Of the many talents springing out of the city of Houston, Texas, there is a peculiar one going by the name of Kobi Jonz. Peculiar because he is pioneering the movement of Afrobeats music from his new base in the US by staying true to the sounds that define his roots despite the foreign influence around him. Even in his lyrics you will often find messages that encapsulate the Nigerian struggle, and with WeWoke Music Group – an independent label he started with his manager – he his doing his fair share of work to popularize Afrobeats even further.
He is not a newbie in the game and has been putting out records for quite a while now. “Paddle” ft Falz dates as far back as 2016 and several singles have followed since them. 2018 saw him release his debut EP, an 8-track project titled “Xylem”. Thus, his fairly long history meant there was a lot of expectation when his second project, “Kool Rebel” was announced. “Dada”, the lead single from the tap did over 30,000 streams on Audiomack alone and the video to the said track is currently closing in on a 100,000 YouTube views. So yes, Kobi Jonz gave us a lot of reasons to be optimistic about “Kool Rebel” release date of March 26.
Fast forward to weeks after release, and with an estimated 70,000 streams on all platforms so far, it’s fair to say Kobi Jonz did not disappoint. The songs on the project continue in his self-described fashion of “conscious dance music”. He maintains a steady level of energetic presence all through, his style is fueled by zest and his melodies are filled with life. It is full credit to him that the energy in his performances feel contagious at times, like listening to his music gives you the extra kick to get up from bed and face the day head-on.
On “Tbh”, the opening track, he expresses his pride at having overcome difficult circumstances such as “jumping buses at Fagba”. On “Kritikal”, he follows in the footsteps of Fela Kuti and Burna Boy – self-professed heroes of his – by singing socio-political, conscious lyrics on a jazzy Afrobeat sounds. “Dada”, produced by none other than Telz, comes next and it’s peak Afro-Pop music. He does some degree of experimentation with his voice on the hook of “Afro Goosebumps” but it comes out well enough and the whole song is a bop. “Trouble Maker” rounds things off with a lovely blend of Afrobeats and Dancehall vibes.
Standout Track(s): “Kritikal”, “Dada”
In summary, “Kool Rebel” finds its uniqueness in its own vibrancy. Kobi Jonz can hold his head high and be proud of this latest addition to his discography. If you haven’t already, give it a stream or two today
Verdict: 8/10
Listen to KOOL REBEL HERE
