Llona Wants You To Be Saved, But He’s Not Your Savior 

Each generation needs a voice that embodies its spirit and speaks on its behalf. It needs thinkers who will frequently examine its well-being. And Llona has teed up himself as one such voice of reason. His music, in interrogating what it means to be a young Nigerian, chronicles the hardships and anxieties besetting people in that age group. It is a subject he explores fluently in his debut album—Homeless.

Llona sings confidently about the travails of Nigerian life because he, too, has endured a great deal of hardship. He was born in hardship—his mother, for lack of money, birthed him in a church. The family’s financial straits also meant that Llona, or Michael Arjuna Attah as he was known to his parents, was often in and out of school. His family also dealt with a security scare at one point. “In 2015, there was this Boko Haram issue that made us targets because my stepfather was a police inspector,” said Llona.

But even in this difficult environment, Llona nurtured a passion for music. In his hands, plates in his grandmother’s home became makeshift drums, and Llona also performed popular songs to neighbors who gave him their time of day. One of those songs was M.I.’s Nobody. However, it was another song—Olamide’s Eniduro—that showed Llona that a rap career was possible for him.

Llona’s eventual entry into the music industry started with participating in music competitions, leading to a record deal with Johnny Blizzy Records under the moniker, Tooclassiq. Tooclassiq found some success with singles like Okay!, Welcome to Naija, and Amin. However, frustrations soon set in when Okay! “took off without him”. The song was being played everywhere while he was getting little to no recognition. His record label also rushed the process, putting out multiple singles quickly to capitalize on potential revenue, and soon enough, everything came crashing down. “Everything was rushed within three months and crashed,” he said. “By the time I realized what was happening, it was too late.” 

Picking himself up again, the artist adopted a new stage name “Llona.” He wrote some songs on his debut project during this time, including the breakthrough HBP. “I remember that night because it was December. Sleep had become hard for me and everybody already left,” he said. I kept telling myself I would get high blood pressure if I kept thinking about those things. Last August, Llona released the single under a new management. The track immediately gained traction, and a remix with Bella Shmurda introduced Llona as one of the artists to look out for. 

In his debut album, Llona presents a comprehensive account of his journey, motivations, weaknesses, and understanding of society. “I just need to make people understand who I am and where I am coming from, and how do I do that? I will do that with my project (Homeless),” he said. 

Homeless is a kinfolk-themed album. The album takes the listener through the ups and downs of life, emphasizing the importance of resilience, self-belief, and loyalty, universal themes that many people can relate to, making it a powerful and impactful collection of songs. The soulful and spirited 12-track masterpiece is set against a vast, ethereal backdrop of dreamy chords, soft percussion, and subtle horns. 

In many ways, Llona’s journey mirrors that of the American rapper Kendrick Lamar. Just as Kendrick Lamar underwent a significant transformation in his artistic identity, so too has Llona evolved, reflecting a broader theme of personal growth and self-discovery. Kendrick Lamar, formerly known as K. Dot, once noted in an interview that the shift from his former moniker was a pivotal moment in his career. He reflected, “When I stopped going by K-Dot, I think that was the moment where I really found my voice. The world could have got Kendrick Lamar two or three years earlier if I’d stuck to the script and continued to develop.” This transition marked Lamar’s emergence into a more authentic self, a journey of evolution that parallels Llona’s own path.

In his music, Llona does not shy away from being vulnerable. He rejects the notion of being a flawless figure and instead seeks to connect with his audience on a more personal level. In his evocative track How I Live and the album closer Forgive Me, Llona addresses his shortcomings and expresses a desire for forgiveness in advance for future mistakes. This transparency reflects a common thread with Lamar’s approach: both artists strive to be authentic and relatable, acknowledging their flaws and vulnerabilities rather than presenting themselves as sinless saviors.

As a true representative of his generation, Llona wants to make them feel seen through his music. “I want people to know that whenever they see me they should know that they are not alone,” he says. As a true prophet, he wants to lead them forward, towards healing. “I want them to see me as someone trying to make the world even more peaceful,” he explains. As a way of fulfilling this mission, he partnered with a mental health organization to provide free therapy to some of his listeners. As a thinker, he’s unafraid to share his views on both local and global issues. In the visual for How I Live, He sheds light on crises in Congo, Gaza, and Nigeria. That is just who he is – the voice of a generation. 

Listen to Homeless here: