In 2023, when the Afrobeats scene was flooded with incessant music, the fast-rising act Chimamanda Pearl Chukwuma, professionally known as Qing Madi, was causing a frenzy on social media with her hit single “Ole” featuring BNXN. The TikTok sensation had previously swerved the internet with her first single, “See Finish,” with thousands of videos making rounds online.
Fast forward to her debut EP, “Qing Madi,” alongside the deluxe edition released in 2024, the 18-year-old superstar has garnered over 500 million streams across platforms and built a loyal audience with outstanding hit tracks to cement her stance in the Nigerian music industry. But the Benin-bred artiste wants to tell her story beyond the surface and is ready to command the world at her feet.
Now, Madi shares her debut album, “I AM THE BLUEPRINT”— a 13-track project, proclaiming her sound as the model for music and immersing listeners in the story of her struggles, desires, and accomplishments. This project, in more ways than one, highlights Madi’s mellifluous vocals, pen-game, and versatility as a singer-songwriter, where she effortlessly blends Afrobeats, Soul, Pop, Reggaeton, and RnB, weaving themes of love and relationship, vulnerability and self-assertion.
Song by Song Review
My bucket list don dey full with a lot of things. Madi sings on the first track, “Bucket List”, a self-assertive and introspective song signaling her truest aspirations as she treads the journey to stardom. When I carry Grammy for hand, when I buy mommy mansion. The lyrics are more intentional as she confidently sings about her deepest desires, including bagging a Grammy Award—every artiste’s dream— which isn’t unattainable for Madi with the way she scales.
On Bucket List, she lowly exerts her vocals on the mid-tempo, building her pace towards the album. While the JAD OH-produced track manages to display a strong contender for intro songs, it will resonate with listeners, reminding them to dream big with their bucket lists.
But Madi raises the tempo a bit with her second track, “Ali Bomaye,” leaning towards the theme of love and connection. She draws from the themes on the pre-released track to offer an upbeat Afrobeats track, sonically constructed by Prestige. You dey knock me off like Ali, Ali Bomaye. Wombolomo ma, wombolomo ma e. She references legendary boxer Mohammed Ali in the chorus, which suffices as the song’s highlight. Her vocals are notably displayed even at the bridge, and her writing becomes impeccable as she effortlessly bounces, weaving a catchy hook and playful lyrics. To this writer, this is the first album’s standout track that gathers more cohesion with the album.
Once again, Qing Madi reminds us that she’s an artist at heart when it comes to the art of love songs. Closely tailing the tempo and theme on the album, Madi hits the notes on the next track, “Akanchawa,” which translates to “Hands that bring forth blessings.” Rather than being the center for love, she drowns in the yearning for her muse. This third track manages to take after the preceding song in terms of lyrical depth without enough stance. Yet, the production—with the guitar riffs hovering—was meticulously created to blend Madi’s lush vocals, which is the highlight of the upbeat track.
But Madi forges ahead on “Feeling Alright,” tilting her ship to deliver yet another mid-tempo track. Her vocals mellifluously permeate to resonate with listeners who find solace in the calmness of her melodies. In this fourth song, she explores the spectrum of a relationship between lovers sticking to their partner on good days and bad. ‘cause, for her muse, she’d do ‘anything for them to feel alright.’ The catchy lyrics put listeners at rest, painting a story of shared dreams and hustle in a relationship.
If you let a man come close one time e wan drag your own quarter, the adlib enters. Qing Madi might be a fast-rising act in the industry, but she displays a stellar level of versatility on the fifth track, “Damn It All”, a reggaeton-infused track produced by the collaboration between Wademix, PD, and Higo. Damn it all the times when I dey play Mr. Nice Guy, She continues. On realizing the complexities of relationships, she unapologetically detaches herself from a toxic man. But even a hardcore lover like Madi gets heartbroken, too.
So, she questions the loyalty and genuity of her muse in “It’s a Game.” In the emotive ballad, Madi delivers soulful melodies to the listening pleasure of her audience, expressing the pain of being played with con games. This proves to be another standout track on the album, where her vocals and pen-game capture the audience.
So many things in my head, where do I begin? I’m still fighting my inner rhythm. The theme immediately changes. Away from the course of love and relationship, Madi finds herself between the four walls of “Pressure,” the seventh track on the album. This introspective pop song will linger in listeners’ minds, fighting conflicting emotions and overwhelmed by pressuring battles. Holding your hands Lord, make I no drag me down. But she courageously affirms the presence and love of God in her life, trusting him to help guide her through this phase. So when I follow your next step, Lord, I know I’m fine, She sings further.
Returning to her signature sound of love on “Gimme Your Love,” she yearns for affection with her muse. The chorus sees her desiring reciprocation, while the song ends with a skit of a Nigerian lady mesmerized by her lover. “Garden” finds her voice dominant as she lushly sings to the listening pleasure of her audience. Madi’s writing is impeccable, like her vocals, which express her desire for romance.
Qing Madi might be the new school queen of melodies and relatable lyrics as she takes the next “Goosebumps” with stellar verses. On the TUZI-produced song, the bass guitar hovers, while Madi’s voice permeates the beat to draw from the theme of desire. While the pre-released song stands out and has thrived as a single—garnering millions of streams across platforms—it serves a smooth ushering for the next track on the album.
“One Day” enters with an upbeat love song laced with log drums elements to drive listeners further into the album. On the beautifully Semzi-produced track, she weaves catchy lyrics and infectious melodies to express her beaming love for her muse.
The journey tilts with the advent of “Favorite Psycho,” produced by Big Fish. This song colloquially highlights the statement that ‘love is blind’ and a person in love, in Nigerian slang, has a ‘coconut head’ to see their lover’s dirty tricks. Shey your body don see/ wetin you dey find since/ I’ll never leave your side/ even when you run me street, she sings at the hook.
The mid-tempo track depicts the toxic relationship story—a common story listeners can relate to—where she finds herself clutching to her muse despite the recurring lies. The song displays her versatility in weaving relatable stories on R&B beats. But Madi is a ‘finished woman,’ so she goes further to end the track with the line, ‘If loving you will cost my life/ I’ll do it again.’
To end the album, she storms in with “Right Here,” a pop-infused R&B production by PD that confidently conveys her resilience to defy the challenges on her journey in her artistry. Popping bottles and doing drugs can be distracting. She sings about the distractions that surface in being a young star. But you know you got me right here. She sends a reminder to her inner Qing Madi to persevere and live in the moment.
With no features, this debut album doesn’t just stand as a bold statement for a fast-rising act ready to dominate the Nigerian music industry but also confidently displays an artiste who understands the exploration of music with her voice. In more ways than one, “I Am The Blueprint” highlights her stellar vocals and lyrical prowess while delivering thematic cohesion to cement the album as one of the top-quality music projects for 2025. Qing Madi is the future of Nigerian music, and the future is here.
Rating: 8/10
