Bimbi's Mind

Blaqbonez has been on his grind for long, steady putting in and putting out work since he became Terry's Zombie in 2011. A growing entity, he is constantly evolving. I know this since we were promised numerous tapes which projected his state of mind. From the heralded Blaqbox, MUSA and CTAT 2.0 we didn't get. Although we got Blaqbox dey road (A pretape), the fact remains "Dr. Blaqbonez Dre" is an artiste that acknowledges growth... and has been trying to find himself or his sound lately... I think he found himself the moment I heard Glory on CTAT... but he had not found his sound which I hope he has now. This tape is a prelude to the real Last Time Under album (which I hope we get, don't be another Detox, man). It boasts of 19 tracks and opens up with "Blaq album done" (Blaq album done and If are actually bonues), a fully bar'd up song to go with a sombre soft rock sample. He made it clear he would be pursuing a new direction as an artiste. ...

In music, there is nothing more novel than a debut body of work. An opportunity to delve in the workings of a mind trying to grasp, and ultimately wield a new medium of expression. A medium that accommodates so many variables to get right. It is always exhilarating to take a moment and digest in whole. That way, you can trace the influences that morphed the musicality, trace the media that shaped the approach and even, trace the background that nurtured the creator. Piece, Be Steel  attempts to cover a lot within ten tracks. At first glance, it is quite evident that the project is a homage to the rudimentary elements of hip-hop. Drawing inspiration from old Chinese movies and western action flicks that glorify violence with no regard for nuances responsible for action, or reaction. It is drawn from the same cloth that drives the narrative that Sun Tzu’s Art of War is the ultimate literature of warfare and is still very much applicable to everyday life. This is not a ba...

I started writing as an escape in 2014. Writing to me was beauty borne from turmoil. A way to process the sludge, the gunk that my mind secreted and my body experienced. I found myself writing for every and any reason. I failed my exams, write. I loved this girl with the long face and she didn’t love me back, write. My mum fell ill and it has been a roller-coaster to get her back on her feet, write. I really want to be a writer but I fear I might not have the grace and natural talent needed to breakthrough, write. Sometimes, I write myself into corners where my insecurities lie. This of course is a great way to stack up a repertoire of abandoned projects that I feel I don’t have the skill set to complete. Other times, I write as far as my excitement can take me. However, the thing about using excitement as a driving force for anything is that it is not guaranteed to last and if you have a short attention span like I do, it is safe to say you will never complete anything...

Describing Paybac Iboro as the dark, yet safe side of the Nigerian millennial is not far fetched. He is one of such rare figures that have managed to own their insecurities and speak freely about their inner demons. This uncommon openness has turned his fans into a hybrid of friends, support group and as TheNative  pointed out last year, a cult.

Music as an art is an element of rave. A tireless scour for the perfect blend of sounds to somehow tickle the pleasure centres of the body. It is a tasking process, and in a world that has outgrown its attention span, the demand for creativity and experimentation has never been higher. Juls’ Leap of Faith was dropped without much commercial fanfare – atleast in Nigeria -- back in 2016. Comprised of 9 songs and a delectable group of featured personalities some might argue to be the alté crowd, it cut across and beyond geographical boundaries. As is traditional Afrobeats, he drew inspiration from Ghana, Nigeria and regions circa West Africa and finds an enthusiastic audience home and abroad --- especially in the UK. Afrobeats gained its entrance into the world’s stage with Ojuelegba, Wizkid’s ode to an iconic citadel in Lagos. Although it might be argued by some that Afrobeats’ entrance was made with Wizkid’s One Dance feature on Drake’s Views project-- but regardless of ...

Yemisi, Iyalode's daughter was just a step above adolescence when she discovered boys. The attention tickled the nape of her neck and filled a hole in her soul that ten-ten could not. Yemisi would cock her small hips dangerously left and dangerously right as she walked on by. She would tilt her nose when strangers whistled 'fine girl', 'look here', refusing to bless the cat callers with her attention while basking in theirs. And would break into songs of laughter when boys like Alani gave her cheap bracelets they bought with money stolen from their mother's purses. It is true that she publicly rebuked Alani when news filtered that he emptied his father's pouch. But Yemisi had such harsh words coming from a mouth dressed in lipstick that Alani bought. Yemisi would lead the boys on with sweet words of endearment, teenage boys who have grown tired of their mother's affection would find shelter in her demure. Her graceful face never ran out of ...