Nigerian singer Zinoleesky has put to rest speculation that he has parted ways with Marlian Records, affirming his loyalty to the label.
The rumours started on Saturday after the ‘Celine Dion’ hitmaker posted—and later deleted—a cryptic message on his Instagram story, hinting at frustrations with his management. The post read,
“I am standing up not just for myself but for every artist who’s ever felt powerless or taken advantage of. We deserve better. We deserve transparency, fairness and respect.”
Fans and industry observers quickly speculated that the message signalled a possible fallout with Marlian Records, founded by rapper Naira Marley.
However, Zinoleesky, whose real name is Oniyinde Azeez, moved swiftly to clarify the situation. In a follow-up Instagram story, he dismissed the rumours, writing,
“NM for life… Make una Dey whine una sef,” a pidgin expression advising people not to take the claims seriously. He also reinforced his commitment with the message, “Marlian Forever,” on X.
Zinoleesky, who joined Marlian Records in 2020, has risen rapidly in the Nigerian music scene. He released his debut EP, Chrome Eccentric, the same year and followed up with the acclaimed Grit & Lust (2022), featuring collaborations with Omah Lay and Ayra Starr. His debut studio album, Gen Z, was released in April 2025.
