‘I’m always pushing boundaries with sound’ – Phantom 

When Camidoh’s smash bop, Sugarcane went viral, it was a proud moment for the record producer Ayobami Olaleye, better known as Phantom. For the ace sound producer, it was a testament to the potential of Afro-fused sounds taking over the world.

“Over the years, we have been slammed by Africans for always fitting into any music genre. I’m happy Camidoh has also tapped into this, and delivered a Nigerian Afropop classic called Sugarcane, which is taking over Africa, by storm with the daily growth and blowing up,” he tells Guardian.

Phantom, who is the record producer behind Burna Boy’s Ye, Tekno’s Skeletun, Spotless’s The Benz, and IVD & Zlatan’s Bolanle. He is the first Nigerian music producer to be certified Gold in France with Ye, and he recently went Platinum in Canada, with Ye still doing numbers, four years down the line.

The Lagos-bred producer has affirmed that he is out to continue shifting the sound palette within Africa’s music industry.

“As Nigerians, we welcome all Africans, and endorse all other African genres. This has left us with the name African Giant. As a producer making a difference, I’m out here with the goal to conquer the world, by breaking more barriers with my sound, and building more bridges. Trust me when I say we are not done yet; we will create more fusions, asides Alté.”

Born in Lagos, Phantom found his love for music, listening to African folk music, being influenced by Ebo Taylor, Manu Dibango, and Fela Kuti.  He rose to fame around 2018 after producing the Burna Boy hit, Ye.