It’s a new Friday and there are new songs out. Here’s my review of my personal Top Ten Pick
Teni – Jo
After her rather disappointing ‘The Quarantine Playlist’ EP, Teni took a break from dropping music. Her next single became very important. For me, I termed it as make or mar. Now that single is here and I like it. However, it’s the type of drop that would need quite the promotion for. I love the drum pattern, and the hook is delicious. It is proper Afro-Pop, and that is undeniably Teni’s forte.
LAX – Zaza Vibes
LAX’s album is finally here and it is beautiful! We got four wholesome tracks prior to this drop, and they were indications of what to expect from the 12-track project. Like I said in my reviews of the four joints, LAX’s new found sound is ‘vibes’, chilly, almost tropical. It’s all laidback vibes all through. The collabs with Mr Eazi and Tekno are sending me into fits! They are amazing joints, almost can pass for palmwine music. On ‘Perfect’ ft Mr Eazi — and a couple other songs — he had this thing going on where he was churning out ‘beautiful nonsense’ on the chorus, I love it! It’s like making a top line for a song, but leaving that vibe on because it is amazing. LAX’s Zaza Vibes is a fine project!
Reekado Banks – Off The Record EP
Reeky is such a talented artiste! He’s special! He’s that type of artiste that you just can’t help but like, every drop is amazing and beautiful. Before ‘Off The Record’, Reekado was on this hiatus, his ‘No Options’ drop ft Parker Ighile, albeit beautiful, wasn’t enough to satisfy us. We wanted more Reeky vibe. Off the EP, ‘Need More’ ft Kida Kudz and EO dropped, and at that point we knew the tape was going to magic. His botched Wizkid release happened — a topic for another day — but he took the L in his stride, took that collab off the tape and dropped a banger! Reekado is one of the artistes that seamlessly do Afro Fusion. His blend of Afro Pop is delicious. There’s about four solid jams on this 7-track EP and that is mind blowing. Solid tape, I pray it does well.
Ojahbee, Oxlade – Dutty Love
This is my absolute jam! I mean, Teni just, just pipped Ojahbee to the Cover of my NMF Playlist. I know we would want to drown ourselves in the euphoria of what Oxlade did on this song, but take one small minute to listen to Ojahbee’s instrumentals! The strings! The strings bro! There’s quite a number of elements going on in the instrumentals but the ability to make them all work and then Oxlade’s unquestionable impeccable delivery. For me, Oxlade has this scary amount of talent, that I question how he’s able to sleep at night with all of it. This is proper AftoBeats, this song. It’s that type of song you will readily find yourself singing along to. The replay value is heavy! I’m so proud of Ojahbee, it’s such a delicious debut.
Dremo – E Be Tins ft Mayorkun
Bro, the way Fresh VDM has swallowed Amapiano, the way he blends Amapiano with AfroBeats, you’d think he created the sound! I love this joint. Mayorkun is having such a tremendous year. He’s swallowing every feature he’s on, but I’m particularly happy with how Dremo held his own on this one. Dremo’s got vibes for days, he’s got flows, he’s got bounce. His bounce on this one joint is just head bursting for me. Getting on Amapiano, without getting lost in it and then rapping his bit is just amazing. Mayorkun with the melodious bridge is just perfect arrangement. The backup vocals and ad-libs on this song is funny and sweet. Nigerians, we keep making Amapiano and we keep killing it. This definitely is one finely executed Amapiano
Johnny Drille – Mystery Girl
Johnny Drille, man! Boy, what a man! I love this man’s music a lot. For me, he’s one of the most talented out here. His second single this year definitely was worth wait. Because what is this song?! God it’s beautiful. It’s a finely written song, beautiful lyrics. For me, it’s got to be one of the most beautiful songs out this year, I’m not capping, I promise. It’s that type of song that satisfies every party involved — Johnny Drille himself, his core-sound fans, the typical Naija sound fans. It’s that song that’s like a compromise, Johnny’s made this type of song that satisfies his predominant sound but still cuts into ‘mainstream’ Pop. It’s a perfect song for me.
Jaido P – Brokoto
How do you top a breakout single like ‘Tesinapot’? For most artistes, dropping the perfect follow up song poses the greatest threat. Not Jaido P. He’s got ‘Brokoto’ out and it’s just the best way to go after ‘Tesinapot’. Following the model that worked for his breakout single, he’s made another potential banger that’s littered with street ‘lamba’ all over. You know what they say about not changing a winning model. However, he must be wary of overflogging this sound, it is easy to get lost in the euphoria.
Sarkodie, Zlatan, Rexxie – Hasta La Vista
This has got to be my personal favorite Zlatan feature in a long time — only second to ‘Cashapp’. I loved Zlatan on this ‘Hasta La Vista’ song! When pictures surfaced online of Zlatan and Sarkodie together in a studio in Ghana, I wondered what they could be making together. On paper, it did not make sense to me, but now that it’s out, I’m amazed. Zlatan was on some doingz on this song bro! With his signature ad-libs, Zlatan brought life to this song. His verse was hot, yo! Sarkodie — in this sound he’s quite familiar with — was on his boss sh*t. But Zlatan came correct, real correct. The bounce on this song is heavy! Rexxie was flexing by the way.
Yomi Ace – Bounce Riddim
I listened to this song before it dropped and I fell in love with it. It’s your typical club banger. It’s that type of song that would have many dance videos out for it. The instrumentals is wicked! Like why do you have to flex so hard with the saxophone?! Yomi Ace was on this instrumentals like it this as nothing, flowing easy, getting his bounce right. The melody on the bridge is infectious, I like it so much. After singing along to the hook, you’d find yourself listening to the bridge loving the melody. He actually has done something with this song. I hope it does well, because it’s got quite the replay value.
Zinoleesky – Kilofeshe
I’ve said it countless times, this lad is the most talented act signed to Marlian Music. He’s dropped one hit banger this year, he got on another good song with Emo Grae and now he’s got this new tune out, this tune has what it takes to become another smash hit. His vocal texture is amazing. He has this delivery that is overly unique, and it’s admirable. He has a very good understanding of instrumentals and that really aids his delivery. He knows when to say things, he knows when to hum, he knows when to harmonize and all that. He’s a fine talent. The bounce on this song is everything. The production is great too, but I think they were trying to aim for an Amapiano sound, but the beat did not really nail that. Still good production tho, and an amazing song all round.