On His Second 2026 EP, BNXN Seems Content With Flexing His Creative Muscles.
Despite being one of the more talented writers of his generation, BNXN has rightly been criticized for not taking creative risks and not embarking on enough sonic quests. This writer in particular has opined that he has notably played it safe on the production choices and delivery styles of the bulk of his discography, but the Sarz collaborative EP was a step in the right direction.
It wasn’t necessarily a status quo defiance but it did have BNXN exploring unfamiliar sonic territory that tested his songwriting prowess on stranger tides. Now he’s back with yet another EP and is keen on building on the momentum of his last outing. And the million Naira question poses itself, does this build on the goodwill of The Game Needs Us or take another step backward?
Eja Meja is the spiritual sequel to Back Outside. It’s heavy on the Afro-percussion visceral drums and features exotic verses that document the realities of superstars in their element—living luxurious lifes. Asake opens up the floor with trademark surface level musings on life and BNXN admonishes his detractors not to take him for granted. Online returns to trademark BNXN Afro-Pop territory with earnest melodies and pulsating drum patterns.
BNXN reiterates the fact that he is the life of the party and brags about his inaccessibility to folks who previously took his company for granted. He deplores some cheeky lines and finds interesting pockets here in usual BNXN fashion that would undoubtedly make this song a fan favourite for his devouts. 16 has soulful synthesizers and a midtempo bounce that sets the stage for some unhealthy but relatable BNXN self loathing. He gives himself grief over a failed relationship escapade that he should be well over already but charges it to the game instead.
BNXN melodic raps on the galloping grooves of Deliberate Work and takes stock of his accomplishments in a bid to remind the audience of his gravitas. In a vacuum, it sounds like healthy braggadocio but the track coming right after a song where he’s reminiscing about a past lover—makes it seem like he’s trying to convince himself he doesn’t need her and he’s the man regardless. On the second verse, he does go off at his past management and calls them out on their incompetence, so the song isn’t just empty posturing but hits its peak on those notes.
FOLA deploys his signature flow on the opening of Shamaya and it works to a tee with the drums stripped away for the entirety of it. He can be quite predictable on these midtempo love songs but not many can ride these beats the way he does. This is the sole record on the EP that wears his heart on its sleeves and is allowed to be a full blown love record. BNXN drops some interesting metaphors but it’s FOLA who steals the show and truly shines. If You Like is a Carefree record that has BNXN giving into his playful whims and going with the flow.
He just wants to have a good time and is seeking out an experience just to feel something, anything. Whether he gets his heart broken or not, he doesn’t seem to care and is just happy he’s along for the ride. This could be chucked up as a toxic coping mechanism to avoid the past or even the right mentality to have in moving on. The pendulum of the logic swings either way and clarity can only be provided by future projects.
BNXN’s Still In Charge isn’t a bold statement or a shakedown of the old world order that’s bound to reinvent him in a new fascinating light. What it is—is good music that treads familiar territory, with enough ingenuity that portends serious promise for the future and a healthy reminisce of the past also. BNXN will eventually need that shakedown of the status quo but not now. For now, he’s allowed to brag that he’s still in charge.
Final Verdict:
Sonic Cohesion: 1.3/2
Expansive Production: 1.3/2
Songwriting: 1.5/2
Delivery: 1.4/2
Track Sequencing: 1.3/2
Total: 6.8/10
