Nigerian singer Daniel Etiese Benson, popularly known as BNXN, has built a reputation for melodic songwriting and memorable performances. While the music industry increasingly measures success through frequent album releases, his career offers another approach: using extended plays (EPs) to develop his sound without constantly rushing out full-length projects.
Since establishing himself as a solo artist, BNXN has balanced albums with shorter releases that offer focused snapshots of his musical direction. His four EPs — Sorry I’m Late, Bad Since ’97, The Game Needs Us and Still in Charge — trace that evolution, from an emerging solo voice to an artist collaborating with some of the biggest names in Nigerian music.
Released in October 2021, Sorry I’m Late was an important early statement. BNXN was already gaining recognition through appearances on Zlatan’s “Spiritual,” LADIPOE’s “Feeling” and Burna Boy’s remix of “L’enu.” The seven-track EP gave him space to establish his identity outside those collaborations.
Songs such as “Kilometre,” “Never Stopped” and “Ogechukwu,” featuring The Cavemen, demonstrated his ability to combine Afropop melodies with introspective songwriting and highlife influences. The project helped position him as more than a featured artist capable of delivering standout verses.
In August 2022, he followed it with Bad Since ’97, another seven-track EP that reflected greater confidence in his sound. Featuring Wizkid, Wande Coal and Olamide, the project brought him together with established artists while allowing him to maintain his own musical identity. “Many Ways,” “Kenkele” and “Modupe” offered different expressions of his artistry, while the title track reinforced the project’s self-assured tone.
After that release, BNXN returned in May 2026 with The Game Needs Us, a five-track collaborative EP with producer Sarz. Their partnership brought his melodic approach together with Sarz’s production style. Tracks including “Rum & Soda,” “Emotional High” and “Already” explored romantic vulnerability and dance-friendly rhythms.
“Back Outside” emerged as a notable commercial performer, topping Spotify Nigeria’s daily songs chart, while all five tracks reportedly entered the platform’s Nigerian top 15 during the same period.
BNXN continued the run with Still in Charge, released on October 1, 2026. The six-track EP features Asake on “Eja Meja” and FOLA on “Shamaya,” moving between romance, confidence and carefree enjoyment.
“Online” addresses conversations surrounding his social media absence, while “Deliberate Work” reflects on his experiences in the industry. “If You Like” closes the project on a lighter note. The EP also debuted on Apple Music’s Nigerian albums chart.
Taken together, the four projects demonstrate how BNXN has used EPs to keep his catalogue active while exploring collaborations and different musical ideas. Rather than treating every release as an attempt to deliver a sprawling album, he has made shorter projects an important part of his creative strategy.
That does not mean EPs are automatically better than albums. Instead, BNXN’s releases show how a focused project can offer artistic development, commercial opportunities and new collaborations without requiring an annual full-length album.
In an industry where constant output can dominate the conversation, his approach makes a case for giving each release room to make its mark. For BNXN, the value of a project is not simply how many tracks it contains, but what those songs contribute to his evolving identity.