Adekunle Gold’s Fuji is more than an album. It is a return, a reflection, and a redefinition of what the singer has always been about — growth through reinvention. Released on October 3, 2025, Fuji stands as his sixth studio project, weaving Yoruba traditions into modern Afropop, soul, and R&B textures. While the title promises a direct Fuji experience, the album instead presents a refined fusion: a cultural celebration clothed in sleek production and emotional storytelling.
Across social media, fans and critics alike have described it as both a masterstroke and a brave risk. On X (formerly Twitter), some called it “quite catchy and well produced, though a few songs are lacking in lyrical depth,” while others hailed it as Adekunle Gold’s best work since Catch Me If You Can. With all that in mind, here is a track-by-track deep dive into Fuji.
1. Big Fish
The album opens with purpose. Big Fish begins with a sample from the iconic LEFTY SALAMI BALOGUN AND THE SAKARA GROUP, this instantly roots the listener in heritage. Adekunle Gold then tells his story of survival and triumph, reflecting on his rise from humble beginnings to fame. It is boastful, but grounded in gratitude. The percussions breathe of Yoruba spirituality, and the song feels like both a prayer and an announcement. As openers go, it sets the stage powerfully.
2. Don Corleone
On Don Corleone, Adekunle channels confidence and control. The mafioso reference is a metaphor for his evolution and dominance in the music game. Backing vocals, belonging to our ever beautiful Simi (his wife), add lushness to the rhythm. The production glows, though lyrically, it leans more on attitude than depth.
3. Bobo (feat. Lojay & Shoday)
A clear standout. Bobo is rhythmic, modern, and irresistibly catchy. Lojay and Shoday bring freshness and balance, creating a dynamic contrast that elevates the track. It is equal parts street anthem and luxury talk. One fan on X wrote, “The more I listen, the more I realize this Fuji album no get skip.” The synergy on this track makes that sentiment hard to argue with.
4. Coco Money
Short but sharp. Coco Money is a slick commentary on the power of wealth. The track’s brevity is both its charm and flaw, it ends just when it feels like it could explode into something bigger. Still, its quotable lyrics have quickly become social media captions. It is one of the most replayed snippets on TikTok already.
5. Believe
A sample of the legendary Bill Withers and Grover Washington Jr. classic “Just the Two of Us,” Believe slows the tempo and delivers heartfelt honesty. Adekunle sings of trust, devotion, and emotional resilience. The song’s simplicity makes it memorable. Its vulnerability gives the project breathing room amid the confidence-heavy early run.
6. My Love Is The Same
This song feels like a letter. Introduced by a light exchange between him and his daughter, it’s a reaffirmation that fame and time have not diluted love. His voice carries warmth and sincerity, making it one of the most soulful moments on the record.
7. Love Is An Action (feat. 6lack)
A standout for international appeal. With 6lack’s smooth vocals blending effortlessly, the track argues that love must be shown, not merely said. The blend of R&B and Afropop gives it crossover potential. Adekunle holds his own alongside the American singer, proving yet again his global reach.
8. Many People
Here, Adekunle reflects on growth, evolution, and his current status in comparison to where he started. Sampling the legend, Yinka Ayefele, the song’s rhythm draws from Tungba and Fuji percussion, offering one of the more sonically traditional moments while being drenched in nostalgia.
9. Attack (feat. Tkay Maidza, Cruel Santino & Mavo)
Attack is an explosion of color. It’s chaotic in the best way, merging amapiano, Fuji-infused drums, and alté experimentation. Mavo brings his unique flow, Tkay Maidza and Santino bring eccentricity, while Adekunle rides the beat with smooth control. It’s not the album’s most emotional track, but it’s one of its boldest.
10. Only God Can Save Me (feat. Davido)
One of the most talked-about collaborations on Fuji. Adekunle and Davido trade reflections about struggle, temptations they face as married men in the industry. The chemistry is genuine as these two are no strangers to each other, and the Amapiano groove underneath keeps it accessible. Some expected a louder banger, but what we got instead was introspection wrapped in melody. It’s a collaboration that feels mature and necessary.
11. Lailo
My personal best. Imagine this; dinner with the love of your life, dim lights, scented candles, a bouquet of tulips, her beautiful smile, 100% eye contact, comfortable moments of silence, laughter in muffled tones, hands held and wine glasses on the table.
That’s what this song is.
Well-done, Adekunle Gold.
12. Oba
This track is a vibrant Afropop anthem celebrating resilience and self-worth. With smooth Fuji-inspired production and confident vocals, it’s both uplifting and regal, blending Yoruba pride with universal appeal. As the name implies “Oba,” it’s 100% a song you would expect to be played in reverence of an actual king.
13. Simile
Arguably the album’s emotional center. Simile speaks of a child yearning for direction and guidance from a parental figure, an extremely reflective and largely relatable track which he wrote when he lost his father in 2019. The addition of the Soweto Gospel Choir is the icing on the cake, as it transforms it into something sacred. It’s a purpose-finding moment, one that grounds the album in human truth.
14. I’m Not Done (feat. Robert Glasper)
Here, Adekunle closes one chapter while keeping the door open for evolution. With Glasper’s jazzy piano chords, the song feels like a late-night reflection. It’s calm and introspective. It provides direction and reassures fans that this is not an endpoint but another beginning.
15. Obimo (Bonus)
Serving as a bonus track and emotional closer, Obimo brings warmth and tenderness. Adekunle sings in Igbo, calling it a song for love itself. It ties the project together beautifully, showing that even as he explores Fuji and Yoruba influences, his heart beats for unity and feeling.
Closing Thoughts
Fuji is not entirely a pure Fuji record, and that’s precisely its brilliance. It’s a hybrid, an experiment in blending tradition with modernity. Adekunle Gold continues to prove that he’s not afraid of change. Afrobeats’ global visibility is at an all-time high right now and this project is sure to further propagate its roots and strengthen culture.
Some fans wanted more raw Fuji textures, but few can deny the craftsmanship, emotional weight, and sonic sophistication of this body of work.
Lots of criticism have been made about this project not representing “Fuji” as it’s primarily known in western Nigeria, but true listeners know that Fuji in itself is a fusion of several sounds and elements into one genre and AG Baby has just made a perfection of that in this album. Furthermore, the interpolation and sampling of songs by Fuji greats like Ayefele, Obesere, Kwam 1, and others is a clear indication of the fact that he really did his homework on this one.
And to say that this wasn’t Fuji oriented at all is a great disservice to the level of Fuji influence this album has, with its heavy percussion, call and response, and the very conscious application of western culture through its language use.
This album was nothing short of a masterpiece, and a very important part of the history of Afrobeats. In my opinion, I would say it’s a definite classic in the coming years.
The production, track cohesion, intentionality, and proper feature allocation make this album a strong contender for Album of the Year.
Final Rating: 9/10