Johnny Venus - Shooter (EP)

Johnny Venus (Olu of EarthGang) steps out with new EP Shooter.

One half of GRAMMY-nominated hip-hop duo EarthGang, Olu – also known as Johnny Venus – has dropped his latest solo project, Shooter. The release marks the first chapter in a three-part series that sees him expanding his artistry beyond EarthGang, weaving soul, R&B and hip-hop into a deeply personal soundscape.

The EP follows his recent single So Beautiful, a collaboration with Atlanta R&B heavyweight 6lack. That track, all warm percussion and acoustic riffs, set the stage for Venus’ exploration of intimacy, reflection and creative growth. Its follow-up, the title track Shooter, features Spanish guitar flourishes over sharp percussion – produced by Venus himself and co-written with The-Dream. The track arrives with a striking video directed by Danny Kirchner, starring Beyoncé collaborator Joya Jackson as Cupid.

Speaking on the release, Venus describes Shooter as “chapter one of a love story – the arrow through the heart, making space for the light that leads you into forever.”

Outside the studio, Venus has been on tour with Clipse and recently performed solo at Dreamville Festival, as well as Paisley Park at the invitation of Prince’s estate. Alongside his music, he’s known for championing wellness and mental health through his COMPXSS brand – working with everyone from NBA stars to Nike and Soho House – and for his environmental advocacy with the EarthGang Foundation, which has partnered with the UN’s Oceanic Global programme.

With Shooter, Johnny Venus steps confidently into his own lane – a vivid, thoughtful extension of an artist already reshaping the culture.