As a kid, Sarz, born Osabuohien Osaretin in southern Nigeria’s Benin City, quickly realized he could memorize the sequence of any beat — and taught himself how to make his own by listening to Timbaland. In 2006, as a teenager, he started selling his beats for 3,000 nairas ($7.70). Over the past decade, Sarz has played an instrumental role in the global explosion of Afrobeats — contemporary pop made in West Africa — producing for top Nigerian and international artists including Wizkid, Reminisce, WurlD, Burna Boy and Drake. No matter whom he works with though, his primary goal remains the same: to promote the recognition of producers. In 2015, he started The Sarz Academy in Lagos, Nigeria, where the 31-year-old teaches young artists and Afrobeats producers how to navigate…
