FOLA’s ‘9’ Album: 5 Things to Know About Davido, Ayra Starr, 2Baba Features
Nigerian singer FOLA has released his sophomore album, 9, featuring Davido, Ayra Starr, BNXN, Darkoo, Bella Shmurda and Zlatan.
The 14-track project arrived on Friday, October 9, 2026. It follows his 2025 debut album, Catharsis, and marks another stage in his growing music career.
FOLA, whose real name is Folarin Odunlami, has built a following through songs such as Alone and You. His new album brings together established Afrobeats stars and songs that explore his own musical direction.
The project also contains a notable connection to Nigerian music legend 2Baba. Although 2Baba is not listed among the album’s featured artistes, FOLA’s song Crime draws from the veteran singer’s classic If Love Is a Crime.
Here are five things to know about FOLA’s new album, 9.
1. FOLA’s ‘9’ album features Davido, Ayra Starr and others
One of the biggest talking points surrounding 9 is its lineup of guest artistes.
Davido appears on 2am in Toronto, the album’s third track. Ayra Starr joins FOLA on Treat U Right, while BNXN features on My Type.
The album also includes Hold U Down, featuring Darkoo. Bella Shmurda and Zlatan appear together on It’s Over, which closes the project.
These collaborations bring different sounds and audiences to the album. They also give FOLA an opportunity to work with artistes who have established their places in the Nigerian and international music scenes.
However, the project is not built entirely around guest appearances. It contains solo songs that allow FOLA to carry the music himself.
The full tracklist has 14 songs, with the collaborations spread across the project rather than concentrated at the beginning.
2. FOLA’s ‘9’ album contains 14 tracks
The album opens with Awade, followed by How Many?.
Davido appears on the third track, 2am in Toronto. The project then moves through songs including Stubborn, Miss U II, In Order and Treat U Right, featuring Ayra Starr.
Other tracks include Attention!, Fine $hit, WAF and Crime.
BNXN features on the 12th track, My Type, while Darkoo appears on Hold U Down. The album closes with It’s Over, featuring Bella Shmurda and Zlatan.
Here is the complete tracklist:
- Awade
- How Many?
- 2am in Toronto feat. Davido
- Stubborn
- Miss U II
- In Order
- Treat U Right feat. Ayra Starr
- Attention!
- Fine $hit
- WAF
- Crime
- My Type feat. BNXN
- Hold U Down feat. Darkoo
- It’s Over feat. Bella Shmurda and Zlatan
Several songs had already attracted attention before the album’s release. These include Treat U Right, Attention! and Fine Ting (Fine $hit).
The release brings those records together with the album’s other tracks, giving listeners a fuller picture of the direction FOLA has taken with his second project.
3. FOLA’s ‘9’ album connects with 2Baba’s music
Another notable detail is the song Crime, which draws from 2Baba’s 2006 hit If Love Is a Crime.
The connection gives the new album a link to one of the songs associated with 2Baba’s long career in Nigerian music.
FOLA had shared a clip of himself singing the older song earlier in 2026. The moment attracted attention from listeners who recognised the familiar melody.
Reports also said FOLA played his version for 2Baba, who expressed approval of the song.
The track appears as the 11th song on 9. However, the official tracklist does not list 2Baba as a guest artiste on it.
The distinction matters because a sample or musical reference is not the same as a formal guest appearance.
For FOLA, the song offers a way to connect a familiar Nigerian music classic with his own contemporary sound. It may also introduce the original song to younger listeners who discover it through Crime.
4. FOLA’s ‘9’ album title comes from football
The title 9 has a football connection.
In football, the number nine shirt is traditionally associated with a striker. The striker’s main responsibility is to score goals and lead the team’s attack.
FOLA has used that idea as part of his artistic identity, referring to himself as a striker.
The title therefore carries a message about his ambitions as a musician. Just as a striker is expected to deliver goals, FOLA presents himself as an artiste expected to deliver songs that connect with listeners.
The album’s October 9 release date also reinforces the connection between the title and the number.
Beyond the title, the project brings together previously released songs and new collaborations. This gives listeners a chance to hear how the different records fit into the larger body of work.
FOLA has also said the album came from personal experiences and careful collaboration with producers, musicians and other artistes.
In announcing the project, he expressed hope that listeners would find a song that speaks to their experiences, regardless of what they might be going through.
5. FOLA’s ‘9’ album follows his debut project, ‘Catharsis’
The new album follows Catharsis, FOLA’s debut project released in 2025.
His rise gained attention after the success of Alone, a song that helped introduce his music to a wider audience. He has since continued to build his catalogue through solo releases and collaborations.
FOLA’s work with Bella Shmurda’s Dangbana Republik has also formed part of his development as an artiste.
With 9, he now brings together a larger lineup of guest artistes, including Davido, Ayra Starr and BNXN. The project also features Darkoo, Bella Shmurda and Zlatan.
The album gives him room to work with established names while maintaining a significant number of solo tracks.
Its reception will help show how listeners respond to his latest direction. The range of collaborations may also expose his music to fans of the featured artistes.
For now, 9 marks a new release in FOLA’s career and adds another full-length project to his growing catalogue.
With 14 tracks, several high-profile collaborations and a musical link to 2Baba, the album gives listeners multiple entry points into FOLA’s latest work.