Whispers: PRIDO - Pineapple Pizza, Pricier Fees and Packed Stadium

Manchester’s Afro-fusion riser PRIDO is moving differently these days. While most independent artists are scrambling for any stage that will take them, he just played to over 20,000 people at Emirates Old Trafford, headlining The Hundred halftime show. “The attendance was over 20k, and this marked my biggest audience yet. I’m still buzzing over that,” he says. We hope he remembers to inform PRS 😉 That’s not just a gig, that’s an arrival and a statement.

But don’t mistake him for just another up-and-comer. PRIDO is in what he calls “the building stage.” After years of being overlooked, he’s embracing a mindset shift. “I’ve been counted out for so long that now I don’t really care about anyone’s opinion when it comes to music and what success means.”

And when he says he’s worth it, he means it. Literally. “Somebody told me I’m worth what I believe I’m worth, so the next day I put my booking fee up and surprise surprise I still get booked😅.” Most new artists are begging for stage time, PRIDO is raising his price tag and still getting calls. That’s confidence, thats self belief, that’s bold, and honestly, it’s brilliant.

His latest release Satisfy plays into that energy. He calls it “a statement against the recycled sounds of today.” And he’s not wrong, the track blends homegrown Manc energy with R&B / Afrobeat slickness in a way that feels fresh rather than factory-made. The message? He’s not here to copy and paste for the clout.

But with growth comes caution. “I’m getting more corporate recognition which is forcing me to start being very picky with what creative events I associate with in order to protect the brand.” Translation: don’t expect to see him pop up at every event or open-mic posters in Manchester anymore. He’s levelling up, curating the moves, not chasing them.

And if you’re wondering about PRIDO the person, not just the performer, here’s the tea: Ask him what he’s never admitted publicly: “I don’t mind pineapple on pizza.” - A Libra, allergic to drama. “I can read people well, so once you do some shady stuff I just slowly back off, you won’t even realise I’m gone 😅.” That’s the quiet ghost of a man who’s got bigger things to worry about than petty scene beef.

Between building his gamilee movement, surprising even himself with corporate nods, and raising his worth in real time, PRIDO isn’t your average name. He’s naturally gifted, he’s humble yet ambitious, he’s moving different - balancing stadiums, brand-building, and pineapple pizza along the way.

PRIDO: worth more than you think, and definitely not one to count out again.

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