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.
Zlatan didn’t walk this journey alone. Symbol of Hope boasts a murderers’ row of collaborators spanning multiple generations of Afrobeats excellence: Davido, Olamide, Flavour, Victony, Mayorkun, Shallipopi, Bhadboi OML, Qing Madi, Lojay, Idowest, TerryTheVoice, and FOLA all contribute to what feels less like a feature list and more like a family reunion.
Musically, ‘Symbol of Hope’ finds Zlatan refining his signature blend of street energy and melodic accessibility. Tracks like Odeshi and Happy Day double down on the moneymaking anthems Zlatan’s built his reputation on, but there’s newfound depth here too. Diamond wraps romantic sentiment in materialism, a honest reflection of street priorities where love and survival intertwine. Alpha & Omega with Bhadboi OML showcases his spiritual side, while maintaining the energy that keeps dance floors moving.
What’s striking is Zlatan’s vocal dexterity throughout. He shifts effortlessly between rapid-fire rapping and smooth singing, matching each production’s energy while maintaining his distinctive voice. He sure isn’t coasting on past success; this is someone still hungry to prove himself.
Symbol of Hope marks Zlatan’s third proper studio album, following 2019’s Zanku and 2021’s Resan. But where those projects established his sound and commercial viability, this feels like a coronation. The entrepreneurial success, the style evolution, the co-signs from both veterans and emerging stars, everything has aligned.
In making Symbol of Hope, Zlatan has done more than release another solid album. He’s created a blueprint for anyone grinding their way up from the bottom, proving that persistence, authenticity, and belief in oneself can transform circumstances. The real symbol of hope? It’s not just the music, it’s the man who made it, and the community he’s built along the way.
The Zanku Boss has arrived. And he’s brought the streets with him.
