When Kunmie’s Arike dropped, it felt like Nigeria had just discovered its next superstar. But it seems he’s slipped back into the “emerging artist still trying to make it big” phase.
His debut single, Arike, was a massive hit to say the least. It topped Spotify at No. 1, reached No. 3 on Apple Music, and even became the 7th most Shazammed song globally. For a debut? That’s insane.
I remember watching him perform Arike at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards. He didn’t need theatrics, Arike did all the heavy lifting. The song was beautiful, heartfelt, and spiritually resonant. The kind of performance that makes you think, “Yeah, this guy is here to stay.”
There’s no doubt he has a beautiful sound people want to hear more of. But the question is: is there really more to explore?
Kunmie appears to have strong management behind him. Arike blew up when he had just 200 followers, that’s serious pushing. But since then, he’s been laid back about releasing new music. Is that on him, or his management?
He dropped an EP, Before We Became Strangers, which honestly flopped. The project was supposed to be the full story, with Arike just one part of it. So why didn’t it hit like Arike did?
It may be poor management or finances. It had no push, strategy, or spark. It disappeared almost as soon as it dropped. But Kunmie also comes across as lazy when pushing his craft.
Arike resonates because it speaks to love and the fear of losing someone you can’t live without. But do we really know who Kunmie is beyond his music? He doesn’t relate to his audience.
“Do we really know who Kunmie is beyond his music?”
Look at Davido, who replies to fans (and even haters) on X, or Adekunle Gold, who constantly interacts and shows his authentic self. These are OGs, yet they stay visible. As a new cat, Kunmie should be even more intentional about this.
Instead, we barely see him or his music. His EP had songs like Majekaja, which spoke about regret and the pain of loneliness, while I Admit and One More Chance explored heartbreak and longing for reconciliation, very relatable themes. But why didn’t they catch fire like Arike did?
Maybe Kunmie and his team knew the EP wasn’t solid.
Take Llona for example. He went on a 26-city nationwide tour, selling out shows despite fuel costs, insecurity, and the stress of logistics. That’s not just putting yourself in front of people; that’s building a brand and also creating content. That kind of audacity is what cements an artist’s place in the industry.
People are even starting to compare him to Omah Lay!
Now compare that with Kunmie. He currently has about 44 posts on Instagram, and nearly 70% are about Arike. After posting about Arike (Remix), he went silent for 44 days. No teasers, no interactions, nothing for fans to feed on. Then he suddenly popped back up to say he’s released a new song. What did he expect fans to do within that time?
That’s not strategy, that’s neglect. In an industry moving at breakneck speed, silence isn’t a mystery, it’s career sabotage.
During that silence, others were working. Rybeena has dropped and been featured on four songs in less than a month. Fans are begging him to slow down so they can digest one before the next.
Shoday is getting praised for having “no single miss.” Fola keeps making noise with every release. There’s even a Fola vs. Shoday vs. Rybeena debate on X over who deserves the Headies Rookie of the Year. They’re consistent, visible, and feeding fans nonstop.
Where’s Kunmie in the mix?
Big stars like Ayra Starr and Rema constantly hawk their music on socials, even paying for posts. They dance, create challenges, and videos showcasing their real selves; anything to keep fans hooked.
A recent X convo compared Wizkid and Olamide’s early work rates. Their next songs came hot on the heels of the last. Asake also followed the blueprint. You couldn’t escape them; TV, radio, street corners, parties. They forced you to notice. That consistency built their brands: Olamide, king of the streets. Wizkid, king of sexy Afrobeats.
Omah Lay carved out Afro-depression. Rema declared himself Rave Lorde. They owned their lanes by feeding us nonstop until no one could argue.
Kunmie? He drops a song and vanishes.
Yes, finances matter. But from a fan’s perspective, it doesn’t even look like he’s trying. Take the Arike remix with Simi and Mabel. Honestly, it was unnecessary. Stretching one hit for six months straight isn’t commendable. Piggybacking off a hit can only take you so far. It won’t sustain a career.
Worse, the remix didn’t even hit differently. And all Kunmie’s socials focus on is promoting its video. That’s a bore fest.
Being monotonous is dangerous. When fans discover a new artist, they want to see versatility. Kunmie hasn’t given that. His work rate is not commendable. In fact, in Naija, we joke that when artists flood our screens, it’s because “the rent is due.” Maybe Kunmie should take notes.
Asake can live carefree now because he has a deep catalogue to fall back on. If Kunmie continues at this pace, he risks joining the “one-hit wonder” club. Talent opened the door for him, but only hard work and consistency will keep him inside.
What’s next for Kunmie? Will he rise to the superstar status Arike promised, or fade into the background while his peers fight for Rookie of the Year?
Do you think Kunmie still has what it takes to dominate? Drop your thoughts in the comments