Not many artistes have names that capture their style and essence as well as Roadman does. The moniker stems from the fact that he spent a lot of his early life in constant migration from one city to another before finally settling in New York, USA from where he now shares his craft with the world. In a way, Roadman’s constantly migrating lifestyle is also evident in the eclectic nature of his music, something he presumably picked up from his early exposure to many cultures. Afrobeats, funk, jazz, R&B and Hip-hop have all been duly represented in Roadman’s music over time.
From drumming in local churches in Lagos at age 10 to learning sound design under the tutelage of Emmy Award winner Rob LaVaque, Roadman has undergone quite a journey to get where he is today. Two EPs and a slew of singles have been rolled out over the years before the arrival of what feels like his statement project on March 26, 2021. Titled “Ghetto Boy Fly” with the alternative name of “Ologo”, the project consists of 7 tracks on which Roadman tells different personal stories on a variety of Afro-fusion sounds.
The project kicks off with Roadman crooning on a calming instrumental about what a fickle thing life really is on “Nobody Know”. Next is “Gbewa”, the sexually-charged second track which features bouncy beats and a very catchy hook. “OTR” follows through in similar fashion as Roadman reflects on how unbelievable his life has gotten. That energy however changes stunningly on “Bound In Freedom”, as Roadman goes from singer to rapper, and from cruise-catcher to socially conscious as he paints the picture of the many messed up realities of Nigeria, police brutality especially. “She Cures” marks a return to the more familiar vibe of the earlier tracks as he sings about the good life on perhaps the purest Afrobeat sound on this project. The titular track “Ghetto Boy Fly” rounds off the project as Roadman, assisted by Sasha, goes poetic and basks in his confidence, self-belief and strength. An acoustic rendition of “Gbewa” comes in last as a bonus track of sorts.
There are many positives to take from this project. Roadman utilizes his natural baritone voice very well on all the songs and it is refreshing to hear in this autotune-heavy times we live in. The rap verses he delivered on “Bound In Freedom” and “She Cures” are impressive and speak highly of the depth of his talent. The production work is also of a high quality as evidenced by the level of detail that is invested in the background sounds that lace the beat very sweetly indeed. However, the project could have done with a feature or two; it would have gone a long way in refreshing the listening experience which came across as monotonous at some points. A bit more variety in the choice of instrumentals would have done no harm either.
Standout Track(s): “Gbewa”, “Bound In Freedom”
The summary of it all though is that “Ghetto Boy Fly” is a very enjoyable project that will appeal to anyone that loves the palmwine vibes type of music with a sprinkling of introspection. It’s good to see him stay rooted in the culture and realities of his home country despite his time away in the US, while also using those new experiences to improve himself as an artiste and producer.
Verdict: 6.5/10
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