Bloody Civilian is certainly not one to conform to expectations. It’s the first characteristic that stands out when examining her music and come up story. You are not supposed to secure a spot on the original soundtrack album of one of Hollywood’s biggest action movies of 2022 before even releasing your debut album. You are not supposed to have a record deal with one of the world’s biggest labels before even putting out a project. And you are not supposed to be adept and mature at songwriting and production at that age or score millions of streams with your debut EP. Yet, the summary of Bloody Civilian’s story is quite simply she defies expectations. And she’s only getting started.
Before she became known for her curious moniker and gained international recognition, Bloody Civilian was simply Emoseh Khamofu from Taraba State. A daughter of an engineer and medical doctor, she was raised almost exclusively in Northern Nigeria, shuffling between Kaduna, Jos, and Abuja before eventually settling in the capital city. Growing up in a large household meant she was exposed to music of different genres and styles. The biggest influence on her was her father. Mr. Khamofu was an engineer by day and a bass guitarist by night. He would often go on local tours with his band, and his actions inadvertently inspired his daughter to pursue music. She wrote her first song at the age of 8 and also tried her hands at music production for the first time at 12 years old. Bloody hasn’t stopped either since and from the evidence of her output. Contrarily, she’s ever so close to mastery.
For Bloody Civilian, the journey to stardom has been short and swift. That’s potentially because she happened to meet the right people. NATIVE co-founder Seni “Chubbz” Saraki, who is now her manager, was an early believer in her talent. Bloody participated in the protracted recording camps held by NATIVE in preparation for their debut full-length project, “NATIVEWORLD.” She earned a spot on the second track, “Cold Freestyle,” where she performed alongside SHOLZ. By virtue of NATIVE’s partnership with Def Jam Recordings, she was signed to the global brand by the CEO Tunji Balogun. Chubbz happened to be part of the team curating the soundtrack album for the blockbuster Marvel movie Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and he recommended that she be brought in for the recording sessions. Once again, she dazzled all with her songwriting, recording, and production. The end result was a chance to feature Mavins’ superstar Rema and work alongside legendary composer Ludwig Goransson.
As opposed to many young artists who clog up beats with banal content, Bloody Civilian stands apart by having something substantial to say. Bloody’s music stems from real-life experiences that capture her story and that of her immediate society. Take her debut single, “How To Kill A Man,” for example. On that track, she represents the anger of Nigerian women forced to deal with domestic violence, sexism, and other barbaric acts. She even self-produced and directed the accompanying visuals, a brilliant action-packed short film that really brings her message to life. Even her chosen moniker, Bloody Civilian, is a reference to her upbringing as a northerner, where military men would often abuse their power and refer to citizens as bloody civilians. Every move she makes is as intentional as it is intelligent, thoughtful as it is thought-provoking.
All of Bloody’s best qualities come to the fore on her debut EP “Anger Management.” The project dropped on June 8 and consists of six entirely self-written and self-produced. From discussing the realities of her place of origin on “Come From” and “Escapism” to recalling being a misunderstood child on “Family Meeting,” Bloody Civilian delivers a masterclass in cathartic songwriting. The production is at a similarly high level, too, incorporating and transcending Afrobeats, Hip-Hop, R&B, and Soul genres. “Anger Management” clears up any doubts about if this artist is a mere industry plant or a genuine successor to the throne of Afrobeats’ queens like Onyeka Onwenu, TiwaSavage, and Yemi Alade. As Bloody Civilian continues to build on her skillset and discography, expect her to add gravity to the list of things she defies and remain on an upward trajectory.
