The tag arrives before the beat: “Sarz on the beat.” For more than a decade, those words have announced songs by some of Nigeria’s biggest artists. Sarz, born Osabuohien Osaretin, has become one of the producers who shaped the sound of modern Afrobeats.
Benin City
Sarz was born on 17 March 1989 in Benin City, Edo State. He grew up in a family of three children and became interested in making beats as a teenager.
First credits
His first full production credit came in 2007. In 2010 he produced “Jor Oh” for the rapper Jahbless, with a remix featuring several big names, and produced most of eLDee’s album Undeniable. His reputation grew quickly.
Don Jazzy’s award
At the 2012 Nigeria Entertainment Awards, Sarz was nominated for Producer of the Year alongside Don Jazzy. When Don Jazzy won, he handed the award to Sarz, a gesture that became one of the industry’s most talked-about moments.
Wizkid
Sarz worked with Wizkid on songs including “Beat of Life (Samba)” and produced “Jaiye Jaiye”, featuring Femi Kuti, and “Kilofe” on Wizkid’s 2014 album Ayo.
Monalisa
In 2021, Sarz released the EP LV N ATTN with the singer Lojay. Its standout song, “Monalisa”, became a major hit across Africa, and a remix with Chris Brown followed. The same year he released Sweetness, an EP with the Nigerian-British singer Obongjayar.
His sound
Sarz is known for experimenting. He mixes Afrobeats with electronic, R&B, dancehall and alternative sounds. His beats often feature unusual textures and drum patterns, and he has been credited with helping push Nigerian pop in new directions.
Producers as stars
In Nigerian music, producers increasingly release projects under their own names, with singers as collaborators. Sarz’s joint EPs are part of that trend, which also includes producers such as Kel-P.
Benin City’s influence
Sarz comes from Benin City, the capital of Edo State and the historic seat of the Benin Kingdom. The city has produced many Nigerian musicians and artists, and its musical traditions, including Edo highlife, form part of the background Nigerian producers draw from. Like many Nigerian producers of his generation, Sarz moved to Lagos to build his career, where the studios, labels and artists are concentrated.
Teaching others
Sarz has also mentored younger producers and run initiatives to develop new talent. His collaborations with emerging singers have helped launch careers, and many of today’s producers cite his work as an influence.
Fans often skip the intro of a song. The two seconds of “Sarz on the beat” are worth waiting for, because what follows has usually been worth hearing.
