Joseph Justice Elsa, FirstKlaz is a fast-rising Afrobeats and Afro-fusion artist from Abuja, Nigeria, known for blending modern African music with Fuji, R&B, hip-hop and traditional Hausa rhythms. With his unique sound and cultural storytelling, FirstKlaz is gradually building a reputation as one of the new-generation artists bringing a fresh Northern Nigerian influence to mainstream African music.

His music combines the energy of contemporary Afrobeats with traditional sounds and influences that reflect his background. This distinctive approach has helped him create a style that appeals to both young music lovers and listeners interested in culturally rooted African sounds.

Who Is FirstKlaz?

FirstKlaz is a Nigerian singer and songwriter from Abuja who performs Afrobeats and Afro-fusion music. He is recognized for his versatility and his ability to combine different genres, including Afrobeats, Fuji, R&B, hip-hop and Hausa traditional rhythms.

The artist has been described as one of the new voices associated with the growing Kalangu wave, a movement that brings Northern Nigerian sounds and culture into modern popular music. Through his music, FirstKlaz blends emotion, storytelling and contemporary sounds while maintaining elements of his cultural identity.

His approach to music has made him one of the artists to watch from Nigeria’s growing alternative and mainstream Afrobeats scene.

FirstKlaz Biography, Songs, EP and Career: Meet the Abuja Afrobeats Star

FirstKlaz Music Career

FirstKlaz’s career has been built around experimentation and versatility. Rather than limiting himself to a single genre, the Abuja-based artist explores different sounds and musical influences in his songs.

His records often combine traditional African rhythms with modern Afrobeats production, creating a sound that connects with listeners across different parts of Nigeria and beyond.

As his career continues to grow, FirstKlaz has released songs and collaborations that showcase his ability to work across different styles. His catalog reflects influences from Fuji, Afrobeats, hip-hop, highlife, R&B and Hausa music.

Gen-Z Fuji and the Rise of FirstKlaz

One of the songs that helped introduce FirstKlaz to a wider audience was Gen-Z Fuji. The record demonstrated his ability to bring Fuji-inspired elements into a modern sound designed for a younger generation.

The success and attention surrounding the song led to further releases, including Gen-Z Fuji II, which featured Nigerian singer Terry Apala.

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The collaboration brought together two artists connected by their interest in fusing traditional Nigerian sounds with contemporary music. The Gen-Z Fuji series remains one of the projects closely associated with FirstKlaz’s growing identity as an artist.

Gen-Z Faaji Featuring Joeboy

FirstKlaz continued to expand his sound with Gen-Z Faaji, a collaboration featuring popular Nigerian singer Joeboy.

The song added another dimension to FirstKlaz’s musical journey and introduced his sound to listeners familiar with contemporary Afrobeats and Nigerian pop music.

Collaborating with established artists has also helped highlight FirstKlaz’s ability to adapt his sound while maintaining the cultural influences that make his music stand out.

Gen-Z Arewa and Northern Nigerian Influence

Another important release in FirstKlaz’s catalog is Gen-Z Arewa. The song further reflects his connection to Northern Nigerian culture and the new generation of artists bringing Northern sounds into wider conversations about Nigerian music.

The term Arewa is closely associated with Northern Nigeria, making the record an important part of FirstKlaz’s cultural and musical identity.

Through songs like Gen-Z Arewa, FirstKlaz continues to represent a modern sound influenced by his environment while creating music with broader national and international appeal.

Gen-Z Arewazobia With Zlatan and Jeriq

In 2025, FirstKlaz released Gen-Z Arewazobia, featuring Zlatan and Jeriq. The collaboration brought together artists representing different regions and musical influences within Nigeria.

The concept behind the record celebrates unity and cultural diversity, connecting major Nigerian identities through music.

With FirstKlaz representing the North, Zlatan bringing a strong Yoruba influence and Jeriq representing the Igbo-speaking region, Gen-Z Arewazobia became a musical fusion of different parts of Nigeria.

The collaboration further demonstrated FirstKlaz’s growing ability to connect his cultural sound with artists from across the Nigerian music industry.

FirstKlaz Song Alhaji

Alhaji is another notable song in FirstKlaz’s growing music catalog. The record is widely associated with his street-oriented energy and demonstrates another side of his versatility.

The song shows that FirstKlaz can move between culturally rooted music and more energetic, contemporary sounds.

As his fan base continues to grow, Alhaji has become one of the songs associated with the artist’s expanding identity within Nigeria’s music scene.

Soyaiya and FirstKlaz’s Highlife Influence

FirstKlaz also explored highlife-inspired sounds with Soyaiya.

The record highlights another important aspect of his musical style: versatility. While some of his releases are influenced by Fuji and Hausa rhythms, Soyaiya demonstrates his ability to explore other African sounds.

This willingness to experiment with different genres could play an important role in FirstKlaz’s long-term growth as an artist.

FirstKlaz Déjavu EP

FirstKlaz’s latest project, Déjavu, was released with Iliya Entertainment Music.

The EP explores themes surrounding memory, personal struggles, ambition, hustle and resilience. Through the project, FirstKlaz reflects on the experiences of dreamers and everyday people who continue working towards their goals despite challenges.

Déjavu represents another step in the artist’s evolution, showing a more personal and emotional side of his music.

The project also reflects the journey of a young artist navigating ambition, culture, success and the challenges of building a career in the competitive Nigerian music industry.

What Makes FirstKlaz’s Sound Different?

FirstKlaz’s sound stands out because of his ability to combine multiple musical influences.

While Afrobeats remains a major part of his music, he also draws inspiration from Fuji, hip-hop, R&B, highlife and traditional Hausa rhythms.

This combination allows him to create music that feels both traditional and modern.

His cultural influence is also one of his biggest strengths. As more Nigerian artists gain global attention, FirstKlaz represents a growing generation of musicians exploring sounds from different parts of the country and introducing them to new audiences.

FirstKlaz and the Future of Afrobeats

The future of Nigerian music is becoming increasingly diverse, with artists from different regions introducing new sounds and languages into the industry.

FirstKlaz is among the artists contributing to this development by bringing Northern Nigerian influences into modern Afrobeats and Afro-fusion.

His growing catalog, collaborations and ability to experiment with different genres suggest that he could become an important voice in the next generation of Nigerian music.

From Gen-Z Fuji and Gen-Z Faaji to Gen-Z Arewa, Gen-Z Arewazobia, Alhaji, Soyaiya and the Déjavu EP, FirstKlaz continues to build a catalog that reflects versatility and cultural depth.

As he continues to release new music, FirstKlaz remains one of the Abuja-based artists to watch and a promising voice in the evolving landscape of African music.

FirstKlaz Songs

Some of FirstKlaz’s notable songs include:

• Gen-Z Fuji
• Gen-Z Fuji II featuring Terry Apala
• Gen-Z Faaji featuring Joeboy
• Gen-Z Arewa
• Gen-Z Arewazobia featuring Zlatan and Jeriq
• Alhaji
• Soyaiya

He has also released the Déjavu EP.

FirstKlaz is an Abuja-based Afrobeats and Afro-fusion artist using music to connect traditional Northern sounds with contemporary African music.

His blend of Afrobeats, Fuji, R&B, hip-hop, highlife and Hausa rhythms has helped him develop a distinctive identity.

With major collaborations, the Gen-Z series and his Déjavu EP, FirstKlaz continues to establish himself as one of the emerging artists shaping the future of Nigerian and African music.

As his career grows, music fans can expect FirstKlaz to continue pushing the boundaries between culture, tradition and the new-school Afrobeats sound.