Chriz Joe 
There is something particularly fitting about Victony calling his latest album STARLIFE. His journey has been anything but ordinary. From a devastating accident that nearly derailed his career to becoming one of Nigeria’s most recognizable young Afrobeats stars, Victony has fought for every stage of his evolution.
Anthony Ebuka Victor, popularly known as Victony, first began making serious waves with his unique voice, melodic delivery and ability to move between Afrobeats, R&B and hip-hop.
Then came the 2021 car accident. The crash left him with severe injuries and unable to walk for months, while one of his friends lost his life. His eventual return became one of the most emotional stories in Nigerian music, particularly when he stood up from his wheelchair to perform “Holy Father” with Mayorkun at Davido’s A Decade of Davido concert. But Victony didn’t let the accident become the entire story.
From Outlaw to Stubborn
After his recovery, Victony returned with Outlaw in 2022, a project that contained “Apollo,” “Kolomental,” and “Soweto.”
“Soweto” became the defining record of that era. Its remix with Rema and Don Toliver pushed Victony onto a much bigger international stage and proved that he could create records that travelled far beyond Nigeria.
He followed that success with his debut album, Stubborn, in 2024, featuring artists such as Asake, Shallipopi, Saint Jhn and Teezo Touchdown. The album showed that Victony was interested in building an identity beyond one massive hit.
Then came Very Stubborn in 2025. Now, STARLIFE arrives as another step forward.
So, How Good Is STARLIFE?
Honestly, STARLIFE works best when you stop expecting Victony to give you another “Soweto.”
This album isn’t built around chasing one obvious smash. Instead, Victony sounds more comfortable experimenting and allowing different sides of his artistry to exist on the same project.
There are Afrobeats records, smoother R&B moments, hip-hop influences and Afro-Rage elements. The guest appearances from BNXN, Blaqbonez, YKB, Babyboy AV, Young Jonn and FOLA add variety without completely taking the spotlight away from Victony.
And that is probably the album’s biggest strength: Victony sounds like himself.
What Victony Says About the Album
Victony has described STARLIFE as a project built around freedom. Rather than forcing himself into one particular sound or trying to meet expectations created by his previous successes, he allowed himself to explore.
That decision is noticeable throughout the album. Victony seems less interested in proving he belongs among Afrobeats’ rising stars and more in deciding what kind of artist he wants to become.
The Critics’ Take
Early reactions to STARLIFE have largely focused on Victony’s versatility, smoother R&B direction and willingness to experiment.
The criticism, however, is worth acknowledging too. Not every song carries the same immediate impact, and listeners expecting another instant “Soweto” may find the album less explosive than they hoped.
But that does not necessarily make it weaker.
If anything, STARLIFE feels like an album made for longevity rather than simply chasing a moment.
Victony’s Spotify Numbers
Victony’s growth is also visible on Spotify, where he has built an audience of millions of monthly listeners.
Much of that global attention can be traced back to “Soweto,” but his continued streaming numbers show that listeners have stayed interested in what comes next.
And that is perhaps the most important part of his journey. Victony is no longer simply the artist who survived an accident or the voice behind “Soweto.” He has developed into an artist with his own catalogue, identity and direction.
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