The heartbeat of every great record is thorough music production, where raw emotion meets technical mastery to shape sound into story. At the center of this pulse is Jinmi Abduls, a multifaceted force in African music whose curation is redefining what it means to be a modern producer.
Born Folarin Oluwafeyijinmi Abdulsalami on August 27, 1997, in Lagos, Nigeria, Jinmi is a complete creator. He wears the hats of singer, songwriter, producer, and sound engineer whose work is known for blending Afrobeats, highlife, and Neo-Jùjú into a vibrant, genre-bending sound. As the founder of Chase Music Nigeria and Little Lagos Studios, he has not only created timeless music but also mentored and developed emerging African talent shaping the future of the continent’s music ecosystem.
Jinmi Abduls | SUPPLIED
With over 15 million career streams and collaborations with some of the most celebrated names in African music, Oxlade, Teni, Mayorkun, Joeboy, and BOJ, Jinmi’s influence extends far beyond Lagos. Projects like “Jinmi of Lagos”, “Talking Stage”, and fan-favorite singles like “Greed”, “Jowo”, and “Tinuke Eko” have caught the attention of listeners across Europe, Latin America, and the United States.
Yet, behind the accolades is an artist who remains deeply rooted in his creative convictions.
“Music is my most raw form of expression because I curate from scratch,” Jinmi explains. “My philosophy when creating is quality and intentionality.”
That intentionality has guided a production career that spans over 100 tracks, featuring some of the most recognizable voices in today’s Afrobeats scene.
Jinmi Abduls | SUPPLIED
However, Jinmi admits that the road hasn’t been without obstacles. “The greatest challenge I faced as a producer was a creative block. To overcome it, I embraced collaboration. I had other creatives around me,” he says.
It’s this spirit of collaboration that defines Jinmi’s approach to music-making today. He champions recording camps and the intense creative sessions that bring together artists, songwriters, and producers to build not only songs but collective energy.
“The synergy is always rich. That brings so much productivity amongst producers and musicians,” he shares. “I like these because it’s different creatives, and an artist can get to experiment with different sounds and perspectives.”
For Jinmi, collaboration isn’t just about productivity – it’s about evolution. He believes that in Afrobeats, producers play a role that’s foundational, not just complementary.
“In the context of Afrobeats, I believe producers carry the genre on their backs. I mean, it’s there in the name ‘Afrobeats,’ literally. Great songs are written, but to be honest, in this genre the production is the backbone.”
Jinmi Abduls | SUPPLIED
Talking about the future, Jinmi envisions a scenario where producers are recognized as full-fledged artists in their own right, front and centre, not just behind the scenes. He’s particularly excited about artificial intelligence, offering a word of encouragement to fellow creatives, that with authenticity they can never be replaced by it.
“The next trend in music is AI. I think it’s here to enhance our creativity and not to take it away,” he says. “AI will never be able to be inspired. And that’s the switch.”
As Afrobeats transforms and crosses borders to new territories, Jinmi Abduls stands not just as a participant but as one of its most thoughtful architects.
Interview Curated by Zimiso Nyamande
