Nigerian singer-songwriter FOLA revives a 2Baba classic on “Crime,” the eleventh track from his sophomore album 9, also called Striker. The Afrobeats record samples “If Love Is a Crime,” pulling that familiar melody into FOLA’s own soulful Afrosounds.
“Crime” sits directly after “WAF” on the 14-track project. A teaser had already circulated earlier in the year, so fans knew something was coming. But the finished version landed with 2Baba’s personal blessing after FOLA played it for him directly.
For anyone still catching up, FOLA is Lagos-based singer-songwriter Folarin Odunlami. He broke through with “alone” and signed to Bella Shmurda’s Dangbana Republik. His debut album, “Catharsis,” arrived in 2025.
The sample choice makes sense for where he is right now. It nods to the past without leaning on nostalgia alone, and it gives the album a centrepiece built on genuine respect rather than a quick flip.
Does “Crime” meet what you were expecting from FOLA? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.
