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Olamide’s profile as a central name in Nigerian hip hop aligns perfectly with the genre’s 50th anniversary this year, making his recently released Unruly album a befitting tribute.
The star-studded 15-track collection stands to crown his prolific streak of 10 solo projects, which started in 2011 with Rapsodi. The work, which begins as an immersion into modern Nigerian rap, is also a legacy-driven, genre-blurring declaration of creative might.
Unruly gleams chiefly with verses centred on love and accomplishment, spotlighting a proven lyrical weave that shifts between street bravado and tender romance.
His linguistic adaptability, expressed in a blend of English, Yoruba, and pidgin, mirrors the thematic duality inherent in his artistry. At just 34, the man also does well to maintain the poised cadence of a godfather, which he has acquired over a splendid career – indeed, a section of Nigeria’s pop scene identifies him as such.
The project’s musical foundation relies on padded drum kicks honouring Olamide’s hip hop affinity, but an experimental spirit echoes throughout the LP, enhanced largely by Magicsticks’ resonant violin signature. This becomes the hallmark throughout the collection.
‘Celebrate’ works as a fitting prelude to this victory lap, while ‘Jinja’ blends highlife, amapiano, classical piano and Afrobeat chants. ‘Gaza’, too exemplifies fusion, Olamide’s soft delivery serving as a counterpoint to the track’s frantic energy. ‘Street Jam,’ the project’s finale, honours hip hop creditably.
True, within Unruly’s rhythmic panorama, Olamide reemerges as a hip hop ambassador and street steward. However, this hardly confines him, as he once again demonstrates his proficiency in orchestrating a commercial song, recruiting hook masters in CKay on ‘Trumpet’, Bnxn on ‘Come Alive’, Asake on ‘New Religion’, Fireboy DML on ‘Shibebe’ and Rema on ‘Mukulu’. Olamide’s own hook prowess shines on tracks like ‘Supplier,’ ‘Life Goes On,’ and ‘No Worries.’
Afrobeats’ ubiquity notwithstanding, Unruly is far from a casual spin. Its author’s storytelling mastery mirrors life’s complexity and invites both joy and contemplation, while his sonic finesse solidifies his evolution as a Nigerian hip hop luminary.
Artist: Olamide
Album: Unruly
Label: YBNL/Empire
Year: 2023
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