Sarz Biography: Songs, Production Credits and Career

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Quick Facts

• Real name: Osabuohien Osaretin
• Born: March 17, 1989, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria
• Occupations: Record producer, mixing engineer, musician
• Years active: 2007 to present
• Label: 1789 Entertainment
• Notable credits: Drake’s “One Dance,” Beyoncé’s “Find Your Way Back,” Wizkid’s “Come Closer,” Lojay’s “Monalisa”
• Recognition: Headies Producer of the Year (2020, 2022)
• Notable initiative: Founder of the Sarz Academy for emerging African producers

Few producers have shaped the sound of modern Afrobeats as consistently as Sarz. Over nearly two decades, he has moved from producing street hits in Lagos to crafting global crossover records for some of the biggest names in music. This Sarz biography covers his real name, early career, major production credits and his continued relevance heading into 2026.

Who Is Sarz?

Sarz’s real name is Osabuohien Osaretin. He was born on March 17, 1989, in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. He works as a record producer, mixing engineer and musician, and is widely known throughout the Nigerian industry by his signature production tags, “Sarz on the beat” and “Really.”

Early Life and Background

Sarz grew up in a family of three children in Benin City, where he attended All Saints for primary school before moving on to Goodwill Secondary School. He has described his entry into music almost as an accident, driven initially by an ability to remember and recreate melodies rather than any formal plan to become a producer. He grew up listening to soul, pop, reggae and R&B alongside highlife and juju music, an eclectic mix that later shaped his production style once he relocated to Lagos.

Career Beginnings

Sarz’s first full production credit came in 2007 with Lord of Ajasa’s “See Drama.” In the years that followed, he built early relationships with some of the top Nigerian rap acts of the period, including 9ice, Shank and Jahbless, while producing for artists such as Jah Bless, eLDee and Goldie Harvey. His first widely recognized hit came in 2011 with Reminisce’s “Kako Bi Chicken,” a street anthem that became one of the biggest records in West Africa that year and earned him a Producer of the Year nomination at the Nigeria Entertainment Awards in 2012.

Rise With Wizkid and Major Nigerian Acts

Sarz’s relationship with Wizkid became one of the defining partnerships of his career, spanning more than a decade. In 2013, he produced two tracks on Wizkid’s Ayo album, “Jaiye Jaiye” featuring Femi Kuti and “Kilofe,” an album widely regarded as an Afrobeats classic. He went on to produce further Wizkid records including “Come Closer” featuring Drake in 2017 and “Longtime” in 2020. During this period, he also built a catalog of work with Burna Boy, Niniola, Wande Coal, M.I Abaga and Tekno, cementing his position as one of the most in-demand producers in the country.

International Breakthrough

Sarz’s global profile expanded significantly through his work on Drake’s “One Dance,” featuring Wizkid and Kyla, which he composed alongside producers Nineteen85, 40 and DJ Maphorisa. The song became one of the biggest global hits of 2016. He later served as a composer on Beyoncé’s “Find Your Way Back,” part of the Lion King: The Gift album. These credits placed him among a small group of Nigerian producers with direct production and composition credits on major international pop releases.

Songwriting and Production Credits

Beyond his work with Wizkid, Drake and Beyoncé, Sarz’s catalog includes Niniola’s “Maradona,” a South African house-inspired record that helped popularize amapiano influences in Nigerian music years before the genre became mainstream. He also produced Hennessy Artistry’s “No Be Water” featuring Praiz, Burna Boy and Vector, and has worked extensively with Tems, Asake, Lojay and Crayon in more recent years, including Asake’s “Active” featuring Travis Scott and “C’mon Look!”

Solo Projects and Collaborative EPs

In 2019, Sarz released his first project as a billed artist, the EP SINYM, short for “Sarz Is Not Your Mate,” featuring Wizkid. That same year, he teamed up with singer WurlD for the collaborative EP I Love Girls With Trobul, which earned nominations for Songwriter of the Year and Best R&B Duo at the AFRIMA Awards. In 2021, he released two more collaborative EPs, LV N ATTN with Lojay and Sweetness with Obongjayar. LV N ATTN produced “Monalisa,” a massive Afrobeats and amapiano crossover hit that later received a remix featuring Chris Brown and earned Sarz the Headies Producer of the Year award in 2022.

In 2024, Sarz released his debut full-length album, Protect Sarz At All Costs, featuring an extensive list of collaborators including Wizkid, Asake, Shallipopi, Teni, Gunna and Skillibeng, further establishing him as an artist as well as a producer.

Sarz Academy and Mentorship

Alongside his production career, Sarz founded the Sarz Academy, a nonprofit initiative supporting emerging African producers and creatives through training and business development, in partnership with UnitedMasters. The academy has released compilation projects introducing new talent and has mentored producers who have gone on to work with major Afrobeats artists, including P.Priime, who has since produced for Wizkid, Olamide, Rema and Fireboy DML.

Continued Relevance in 2026

Sarz’s continued presence in Afrobeats includes his 2026 work with BNXN. The pair first collaborated on “Gwagwalada” in 2023. They reunited for “Back Outside,” which debuted at number one on Apple Music Nigeria. The song also uses an interpolation of Amadou and Mariam’s 1990 track “Ko Neye Mounka Allah La.”

“Back Outside” served as the lead single for their joint EP, The Game Needs Us. Released in May 2026 through EMPIRE, the project features production entirely by Sarz. It also extends the creative partnership the pair have built across several projects.

Musical Style and Influence

Sarz blends hip-hop, R&B and club influences with Afrobeats. His production often explores new sounds before they reach the mainstream. His early use of amapiano influences shows this willingness to experiment. He has also worked with artists across several generations. His collaborations include Reminisce and Wizkid in the early 2010s, followed by Asake and BNXN in the 2020s. This range reflects his long career in a fast-changing genre.

Personal Life

Sarz keeps most details of his personal life private. He focuses his public statements on music, production and mentorship. His work through the Sarz Academy also reflects his interest in developing new talent. Sarz has described himself as introverted. He has contrasted this trait with the more outgoing personalities of some artists he works with.

Current Career

As of 2026, Sarz remains an active force in Afrobeats production. He continues to work on projects such as The Game Needs Us. His own music and mentorship work through the Sarz Academy also remain active. Sarz has stayed relevant for nearly two decades. His career spans Lagos street hits, Afrobeats records and global pop collaborations.

Conclusion

Sarz’s career traces the growth of Afrobeats itself, from a regional Nigerian sound into a genre with global reach. His production work behind some of the biggest crossover hits, paired with his ongoing mentorship of new talent, has secured his reputation as one of the most influential producers the genre has produced.