FOLA Names His Second Album 9 After the Striker, With Davido, Ayra Starr and BNXN Among the Guests

FOLA has named his second album after the number nine shirt. The title is a football reference: the striker is the player a team turns to when it needs a goal, and FOLA is positioning the record as the one you call when you need a hit. The album, 9, lands on 9th October with 14 tracks and guests including Davido, Ayra Starr, BNXN and Darkoo.

Why the Album Is Called 9

FOLA has referred to himself as "the striker", and the number nine is the striker's shirt, so the title doubles as a statement of intent. His own note on the album is short. He wrote that he made it "with some of my favourite instrumentalists, producers, and artists", that "every song came from somewhere real, every detail meant something", and that he hopes it "finds you at the right time."

From Catharsis to 9

Catharsis, his debut album, came out on 4th September 2025 with 11 tracks and four guests: Victony, Kizz Daniel, Gabzy and Young Jonn. 9 is bigger on both counts, with 14 tracks and a guest list that reaches across the Afrobeats and pop scenes. Kizz Daniel, who joined him on "Lost" for Catharsis, was also in the news this month when he dedicated the "Owo Oluwa" video to his late parents.

The Features

Four collaborations stand out:

• "2am in Toronto" with Davido, the third track and the single due on 9th October, following the solo "How Many?"

• "Treat U Right" with Ayra Starr

• "My Type" with BNXN

• "Hold U Down" with Darkoo

"It's Over" brings in Bella Shmurda and Zlatan, two names with history on his catalogue. Bella Shmurda was on "Ginger Me", FOLA's debut single in March 2022, and Zlatan joined him on "Get Better" in March 2025. The same page lists FOLA on "B4 B4", a track from Davido's sixth album, Oriadé, with Mayorkun, so the Davido feature on 9 follows an earlier appearance on his own album.

The official tracklist graphic for 9. Source: EMPIRE on Instagram

The Full Tracklist

The 14 tracks, as published by Dangbana Republik and EMPIRE:

• "awade"

• "how many?"

• "2am in toronto" (featuring Davido)

• "stubborn"

• "miss u ii"

• "in order"

• "treat u right" (featuring Ayra Starr)

• "attention!"

• "fine $hit"

• "waf"

• "crime" (samples 2Baba)

• "my type" (featuring BNXN)

• "hold u down" (featuring Darkoo)

• "it's over" (featuring Bella Shmurda and Zlatan)

"Crime" is the one to watch for listeners who grew up on 2Baba, because a sample from one of the most recognisable voices in Nigerian pop sits in the middle of an album built for the current generation.

Frequently Asked Questions

When Is FOLA's Album 9 Released?

9 is released on 9th October, through Dangbana Republik and EMPIRE.

How Many Tracks Are on 9?

The album has 14 tracks.

Who Features on FOLA's 9?

Davido, Ayra Starr, BNXN, Darkoo, Bella Shmurda and Zlatan all feature, and "crime" samples 2Baba.

Why Did FOLA Call the Album 9?

The title is a football reference. The number nine is the striker's shirt, and FOLA has described himself as "the striker."

What Was FOLA's First Album?

Catharsis, released on 4th September 2025, with 11 tracks and guests Victony, Kizz Daniel, Gabzy and Young Jonn.