Nigerian singer Daniel Benson, popularly known as BNXN, has explained why he ended some close friendships after releasing his second studio album, Captain, saying the relationships posed a threat to his career.

The singer spoke during an interview with Nadeska on Apple Music’s The Nadeska Show, released on Tuesday, October 6, while discussing the personal experiences that shaped Still In Charge.

BNXN said he discovered troubling issues involving people close to him months after releasing Captain in July 2025.

“Months after I dropped Captain, you know, I had close friends that I had to detach from or kind of sever the relationships mainly because I discovered some things that were just not right,” he said.

He explained that ending the friendships became necessary because of the possible consequences for his future.

“You know, so it was important that I had to sever those ties because it could have really cost me and my career like in the long run.”

The singer did not identify the people involved or disclose what he discovered.

Reflecting on the experience, BNXN said people needed to pay attention to their instincts when dealing with friends and others they trusted.

“And, you know, it’s just important to really take time and pay attention to what your subconscious tells you, especially when it comes to, like, dealing with people and dealing with, like, you know, people that you really consider friends or people that you really trust.”

Beyond the friendships, the singer recalled facing uncertainty about how to organise his career during a period when he had no management or team.

He described the situation as difficult to reconcile with his standing in the music industry, saying he considered himself one of Nigeria’s eight most streamed artistes at the time.

“Top eight streaming artistes in Nigeria and, you know, at this point I don’t have no management, I don’t have no team, and it’s like, what are you going to do?”

BNXN did not specify the streaming platform or period behind the ranking.

He also spoke about the difficulty of holding on to confidence during challenging periods, particularly when professional success did not resolve the problems around him.

“And then it kicks in, like you said, in the bad days, how do you remind yourself that you’re this guy?”

The singer said he began reorganising his affairs, linking that process to the development of Still In Charge.

“I start to restructure, try to get everything in one, in one bit. And that’s where the whole process of Still In Charge starts coming up.”

His account provides personal context to the period following Captain, a 16-track project featuring Seyi Vibez, Victony, FOLA and the Soweto Gospel Choir.

The album followed his 2023 debut studio album, Sincerely Benson, and received a Guardian Life review examining its sound and creative direction.

BNXN previously performed as Buju before adopting his current professional name in 2022.

His earlier projects include Sorry I’m Late and Bad Since 97, released in 2022.