Here’s a review of my personal Top Ten Picks from the songs that dropped on Friday
Ajebo Hustlers – Pronto ft Omah Lay
I absolutely love this record. It’s a very good song, a potential banger. The introduction of ‘PH Lifestyle-influenced music’ is something I’m welcoming wholeheartedly. The slangs, they give me joy, even if I don’t know what they mean. The arrangement of this song is genius. They’ve made it in such a way that the duo of Knowledge and Piego don’t get overwhelmed by the blinding lights of Omah Lay’s input. Ajebo Hustlers really held their own, flexed their muscles. ‘Knowledge’ starts the song out with his relaxed but assured rap verse, then ‘Piego’ followed with one of the best bridges I’ve heard this year.
Teni – For You ft Davido
Now I see why Teni chased Davido all the way from Osborne to Lekki, just to get him on her upcoming album, ‘WONDALAND’. This is such a beautiful song. That thing Davido was doing on the chorus? I absolutely love it. I love the Davido that ‘scream-hits’ those high notes, I absolutely love that. Teni did all the groundwork on this song, laid the perfect hook, picked her words right, and made a very singalong-ish hook. If this is what her album is sounding like, then I want all of it right now.
CKay – Boyfriend EP
CKay has this thing on lock! He has hacked this AfroBeats/Afro Fusion thing, I’m almost in tears! His new found love with the guitar is what I live for now, nothing else to live for in this life. Nesting pretty in his lover boy bubble, CKay is making the best music of his life. The EP starts and ends with the only two previously released songs, which is smart, putting the five new gems in the middle of it all. The things CKay does with melodies and rhythms, is second to none right now in the scene. Throughout the tape, there was evident and conscious effort to flex his vocal dexterity. The drums all over the tape, got accompanied so well with the other instruments; be it the the guitar, the violin or the flute. ‘Jeje Dey Whine’ is a wicked song! Wickedest!
Chike – Running (To You) ft Simi
The first version of this song (that dropped on his debut album) sounds like a stripped version of this remix. It’s such genius move, really. He’s picked out a rather overlooked song from the album, and he’s put more life into it, with the ever exciting Simi. The introduction of the mellow, but infectious drums puts this song in an entirely new conversation. It’s such a beautiful love song. The voices are so angelic, and reassuring. I’ll pay anything to listen to a Chike-Simi project.
Ric Hassani – Thunder Fire You
I love this song, it’s a very ‘deceiving’. You’d almost think it’s a love song, but it actually is a ‘f**k you’ song, I love it. This is how you politely slate someone you hate, they might even love you for doing it this way. The drums – sounding almost like a war victory beat, the keys, they brought all the emotions needed. This song can take as much adjectives as you can give it; funny, witty, sweet, melodic, calming. My favorite parts? How it started and how it ended.
Emo Grae – Mine
Emo Grae has a great future ahead of him, and I really hope he reaches his full potential. He’s so talented. He’s been making music so confidently recently, daring to do things, I rock with that energy a lot. This song sounds like something experimental but he’s pulled it off perfectly. Leading with the bubbly konga drums, Emo throws in a couple of samples, most notable is the Sam Smith – ‘Stay With Me’ sample. Pulled that off like it was nothing. Then the producer threw in a Khalid – ‘Young, Dunn and Broke’ type-beat at the end. Too mad! This could be Emo Grae’s best effort yet.
Psycho YP, Tomi Agape, DJ T1Z – Maria ft Jaylon
Great instrumental, near-perfect delivery, amazing hook. I did not know what a Psycho and Tomi Agape collar would sound like, but I definitely did not think it would sound like this. This is beyond blissful. Psycho gets better with every song, his confidence keeps growing. He owned this song, and he was well complemented by the enchanting voice of Tomi Agape. I loved her bounce so much, her verse so wicked.
Japheth Joe – Friendzone ft Marvy, Zibah
I always love a song about ‘friendzone’, please don’t ask me why. Nothing beats singing about being locked up in a friendzone that you would kill to get out of. With one, two twitches, the delivery on this song would have been 100. The instrumental is wicked, sets the perfect mood for the song. The flow however is commendable. The timing of the beat drops with the introduction of a new verse, gets me. It’s that type of song you’d play when you’re sipping vodka or whiskey, thinking about that one girl that has you in her friendzone
LOTi – Violent Times
Throughout this tape, the sincerity of LOTi’s words never missed. You could feel the sincerity in his voice, in the words he was churning out. The tape starts out with so much pain in ‘Dying Inside’. Gets you attached and interested already. His vocal texture is perfect, he’s not the all-conquering vocalist, his voice is not overpowering, but it emits such sincerity. ‘Swear For Me’ follows and it has the markings of a lead, hit record. Not the mainstream banger type of song, but the wittiness of the hook, and it’s repetition will make it a favorite. Standout from this project is LOTi’s storytelling, channeling maybe personal life experiences into fine music. The energy did not for once change, no dilution, just concise and precise delivery all through. I love this tape.
Niniola – Promise
I swear on my life I did not know this side of Niniola existed. She has been the ‘Afrohouse Queen’ since we’ve come to know her, but this R&B/Soul songstress? I’m in love with her. Her vocal texture on this song is so amazing. The seamless change in keys? Beautiful. My second favorite thing about this song. The lyrics are my favorite. Painting the story of an heartbroken lover, who’s hell bent on being vindicated, with the words she used, is everything for me. But, this song might not go on to be as big as her mainstream hit records, for the very obvious reasons.
