a project forged out positive vibrations only.
BIG BOLUWATIFE
There a lot of young acts creating great music in the underground. This is a call to notice that the underground is so much stocked with artists with immense abilities. Since earlier this decade, this writer has had the opportunity to listen and review underground music, and I can affirm that many great stuffs come out from there regularly. Interesting and cohesive projects, most especially Henry Adams eponymous project, Tonee C’s ‘STARDUST‘ were an unforgettable experience I will always appreciate till date.
KHiiD, an Afro Soul & RnB act, has been kicking it up and bubbling in the underground scene for quite some time. Popularly regarded as the face of the famous Nigerian city, Akure. Although, in his final year in his tertiary education, KHiiD has had to properly manage music and his education properly on his way to success. So, when he announced his debut album, “A KHiiD From Akure“, it felt like the journey is just about take shape properly.
Not often do we witness new and burgeoning young acts announce themselves to the world with an album; as an EP seems like the culture in the industry, but here is KHiiD defying logic and patterns by dropping 20 tracks ( 18 songs and spoken words intro and outro) and nearly an hour long project. It’s an extraordinary thing to try as most listeners don’t embrace lengthy projects, especially when there are obvious fillers all over. However, can KHiiD prove its possible to offer quality across 18 songs? Let’s dig in.
The album opens with a recorded version of his mother showering heartfelt prayers on Him. Not often do we have projects that begins with prayers from an artist’s mother, but this was properly executed and the listeners could literally feel the love and warmth his mother represents to him. Ghetto seems like the proper intro to the album because if the title of the project is anything to go by, Ghetto begins with KHiiD telling his story which is similar to what he aims to portray all through the project. Over smooth alluring keys and seemingly hard but calm drums, KHiiD pays tributes and recognizes all of his close friends from where he comes from and even the city itself.
Champion does not necessarily raise the tempo but something about its tone makes it resonate with listeners immediately it comes on. KHiiD makes bold declarations ” Can you see me coming through? I be number one” hinting at him knowing his status and worth. KHiiD then goes to say “ I be king, I be champion” and even at some point likening himself to some football superstars in the name of Victor Osimhen and co. This bold declaration could only be aired by someone who is so certain of his capabilities. It still feels like the opening section of the project on Thankful. The tone is very much in gratitude to God concerning all of his achievements while also singing about him defying the thoughts of his detractors.
On Reason, we get the first collaboration on the project with likewise burgeoning act, Oh Faks. Oh Faks brings KHiiD out of his zone to an eclectic and groove driven Afropop sonic. It is a dulcet love anthem where the acts reveal their intimate intentions towards their significant other. Energy, like the title implies, also brings the energy sonically with its tailor made nightlife approach. Energy is an up-tempo love themed track where the KHiiD asks for his lover’s presence. It excels so much in its production and relatable songwriting while also having an edge to it commercially. The up-tempo nature of Energy spills onto the next track, Oshe. This is a song that pulls into it all of the essential components of Amapiano, which in a normal world without barriers should be at the top of party playlist. On Corner, KHiiD displays another magnificent performance on a free-spirited Amapiano production.
It’s proving to be an interesting journey so far with KHiiD because he keeps topping his last performance on subsequent ones and he does not allow any sort of drop off. If Caro proved anything, it is that KHiiD is a master of his own art. This might as well go down as one of the best tracks on the project, if not the best. Infact, this writer can’t get past it, but painful we have to go the next one. Half way through on Dirty Feelings, KHiiD serves a delectable tasty cross-cultural song which pulls Caribbean elements into his own iteration of Afropop. KHiiD refuses to box himself and it is no surprise to see him excel on explored sounds because he has the capability to fit in suitably.
The switch is instant back to his roots on Sweet Love. When this comes on, listeners will surely wonder if KHiiD has become Wizkid just over a track because this track screams how Wizkid would deliver on similar production even to the point where the vocal delivery and songwriting seems so much alike. To confirm our observations, KHiiD sings “Them say I’m local, say I no loyal, say I dey sound like Wiz, I no go go far“. I will remain awe of what KHiiD did. Whine Dat also features Oh Faks again and Khash. As stated earlier, Oh Faks provides a good sonic diversity for KHiiD and it is no different on Whine Dat, an R&B leaning Afropop track. It was literally an exchange on the song and each artist properly expressed their feelings and used their moment well.
Ginger Me has elements of African discotheque supplemented with exciting melodic keys that soothes listeners. Although, despite it’s subtle production, the track excels due to the artist’s composure in his delivery. It is a masterpiece in terms of the recording. It’s been a long wait, but we finally get the Highlife fusion on Julie. Even from the title, it is well predictable it would be the one. On Julie, KHiiD portrays a Friday night out with friends to a party where there a lot of ladies and money to spend by the men in attendance. KHiiD remains focused and attracted on this certain lady, Julie who he asks to “whine am for me“. When KHiiD explores a sound we get the result in twos. While KHiiD’s performance ran the show on the previous track, the production takes center stage here on Jo with it’s subtle guitar riffs and simplistic drum structure. KHiiD is highlife fusion certified good. When we get to Special (Got It All), Kishii makes a solid offering with an incredible verse and hook. One thing about KHiiD’s feature is they deliver always and provide a good competition for him on tracks. Kishii may have taken center stage on this but KHiiD’s dynamic performance also elevates it. This is probably the most honest and heartfelt love song across the project, there is just so much sincerity embedded in it.
On Picture Perfect, KHiiD tries to pull off an impeccable trap synth laden track and a wonderful The Weeknd-esque performance, but the production let him down in that it couldn’t quite combine all the necessary elements to perfection. Although, his delivery was slick and he did not look uncomfortable. Be My Lover has this nostalgic feeling in its production that makes it feel like something you have heard before, but you haven’t. Although, he samples a certain worship song in his lyrics and that could satisfy it nostalgic feels. It would not be in anyway surprising if it earns shouts of being one of the best song.
In My Crib which is a freestyle features American R&B artist, Capella Grey and Mr Chicken. Although, it is tagged a freestyle, it is still a solid offering and just about proves the point that KHiiD can’t do any wrong. Capella Grey’s composure too is something laudable as he sounded comfortable all through his cameo. Outro ( Akure We Dey) closes an interesting journey with KHiiD which he also uses as a medium to air his dreams of becoming a superstar performing in big arenas and stadium across the world. All of these aims he expects to achieve with this project.
In a time where lengthy body of works is not well appreciated due to limited listening attention of the audience, artist’s hack to this problem is to ensure that the projects are filled with quality and relatable tracks that will resonate well and easily with listeners of different demography. Even if that may not be entirely possible, only few “fillers” should make it. Did KHiiD achieve this across the 18 songs? Yes, he did.
Truth be told, I was initially surprised about the idea of the project having 20 tracks, and then worried how a developing act would carry along his listeners over such a lengthy time span. But KHiiD, KHiiD created an almost faultless album by staying within the most staple sounds that permeates our industry currently. Alternating across various soundscape may have been something difficult, but he ensured that his performance was not at any point below par. True fact is, most songs on the project could be pushed individually and still achieve commercial success. This is probably the most exciting quality of the project and this writer really appreciates the efforts put in. It undoubtedly enters into this writer’s growing list of GREAT underground projects.
Dreams do come true, KHiiD is a good example. He once had a dream of becoming an artist, now here he is creating and dishing out good music to bless our ears. Now, the next step is to be a global superstar and perform to people of different race in big stadium across the world, as he stated on the outro. With this gem, he believes it is possible and rightly so it really doesn’t seem far-fetched. He has everything it takes. Next steps are important and the world will be on lookout for this young boy from Akure.
[LISTEN]: A KHiiD From Akure by KHiiD.
