“Na Famous Pluto!” This catchphrase introduced Osahon Uzama, better known as Famous Pluto, to the Nigerian audience circa 2024, when he appeared on Feel D Mood alongside Tega boi DC, Outsyd DJ, and Outsyd Eddie.

The young Benin popstar has since climbed up the ranks with his infectious Amapiano-leaning clubby tunes bursting with street slang, groove and energy. Famous Pluto, the youngest of the Uzama siblings, the family that also produced Nigerian superstars Shallipopi and Zerry DL, released his debut EP, Uzama The Third, last year, introducing his witty, comical and party-starting sound to a wider audience.

Collectively, the siblings are part of a growing shift in Afrobeats, where indigenous pop fusions are taking centre-stage, just as their ‘Beninpiano’ sound has since become a staple of Nigerian club nights.

Now, with his debut album, Street Therapist, the 20-year-old rapper-singer joins his siblings as the latest torchbearers of the South-South Benin pop expansion, making a statement with the 10-track spin as the latest pulse of the street. He tags team vibrant newcomers Zaylevelten, Mavo, Muyeez, Brazy and industry veteran Zlatan into his versatile soundscape that documents his ghetto gospels and hustler ambitions.

In this interview with Guardian Music, Famous Pluto gives us a bird’s eye view into his origins from Benin City to countrywide superstar; his muses and lore behind Street Therapist, as well as his mission to keep racing to the top of Afrobeats’ blossoming hemisphere, among others.

When did music start for you?
I started writing songs when I was in Primary Two or Primary One, I guess. But I stopped and started dancing. Later, I went back to music in 2024. I was doing freestyles in 2020 and dropping them on TikTok, but officially, I’d say I started singing in 2024.

How did you get the name, Famous Pluto?
I stole the name Famous from my neighbour in 2020. There were two names, Famous and Popular, and I was thinking of stealing Popular at first. But when I searched Famous on TikTok, I saw that nobody was seriously using it, so I stole Famous, and Shallipopi added Pluto to it.

You grew up in Benin City. What was that experience like?
Growing up in Benin was not easy, but it was a nice experience. There was always fighting, but we survived. When I was in Benin, I was always moving around, looking for friends and people to connect with.

Before music, you were dancing. How did that start?
I started dancing through parties. My mum used to take me to birthday parties my neighbours were doing, just to win rice. That was how I started dancing.

Did you always know you wanted to be an entertainer?
At some point, I was confused. I didn’t know whether I should do comedy, act in movies, sing or dance. I was just confused about what to choose at that time.

Did you ever consider school seriously outside music?
Yes. I wrote WAEC last year, and I’m still going to go to school. I’d probably study theatre arts.

You also did music promotion before recording your own songs. What was that grind like?
The grind was not easy at all. I started in 2024 doing music promotion, but I got tired of it because it was only me. People would text me, asking why I had not done their videos, but I was still going to school then. Some days, I was not free except weekends, so I could only deliver videos on weekends. They would disturb me on Monday and Tuesday, but I couldn’t do any video because I was in school. That was why I stopped doing music promotion.

Was “Feel D Mood” your first official song?
Yes, “Feel D Mood” was my first song. That was my first release.

Your brothers were already doing music and gaining attention. Did that motivate you?
Yes, there was a lot of motivation. When Shallipopi blew up from “Elon Musk,” it motivated me to do a lot of things, even the dancing itself. They used to tell me, “Wetin you dey do? You just dey house, you no dey do anything. Try to do something.” At that time, I was still confused about whether to do comedy, movies, singing or dancing.

What was it like watching them make music before you started properly?
We didn’t use to go to studios. We were using a software called Voloco to record. It’s like Band Lab. You’d just use your earpiece and record with your phone at home. I was watching them record back then, and I would just write sometimes and sing it to myself. I didn’t want anybody to hear what I was doing.

Benin has become very present in Nigerian street-pop right now. Did the city influence your sound?
Yes. The old slang, it was all from Benin. Sometimes, I go back there to listen to more songs.

How do you usually get inspiration for songs?
Sometimes it just comes spontaneously. I can be talking to my friends or going somewhere, and something will come. For instance, the song “Ewo” was written after I went to a show in Delta State. I was just talking to my friend, saying, “When we mount, make dem know say Uzama don land. Na we dey parambulate for this town. That was in 2024.” I’m always bragging about myself in my songs.

On Street Therapist, it feels like you’re trying to make a statement. When did you start making the project?
I started making the album in 2025 after my EP. But about five tracks on the album were recorded in February this year. I’d say 90 per cent of the album was recorded in February.

You have a strong connection to Amapiano. When did that start?
I started listening to Amapiano in 2021. I started playing Amapiano back-to-back because that was what everyone in Benin was dancing to then. If I came around, they would ask me to connect the speaker and play Amapiano for them.

What is your creative process like?
I like being in my room or inside the toilet. I wrote one song when I was in the toilet in Enugu. I like being alone by myself. I don’t really do sessions like that.

What do you look for before collaborating with someone?
First, I need to love your personality and your sound. I also need to love the way you approach people.

You did not have Shallipopi on this project. Why?
Shallipopi was outside the country when I was recording the album. That was why I had no track with him.

What is it like working with your brothers?
It is amazing. I’m not going to lie; it is very amazing. It reminds me of way back when we had nothing. The energy is just different.

Now that you’ve made Street Therapist, are you comfortable staying in this Amapiano zone, or do you want to switch things up?
I’m switching up. I’m still going to be doing Amapiano because I really love Amapiano, but I’m going to try different sounds. I want to explore more rave sounds.

Have you been to raves before?
I’ve never been to one, but very soon. There is a wave of indigenous-leaning pop music right now, especially from you, your brothers and other young acts.

How do you feel about that evolution?
When we started this sound, everybody was calling it trash because they didn’t understand it. They were calling it different names because they had never heard that kind of sound before. But I don’t care. I like being unique.

There’s a song on the project called “Lakute.” What does that mean?
Lakute is my friend’s name. I did the freestyle in 2020 for him, and it blew up with over 100,000 videos on TikTok.

Do you still do music promotion?
Sometimes, but I’m not always in the mood to do it because I’m too busy to be jumping on trends right now.

What was the hardest track to make on Street Therapist?
I don’t think there was any hard track. Everything was smooth.

Outside music, who is Famous Pluto?
Famous Pluto is just a chill guy. Aside from music, I like having fun. I play music, play games, play table tennis, video games and watch YouTube. I don’t really watch movies like that.

How does your mum feel about you and your brothers’ success now?
My mum did not expect it, especially for me. When I left home, I thought I was going to come back after one month in Lagos. But when I left, I told her, “Mummy, I no dey come again.” She was calm with it because “Na Scra” was already going viral on TikTok. She is very proud now. Shout out to mama.

Growing up in the streets of Benin, what lesson did that experience teach you?
The streets taught me a lot. I learnt how to mind my business and keep believing in what I’m doing, no matter how people talk about it.

Who would you like to collaborate with in the future?
Rema, Lojay, A$AP Rocky and Tupac if he was here.

How do you stay grounded with fame?
I just keep calm and let God do His work.

Finally, what do you envision for Famous Pluto in the long run?
I see myself on a bigger stage and living a better life.