Firstklaz is a Nigerian Afro-fusion artist and songwriter from Abuja, born Justice Esla Joseph in 2000. He has built a distinctive sound by blending Afrobeats with Fuji, R&B, hip-hop, and traditional Northern Nigerian rhythms, anchored by the Kalangu, a talking drum native to the Hausa tribe that he has helped bring back into mainstream conversation.
Rather than locking into a single genre, Firstklaz treats the Kalangu as a flexible foundation, stretching it to fit Fuji on records like Gen-Z Fuji II featuring Terry Apala, and Afro-house on tracks like Tsammani. His breakout single Gen-Z Arewa went viral and drew co-signs from Joeboy, Odumodublvck, Zlatan, Olamide, Khaid, and NSG Papi, with coverage from The Native Mag, Rolling Stone Africa, and GrungeCake.
In October 2025, Firstklaz released his seven-track EP Déjàvu, described as his statement entry into Afrofusion, tying his Northern Nigerian (Arewa, Hausa) roots to modern Afrobeats sensibilities. In 2025 he also released the street anthem Alhaji, which won Best Pop Single at the Galaxy Music Awards, and became the first Gen-Z artist to headline a tour across seven Nigerian states with his FirstKlaz & Friends tour.
As one of the most prominent voices representing Northern Nigeria in an industry historically dominated by south-western artists, Firstklaz continues to position himself as a bridge between tradition and innovation, and a defining voice of his generation.
