Ibadan is gradually making a habit of churning out young and skilled rappers, and Narlti can lay claim to being a full-fledged member of that growing population. Narlti is not exactly a newbie as he has official singles on streaming services dating as far back as 2016, most of which have performed decently enough. It took 6 years, but we finally have the first official body of work from the rapper, and it’s simply titled “99Baby”.
Narlti is not one of those artistes that carry the rapper tag but do more of singing on their songs. He is very much in tune with the cultural demands of the genre: powerful punchlines, intricate metaphors, and clever wordplays. All of the above is what you get on “99Baby”, a project that chronicles the life, hopes and aspirations of the young artiste. He manages to play around with different sounds but maintains a Hip-hop core to his energy and lyricism.
Take the project starter “100 to the Feds” for example. It features the elements of the trap sounds of the new school era of hip hop, but Narlti approaches the best with the feisty intensity that set the rappers of the old school apart. His lyrics paint a tale of encounters with the police amongst other things, but even if you fail to follow the verses closely, you can’t help but be caught up with the bounce in the hook. “Plain Jane” follows in similar fashion, with an introduction of a beat that sounds like Drill music, but with softer drums. He trades bars with WonderThaHypeMan as they talk about fellowship and cannabis. “Nice Thing” is a rather jarring twist to flow of the project, but once you adjust to the switch to the party vibe of this Hip-hop beat, you find a pretty enjoyable track waiting for you. Despite being the softest of the first 3 songs sound-wise, it arguably features the hardest bars of the lot. It’s surprising, but it’s a surprise any Hip-hop faithful will revel in.
The second half of the tape returns us to more intense Drill sounds, as you can expect when Droxx appears on a track. They combine to create “David Beckham”, an ode to their street smarts and prowess on the mic. The mixing and mastering is a bit of a let down as the drums and bass are not as hard as you would expect from a Drill track, but Narlti goes so hard on the beat, the flaw might go unnoticed. Next up is “Main List” and it’s the first Afrobeats track of the project. It’s Narlti’s way of showing his versatility and range perhaps, because the change in sound is accompanied by a change in lyrical content. It’s less about the traditional braggadocio of Hip-hop and more about sexual desires with a romantic undertone. Maybe it’s the surprise of hearing Narlti go in on an Afrobeats song after rapping on Hip-hop sounds over the first 4 tracks, but “Main List” actually makes for a very good listening experience. And no, he doesn’t compromise on the intensity of his bars to make this track work. The outro is “Good Bye, Take Care” and it’s quite simply a brilliant track and a fitting way to end any Hip-hop project. Maybe it’s the sampling that creates an ethereal feel to the track, or perhaps it’s just Narlti’s mastery of his style. Whatever is Narlti manages to make us yearn for more as he bids us farewell.
On “99Baby”, Narlti is near faultless. His verses are solid and his hooks are impossible to not vibe to. His only flaw comes in the final track order, and that’s only for those who actually care about that aspect of a project. The transition between tracks 3 and 4 as well as 4 and 5 get in the way if the smoothness of the listening experience. But that’s just how good Narlti was on this project, because one has to resort to nitpicking for flaws in order to create a balanced review. The production level could have done with an elevation by a notch or two as well, but the standard is fine enough.
Verdict: 8/10
Delightfully intense. That’s the best phrase with which to describe Narlti and his efforts on “99Baby”. If you like rap music with intensity in lyrics, flows, and energy, this is the project for you. If you don’t, then this might be the project that changes your stance. Plug into it on any streaming platform available to you and see – or more accurately, hear – for yourself.