When all is said and done for this current generation of Afrobeats popstars and rappers, one thing is for sure. Blaqbonez would have merited a spot amongst artists with the best discographies.
It’s one thing to be a seasoned curator, who understands the core elements that makes a rewarding album experience on a Sonic level. It’s another thing to take thematic cohesion to the highest levels of characterization and intricate storytelling. Nobody in the new generation does it as much, or as well as Blaq. Almost every new album heralds a new character with a unique journey to explore. Sex Over Love had the jaded emo fuckboy persona of Emeka The Stallion, whilst Young Preacher had him shedding his cynicism for bravado and charisma on similar themes.
Emeka Must Shine was a strong shift away from his previous albums, sonically and thematically. Sonically, it had him having more Afrobeats fusion in his music and less Hip-Hop, instead of the other way round. And thematically, it had him abandon his jaded views on love and relationships for something more wholesome. And his new EP seems to be treading similar waters sonically, it’ll still be a reach to make a conclusion of the full scope of things from three tracks. However, we’ll delve into the music of what we have now.
EP opener, Emeka Dance is this writer’s favorite track on the body of work. When the snippet initially surfaced online, I wasn’t the biggest fan as I thought Blaq was taking the same approach to pop soundscapes, by diluting his dynamism as a Hip-Hop artist too much to go mainstream. A mistake he made on EMS, that prevented him from attaining the right equilibrium. But after listening to the song, I realized the snippet was only part of a quite catchy hook. A hook that preceded a stellar melodic rap that serviced the groovy beat and didn’t sacrifice Blaq’s sonic identity as a rapper.
With a TikTok challenge as creative as the one that championed the mainstream resonance of Like Ice Spice, Emeka Dance could really take off as it’s an even groovier and a much better record than the aforementioned song. The production on the track also matches Blaq’s dynamism. Before the verse kicks in, the drums pack all the needed punch and the kicks are taken off mid-way into Blaq’s verse, to place more emphasis on his sublime rap flow before it eventually returns with much pronounced effervescence after a worthy build up.
60/40 also caters to the mainstream like Emeka Dance, but it has Blaq in his singing bag, although the chorus here is better written. Thematically, it’s very similar to Emeka Dance. Blaq is simply having the life of his time with sensual women with morally grey areas, who don’t mind indulging in sensual desires even if it means sacrificing their own dignity. On the second verse, Deto Black absolutely steals the show and shows more dynamism on the beat than Blaq. Due to the raspy nature of her vocals and Blaq’s distorted vocals also at certain parts of the song and the hook—it exudes the overall vibe of an alte song.
Louder treads the same debauchery line of the preceding two tracks, but it has a much more introspective angle and more emotional depth, that the other two lack. Not a detraction to the prior tracks, as Blaq was clearly not aiming for that but more depth is indeed appreciated here.”If to say money dey make the pain go away, we for no get Omah Lay” Blaqbonez sings, summing up the song’s crux in one line. Indeed, there is pleasure to be derived from the luxury of money and the voluptuous curves of women—but alas, it’s all white noise at the end of the day and only purpose can truly be fulfilling.
On the cover art of the project, we see Blaq clad in three different colors; blue, red and orange and in a corner of the image, those images are highlighted. This could simply mean three differing sides to the brand new Blaqbonez. The Blaq capable of making a groovy mainstream record on Emeka Dance, without sacrificing his Hip-Hop essence. The alte and experimental side of him on mainstream soundscapes in 60/40 and the brooding singer that can make a soulful cuts like Louder with deep lines that stick.
Or it could simply mean nothing more than him clad in different colors for aesthetic sake. Whichever is the sake, we’ll be finding out soon enough when we embark on the road to his next full length LP.
