanted, and he sent me three more. I picked Bounce and bounced on it. He is hardworking. With Mandalene, I wanted something for the women because we’re nothing without them. And King Promise, I’ve always wanted to work with him. That record was perfect.”

With over a billion global streams and credits alongside Davido, Wizkid, and Olamide, Bella’s journey has already cemented him as a force in contemporary African music. Yet Sanity feels grounded, almost meditative. “The giants you mentioned are not sleeping,” he laughs. “So why should I sleep? The reward for hard work is more work, and that’s why I made Sanity, so you will hear my state of mind.”

Spirituality, too, holds a central place in that state of mind. It is not an accessory but a compass. “If I weren’t an artist, I’d be a preacher or motivational speaker,” he confesses. “My purpose is to uplift people , through my voice, my lyrics, and even my business. Spirituality guides everything I do. It’s in the music, the energy, the message, everything.”

That message extends to his growing movement, Dangbana Republik, which has evolved from a creative unit into a cultural force. Bella refuses to take sole credit for its success. “Olamide opened the door for me, and I want to pay it forward. But my team plays a huge role. We build the vision together. It’s a collective movement.”

As for the next chapter, Bella’s ambitions stretch beyond charts and accolades. “I want to expand the legacy, tell our stories, impact people, and carry Dangbana to new places. But at the same time, I want to take care of myself and my family. I want to keep growing, creatively, personally, spiritually.”

With Sanity, Bella Shmurda isn’t just entering a new era, he’s defining one.