CKay hasn’t always been the type to chase hits. He creates music that resonates with his community, and if any record happens to become a hit, then nature has simply taken its course, as seen with his global breakout “Love Nwantiti,” which went viral years after its release. However, that one-time hit hasn’t been entirely favourable for his career, particularly because the elements that define the emotionally tender music he makes are devoid of the distinctive pop bounce and uptempo formulas that characterize mainstream Afrobeats hits.
After the “Love Nwantiti” frenzy, the calm returned, and a superstar was born from a happenstance. Then a pressing question arose: would CKay try to replicate that viral moment to maintain his newfound status, or would he remain fervent in his style and wait for the world to catch on again? As one would expect, the answer isn’t linear, and we’re still living in the in-between. CKay released his debut and sophomore albums, Sad Romance and Emotions, and both faced massive criticism for the fact that he was heavily attempting to create records that appealed to a global audience. While that in itself isn’t a negative—artists are allowed to evolve and experiment—there was an unmistakable overzealousness in his approach that complicated how those projects were perceived.
A little more time has passed, and now he returns with a new EP, CKay the Second, a project presented as a sequel to his 2019 breakout, CKay the First. Listening closely, it’s hard not to wonder what makes this a continuation of the first project. Where CKay the First leaned heavily into Afrobeats with upbeat records and a more vibrant delivery, this new offering feels far more rooted in the Emo-Afrobeats lane he has come to embrace. The energy is calmer, the pace is slower, and the emotional tone leans more internal than expressive. The name might suggest a return, but sonically, this feels like an entirely different journey.
The EP opens with “Tey Tey,” a song that carries a simple yet catchy chorus where CKay professes his love for a muse he’s known “since tey tey.” It’s a sweet sentiment in theory, but the rest of the song doesn’t quite support that emotion. It’s meant to be a love song, but it doesn’t feel like one. The verses are flat, and there’s no emotional arc to tie them together. “Forever” falls into a similar trap. While the lyrics suggest intimacy, the emotion barely scratches the surface. It lacks the tenderness, the “awnn” factor, that makes love songs stick. By the time “Permit Me” comes in, the cracks are clearer. The intro is off-putting, and CKay’s vocals stay painfully one-dimensional. There’s an obvious intention, but it doesn’t come through. Things finally begin to align on “Again” featuring Sabrina Claudio. Her entry is smooth, and there’s an easy chemistry between the two that feels unforced. The production is soft and fluid, and while CKay’s delivery still holds back slightly, the collaboration brings a warmth that had been missing in the previous tracks. “Say No More” sees him in a sultry mood. There’s a clever interpolation of Odunsi’s “Body Count” midway through that adds more flavour to the track. The EP wraps up with “Nothing Spoil” featuring Bella Shmurda, and there’s a noticeable ease to it. The interpolation of Wizkid’s “Ojuelegba” is subtle and well-placed, blending seamlessly into the production. Both artists deliver, and the track carries a certain synergy and fluidity.
As a standalone project, CKay the Second fits neatly into CKay’s current sonic palette. His voice is the glue that holds the EP together and remains his strongest forte, but even that isn’t always enough to carry the weight of the emotions he tries to convey. The emotion is present in the idea but not in the delivery. The songs flow, but they don’t linger long after listening. And as a sequel, it doesn’t quite capture the energy of CKay the First, which featured livelier, more rhythmic, and bolder moments. This is quieter, more inward, and shaped by a softer emotional lens. It leaves a quiet gap and raises a simple question: if this is the sequel, what story is it continuing? Because if it’s meant to pick up where things left off, it feels far removed from where the story began.
