Sarz is one of Nigeria’s most respected music producers and one of the creative minds behind several memorable Afrobeats records. Known for the producer tag “Sarz on the beat”, he has spent nearly two decades building a reputation for creating distinctive sounds for Nigerian and international artists.
His work has connected him with major names such as Wizkid, Drake, Beyoncé, Burna Boy, Asake, Niniola, Lojay, Fireboy DML and BNXN. Beyond producing music for other artists, Sarz has also developed his own identity as a recording artist, DJ and creative force.
But who exactly is Sarz? What is his real name, how old is he, where did he go to school, which songs did he produce, and how much is Sarz worth?
This article provides a clear look at Sarz’s biography, education, career, major songs, achievements and estimated net worth.
Who Is Sarz?
Sarz is the professional name of Osabuohien Osaretin, a Nigerian record producer, musician and mixing engineer from Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. He was born on March 17, 1989, which makes him 37 years old in 2026. AllMusic also lists March 17, 1989, as his birth date and identifies him as a Nigerian producer known for blending Afrobeats with hip-hop, R&B and club sounds.
Although Sarz is widely recognized as a producer, his career has gradually expanded beyond producing beats for other musicians. He has released his own projects, performed as a DJ and developed a sound that has become recognizable within modern African music.
His rise is particularly notable because he became successful primarily from behind the scenes. Instead of depending on being the face of a song, Sarz built his reputation through production, sound selection and collaboration.
Sarz Real Name
Sarz’s real name is Osabuohien Osaretin.
He is commonly referred to simply as Sarz, while his famous production tag is associated with the phrase “Sarz on the beat” and, in some productions, “Really.” His real name and stage identity have been documented by music databases and Nigerian media sources.
The producer has explained in interviews that his interest in music was strongly connected to his fascination with beats and the people who created them. Rather than being primarily drawn to lyrics, he became interested in the production side of music.
Sarz Age and Date of Birth
Sarz was born on March 17, 1989, in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria.
As of September 2026, Sarz is 37 years old.
He belongs to a generation of Nigerian producers who helped shape the transition from the early digital era of Nigerian pop music into the globally influential Afrobeats sound heard today.
His career has lasted from the late 2000s into the 2020s, giving him almost two decades of experience in the Nigerian music industry.
Sarz Early Life and Background
Sarz was born into a family of three children and spent part of his upbringing in Lagos. Available biographical accounts state that he attended All Saints Primary School before continuing his secondary education at Goodwill Secondary School.
Music became an important part of his life while he was growing up. Sarz has said that he listened closely to music and was fascinated by producers such as Timbaland and Pharrell Williams.
That interest eventually turned into experimentation with music-production software.
In an interview with Mixmag, Sarz recalled being introduced to Fruity Loops by a friend who was producing music. He began experimenting with the software and sending beats to artists and groups. He eventually sold some of his early work, giving him an early indication that music production could become more than a hobby.
This was an important turning point. Instead of simply listening to music, Sarz began learning how music was constructed.
Sarz Education
Sarz attended All Saints Primary School and Goodwill Secondary School.
He later gained admission to the University of Lagos, although his university education did not continue for long. In an earlier interview, Sarz explained that personal circumstances contributed to his decision to leave school while he was already becoming increasingly involved in music production. He also emphasized that leaving university did not mean that he considered himself uneducated.
Interestingly, his academic journey and professional journey developed alongside each other during an important period in his life.
Before establishing himself as a major producer, Sarz also reportedly attempted to study computer science. A later Mixmag profile notes that he had taken a gap year after failing an entrance examination to study computer science at the University of Lagos. During that period, he continued developing his production skills.
His story shows that formal education was only one part of his development. Much of his expertise came through practice, experimentation, listening and years of working in the studio.
How Sarz Started His Music Career
Sarz’s entry into music production was largely driven by curiosity.
He was interested in the sounds created by producers and wanted to understand how beats were made. A friend introduced him to production software, and Sarz began experimenting.
According to an earlier interview, he taught himself music production through research and practice. He also recalled that one of his early beats was good enough to sell, which encouraged him to continue pursuing production as a career.
His first major production credits came during the late 2000s. AllMusic identifies Lord of Ajasa’s “See Drama” as an early full production credit and notes that Sarz subsequently worked with several major Nigerian artists.
From there, his reputation grew.
Rather than becoming successful overnight, Sarz gradually built a catalogue of records and relationships that established him as a dependable producer.
Sarz Career Breakthrough
One of the important records in Sarz’s early career was “Jor Oh” by Jahbless, alongside other productions from the period.
His production work soon expanded to artists including Shank, Reminisce, eLDee, Skales, Goldie Harvey and others. An early interview from 2013 described him as having already worked on more than 70 tracks at that stage of his career.
His production style helped him stand out because he was not simply trying to copy whatever was popular. He developed a strong interest in rhythm, arrangement and sound selection.
This approach became increasingly important as Nigerian pop music evolved.
Sarz and Wizkid
Sarz’s relationship with Wizkid is one of the notable collaborations in his career.
He produced “Jaiye Jaiye,” a song by Wizkid featuring legendary Nigerian musician Femi Kuti. The record became an important moment in both artists’ careers and demonstrated Sarz’s ability to combine modern Nigerian pop with elements of older African musical traditions.
Sarz has also been associated with Wizkid on other major projects, including “African Bad Gyal.”
His production credits eventually reached beyond Nigeria, contributing to his growing international reputation.
Sarz and Drake
Sarz’s production career also includes work connected to international superstar Drake.
The FADER noted that Sarz’s production résumé includes Drake’s “One Dance,” alongside records involving artists such as Beyoncé and Wizkid.
This type of international credit helped demonstrate how Nigerian producers were increasingly becoming part of the global music ecosystem.
It also reinforced Sarz’s reputation as a producer whose sound could work across different musical markets.
Sarz Hit Songs and Major Productions
Sarz has been involved with numerous successful songs throughout his career. Some of the notable records associated with his production work and musical career include:
- Jaiye Jaiye — Wizkid featuring Femi Kuti
- Jor Oh — Jahbless
- Kako Bi Chicken — Reminisce
- Today Today — eLDee
- Come Closer — Wizkid featuring Drake
- LV N ATTN — Sarz and Lojay
- Monalisa — Sarz and Lojay
- GWAGWALADA — BNXN, Kizz Daniel and Seyi Vibez
- Happiness — Sarz, Asake and Gunna
- Getting Paid — Sarz, Asake, Wizkid and Skillibeng
His catalogue stretches across several eras of Nigerian music, which is one reason his name continues to appear in conversations about influential Afrobeats producers.
Sarz as a Recording Artist
Although Sarz first became famous primarily as a producer, he eventually began presenting more of his own musical ideas as an artist.
One important project was I LOVE GIRLS WITH TROBUL, released in 2019. He later released LV N ATTN with Lojay in 2021 and continued developing his artistic identity through singles and collaborative projects. Spotify currently lists releases including I LOVE GIRLS WITH TROBUL, LV N ATTN, Protect Sarz At All Costs, The Game Needs Us and Back Outside.
This evolution allowed listeners to experience Sarz not only as the person behind the beat but also as a creator with his own artistic direction.
Protect Sarz At All Costs
One of the biggest milestones in Sarz’s career was the release of his debut album, Protect Sarz At All Costs, in September 2025.
The album contains 12 tracks and features a wide range of Nigerian and international artists. Spotify lists collaborations with WurlD, Asake, Gunna, Wizkid, Skillibeng, ODUMODUBLVCK, Shallipopi, Fireboy DML, Joeboy, Qing Madi, Lojay, Teni, Libianca and Victony.
Some of the songs on the album include:
- Grateful featuring WurlD and Ndlovu Youth Choir
- Happiness featuring Asake and Gunna
- Getting Paid featuring Asake, Wizkid and Skillibeng
- Mademoiselle featuring ODUMODUBLVCK, Shallipopi, Theodora and Zeina
- BMF featuring Byron Messia and Fireboy DML
- Body featuring Joeboy
- In A Mustang featuring Qing Madi
- Nice n’ Slow featuring WurlD
- Loved Me Then featuring Lojay
- African Barbie featuring Teni and Libianca
- Up featuring Victony
- Billions featuring Lojay
The project was more than a collection of songs. It represented Sarz’s move from being primarily known as a producer to being recognized as an artist and creative director in his own right.
Apple Music describes the album as a project that explores different Afrobeats sounds and highlights Sarz’s ability to bring together artists with different styles.
Sarz and BNXN
Sarz and BNXN have developed one of the more recognizable producer-artist partnerships in contemporary Nigerian music.
Their collaboration includes “GWAGWALADA,” followed by additional work such as “Pidgin & English” and “Ilashe.” In 2026, the pair released their collaborative project The Game Needs Us.
The project reflects the long-term creative relationship between the two artists.
Their partnership is also an example of how Sarz has continued to remain relevant by working with a younger generation of Nigerian musicians rather than relying only on his earlier catalogue.
Sarz Awards and Achievements
Sarz’s career has earned recognition from the Nigerian music industry.
Earlier in his career, he received producer awards and recognition for his work. AllMusic notes that he earned a Producer of the Year award in 2012.
His achievements, however, are not limited to trophies.
His larger contribution is his influence on the sound and direction of modern Afrobeats. His work has connected Nigerian music with international artists and audiences while maintaining strong African rhythmic elements.
His longevity is another significant achievement. Sarz has remained active from the late 2000s through 2026, adapting to changes in Nigerian music without abandoning his identity.
What Makes Sarz’s Production Style Different?
One reason Sarz has remained relevant is his willingness to experiment.
His music can incorporate Afrobeats, hip-hop, R&B, electronic music and dance influences. Apple Music notes that his earlier project Sinym (Sarz Is Not Your Mate) explored instrumental grooves influenced by electronic and dance music before many of those sounds became more common in Afrobeats.
Sarz has also spoken about being more interested in production than lyrics when he was younger. His focus on sound, rhythm and arrangement became a defining part of his career.
This ability to experiment while still creating accessible music has helped him work successfully with artists from different backgrounds.
Sarz Net Worth
Sarz’s exact net worth is not publicly verified.
Several entertainment websites have published estimates of around $1 million, but these figures should be treated as estimates rather than confirmed financial information. There is no reliable public financial statement showing Sarz’s total assets, investments, music royalties, production fees and other income.
For that reason, it is more accurate to say that Sarz is widely reported by entertainment publications to have a net worth in the millionaire range, but his exact wealth remains private.
His income can potentially come from several areas, including music production, songwriting, recording royalties, streaming, performances, collaborations, publishing and other music-related business activities.
As with most musicians, streaming numbers alone cannot be used to calculate personal wealth because revenue is divided among rights holders, distributors, labels, publishers and other participants.
Sarz’s Recent Career
Sarz has continued to expand his musical activities in 2026.
Spotify lists The Game Needs Us as a 2026 release and also shows newer releases such as Back Outside and Hennessy Cypher 2026 in his catalogue.
His continuing collaborations show that he remains an active participant in Nigeria’s rapidly changing music industry.
Rather than being remembered only for his early production work, Sarz has successfully transformed himself into a broader music personality whose work covers production, performing and artist development.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sarz
What is Sarz’s real name?
Sarz’s real name is Osabuohien Osaretin.
How old is Sarz?
Sarz was born on March 17, 1989. He is 37 years old in 2026.
Where is Sarz from?
Sarz is from Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria.
What does Sarz do?
Sarz is a record producer, musician, DJ and mixing engineer. He is best known for his work in Afrobeats and Nigerian popular music.
What school did Sarz attend?
Available biographical sources state that he attended All Saints Primary School and Goodwill Secondary School. He also attended the University of Lagos for a period before leaving.
What is Sarz’s most famous song?
Sarz has worked on many major records, so there is no single universally accepted “most famous” song. His notable work includes Wizkid’s “Jaiye Jaiye,” Jahbless’ “Jor Oh,” and several later collaborations with artists such as Lojay, Asake, Wizkid and BNXN.
Did Sarz produce One Dance?
Sarz is credited in connection with Drake’s “One Dance”, according to The FADER’s profile of his production résumé.
What is Sarz’s latest album?
His debut album, Protect Sarz At All Costs, was released in September 2025. It contains 12 tracks and features artists including Asake, Wizkid, Gunna, Fireboy DML, Lojay, WurlD and Victony.
Is Sarz a singer or producer?
Sarz is best known as a music producer, but he has also established himself as a recording artist and DJ. His later projects show a broader artistic role in music.