The Zanku pioneer’s third studio album is a masterclass in perseverance, street wisdom, and of course, star power.
Two years in the making, Zlatan’s Symbol of Hope finally landed today, and it’s everything the street-pop architect promised. It is raw, reflective, relentless, and motivational. It is a 15-track attestation to survival, told by someone who lived it.
The album’s title carries weight that extends beyond marketing. In a heartfelt interview featuring his son Shiloh, Zlatan opened up about the inspiration driving the project. Growing up in Ikorodu, where he struggled to afford three meals a day, he found solace in watching others rise from nothing. Those figures became his lifeline, his proof that hustle and talent could rewrite destiny.
“When I was growing up, I used to have people I looked up to. I saw people who made it from nothing to something,” he explained. “They were symbols that gave me hope. And now, a lot of people look up to me, too, including you. I’ve become a symbol of hope to many.”
That philosophy permeates every track. From the opening salvo of Pay Day, where Zlatan confronts past critics with measured vindication, to the contemplative Oyoyo, which celebrates trusting the process, this is an artist who’s earned the right to speak on resilience.
These collaborations look like strategic choices that map Zlatan’s evolution from underground upstart to mainstream titan.
