When Mavo turned 22 earlier in November 2025, his friends celebrated with a playful nod to his chart dominance: LED numbers showing 1, 2 and 3. At that moment he held the top three positions on the Apple Music Nigeria Top Songs chart with “Money Constant” (with DJ Maphorisa, DJ Tunez and Wizkid), “BODY (danz)” (with CKay) and the “Shakabulizzy (Remix)” featuring Davido.

Speaking from Cape Town over Zoom, Mavo — born Oseremen Marvin Ukanigbe — says the birthday surprise was organized by his friends. He also confirmed he’s recorded another track with Davido. (A collaborative release with Scotts Maphuma, Morravey, Ecool and Iphxne DJ titled “Galorizzy” was announced shortly after our conversation.)

“Davido is my friend. After I dropped the ‘Shakabulizzy’ remix, we’ve been always talking,” he says.

Juggling an academic life and a rising music career, Mavo studies optometry at Afe Babalola University in Ekiti State and expects to graduate in July 2026. Alongside his interest in eye care, he has become fascinated with language — inventing slang and shaping a distinct lyrical identity.

He describes his sound as “Burbur music,” an experimental blend of Afrobeats and rap marked by idiosyncratic slang and candid storytelling. “Burbur,” he explains, conveys something wild or loud enough to blow a speaker. Over two years he compiled about 80 coined terms into the Bizzpedia — a Native Mag project he helped produce and publish that catalogs his Bizzylingua vocabulary.

The “Bizzy” persona fuels his artistic hustle: playful, inventive and deliberately memorable. He credits early influences like Wizkid — who would accent songs with a signature ad-lib — for inspiring him to create words that sound cool and provoke curiosity.

One of his favorite entries in the Bizzpedia is “burti,” which the lexicon defines as abundant swagger and movement. Many Bizzylingua entries end in “izzy,” a motif he popularized on the street-hop single “Escaladizzy” with WAVE$TAR. That song received support from BNXN and inspired remixes and reinterpretations from peers, leading to a star-studded “Escaladizzy II” that features contributions from ZerryDL, Shallipopi (Plutomania Records), Ayra Starr and Zlatan.

NO 1 2 & 3 DON WAKE. LIGHT OF THE CHART. pic.twitter.com/wj3AxNV5Yd

— kilolo (@mavoswago) November 3, 2025

Mavo says much of his early work was recorded while balancing classes: “Most of my songs, like ‘Escaladizzy,’ were recorded in my room in my hostel.” He taught himself basic music production with friends, practicing FL Studio every day until he produced a standout track that convinced his manager the project could go further.

Though he initially planned a medical path, a childhood experience with his mother’s eye trouble led him to optometry — a field he now finds rewarding and hands-on. Still, music remained inevitable: “I already knew I was going to do music. I just needed something to inspire my educational side,” he explains.

Looking ahead to life after graduation, Mavo hints at major plans. He says he’s sitting on high-profile collaborations and teases a significant release slated for the first quarter of next year — promising “serious music” that he believes will make an impact.

On Viral Moments and Wordplay

The creation of “Escaladizzy” began during a packed week of classes and performances. He debuted the unreleased song at Homecoming Festival, later finishing the studio version after the track started gaining traction on TikTok.

Mavo admits that not every song he expects to break actually does: while he felt confident about many tracks, “Escaladizzy” surprised him with its reach. That motivated him to craft “Shakabulizzy,” which led to a direct message from Davido asking for the record — and to Davido contributing both a verse and financial support for the music video.

When three of his songs occupied the top spots on Apple Music Nigeria, Mavo says his team had predicted strong performance, though even he expected some chart movement and was surprised at how consistent the placements were.

One lyric from “BODY (danz)” — “Your body na meat pie” — became a viral hook, spawning analyses and fan theories. Mavo says the line is metaphorical and part of his broader effort to craft imaginative, literature-infused lyrics that invite listeners to dig deeper.

Mavo is a lyrical genius
Meat pie(pi)
Pi =3.142
3+1+4+2=10
“ Her body na meatpie” simply means she’s a ten damn pic.twitter.com/9YbRid394m

— »Bamz« (@Seun_vstheworld) October 25, 2025

On stage, fans even lifted real meat pies to echo the lyric — a moment he found amusing and memorable. He jokes about handing out meat pies at an upcoming December show as a playful nod to the craze.

Ambitions and Dream Collaborations

Mavo lists a range of artists who have influenced him — Wizkid, Travis Scott, Playboi Carti, Burna Boy, Lil Uzi Vert, Davido, Rema, Seyi Vibez and Omah Lay — and names Future and Young Thug as major inspirations. Looking forward, he wants to collaborate with SZA, Travis Scott or Drake, and sees a measured path to international crossover rather than rushing the process.

One of his most surreal career highlights remains a phone call from Wizkid. “Anytime Wizkid calls me, it still doesn’t feel like it’s him calling,” Mavo says. Those moments, he admits, keep him grounded and motivated.

As 2026 approaches, Mavo’s goals are ambitious: to transition fully into mainstream international status, release three projects over the year, and contend for a collaboration-of-the-year honor. Given the momentum he’s built while balancing university and studio time, he’s determined to keep the trajectory rising.

Read more: Follow Mavo’s updates and listen to his recent releases on streaming platforms.

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