What Happened to Mayorkun’s Hitmaking Run?

There was a time when Mayorkun’s voice was inescapable. From the rousing chants of Mama to the slick confidence of “Che Che” and the street-savvy swagger of “Geng”, he was a fixture in the Nigerian music scene. A versatile artist with a hit-making formula that rarely failed. But now, the silence is loud. There’s no back-to-back rollout, no viral moments, no definitive Mayorkun anthem owning the airwaves. 

The question then lingers: where is Mayorkun?

In 2016, Davido stumbled on a freestyle Mayorkun had posted online and, in a move that would shape Mayorkun's career, he signed him to DMW. That co-sign was the beginning of an era. His debut single, “Eleko”, signaled a melodious hit that announced a fresh voice with the potential to go far. From there, the run was relentless: Mama, Bobo, True, Up to Something, Geng. Mayorkun was a rising star and the life of the party. He is that artist whose music soundtrack moments effortlessly.

His debut album, “The Mayor of Lagos”, solidified his status as another promising signee who, at the time, felt like the most consistent act under the DMW umbrella. His strength lay in how he fused streetwise themes with an almost playful delivery, making even heartbreak songs feel like turn-up anthems. But that era didn’t last forever.

When Mayorkun left DMW in 2021, it felt like the next logical step. He had proven his ability to command attention, so taking full control of his career seemed like a natural evolution. His first album as an independent artist, “Back In Office”, didn’t shake the scene the way “The Mayor of Lagos” did. There were glimpses of brilliance, like the way “Holy Father” with Victony was a standout, but the general perception was that something was missing.

As he’s no longer backed by the DMW machine, the rollouts weren’t as aggressive, and the collaborations didn’t hit the same, and slowly, the once-unstoppable force started to fade from the frontline of pop culture. In the time since Mayorkun’s peak, a new wave of artistes has emerged with a different energy. Asake arrived with Fuji-infused Amapiano bangers, Seyi Vibez blended emo storytelling with street grit, Odumodublvck is tearing through the game with drill. 

Nigerian sonic landscape is shifting, and unlike some of his peers who have adapted, Mayorkun hasn’t fully repositioned himself within this evolving space. His absence from the scene has also fueled the conversation. While he used to drop songs and collaborations at a consistent rate, his releases have become sparse. The same Mayorkun who once dominated with effortless hits now feels distant. Throughout 2024, aside from songs he was featured in, he only released two songs, “Under The Canopy” and “Innocent” featuring Fireboy. And in an industry where visibility and consistency often dictate relevance, prolonged silence can feel like a career risk.

Leaving a major label is a double-edged sword. Some artists thrive on their own terms, but many struggle to maintain the same momentum. DMW was more than a record label for Mayorkun but also a powerhouse that handled rollouts, secured top-tier collaborations, and ensured the music reached its intended audience. Without that structure, the weight of maintaining his career falls solely on his team and himself. And therein lies the question: was he fully prepared for the demands of independence? Because talent is never the issue with Mayorkun, but only about execution, visibility, and keeping up with a landscape that doesn’t wait for anyone.

The thing about Nigerian pop music is that reinvention is always possible. Mayorkun still has the voice, the charisma, and the ear for melodies that made him a star. What he needs is a project or single that properly reintroduces him to the audience, something that reminds people why they fell in love with his music in the first place. 

Will he return with the same hunger that once made him an undeniable force? These are the questions that only time and Mayorkun can answer. But one thing is certain: music moves fast, and staying too long in the shadows can make the journey back much harder. For now, the silence remains, and until Mayorkun makes his next move, the question persists: where is the Mayor of Lagos?