Profiled by The New York Times as one of the guardians of Nigerian music, Emeka Akumefule known professionally as Blaqbonez has shaped his career according to his own terms, thanks to his marketing genius schemes. From iconic rollouts to meme-curated videos, he has delivered on all frontiers. He revisits the recipe for success on his new LP “Emeka Must Shine”. On 14 songs, he reminds us why he is one of Nigeria’s fastest-selling products as an artiste.
Emeka Must Shine transforms his dreamlike narratives into something joyous, collective, and free. “Road Runners” highlights the rough road the music industry comes with, and he recruits the perfect suit for it, Ghana’s hottest artiste Black Sherif. His presence alongside his producer, Joker, adds this spirit of survival to the song, setting the tone of the album. Lead singles ‘Like Ice Spice’, ‘Like Bezos’, and ‘Cinderella Girl (Where You Dey)’ with Ludacris showcase the Lagos-based artist’s multilayered talent and versatility. Though he likes to pride himself as one of Nigeria’s hardest rappers, Blaqbonez can equally sing too. “6 Business” and “Kilo” are sheer proof, however, the second tune comes with more flair thanks to Projexx. The Jamaican singer meets Blaq on a song that shuttles between atmospheric studio experiments and sensually modernized Afro vibes.
One thing about a Blaqbonez project is the production is always going to be top-notch, however, such embellishment doesn’t obscure Blaq’s expansiveness though, it compliments his talent. “Nyem Ego” is the same as the intro, the only difference here is Blaisebeatz’s indigenous production, which draws inspiration from Nigeria’s cultural roots. Nkpor’s finest, Jeriq, blesses the song with his folky, melancholy vocal improvisations, summing up a well-cooked-up folklore-inspired tune. The song exudes heritage and age, but also simple harmonic beauty.
The features here are tailor-made for the project. “Naija-Shawty” features Victony, the new age duo exploring the Afro-dance hall here. The only problem is that it feels like an interlude. Victony’s restless creative spirit outweighs his tendency to lean on crooning skills. He sounds like a modern-day reggae artiste without Patois. It’s a catchy song, too bad it’s less than two minutes. A standout trait from Blaq is his ability to match any artiste when they work together. Odumodu is currently one of the hottest rappers on the continent, so it was just right to link for “Dollerz”. Even on a relaxing beat, Big Kala still brings that rapid-fire energy to the song. Blaq slows things down with his infectious hooks. “Masquerade” follows the path of the previous record, but with a more drill-inspired verse from M24, an iconic member of Brixton’s collective 150, giving us a party anthem. “Shine Forever” and “Bad Till Eternity” hoard his most vulnerable moments on this album. There’s no regret in his words, he feels blessed. Zlatan shares his testimony too, curating what sounds like a victory lap.
A Young John feature is one we didn’t expect, but arguably one of the best on here. On log drums with strings of violin, they both share their relentlessness on the song, dishing out game to listeners. Blaq’s erratic technique is as appealing as ever, but his reedy voice calls for smoothness on “Wait let me get tissue”. The rapper sounds relaxed and calm, his confidence carries the light here, celebrating his liberation from the rat race of hustle. Amaarae makes a cameo on the outro with her soothing voice, singing out melodies from their 2021 smash hit “Bling Bling:”
Blaq’s approach allows him to throw out familiar sounds in an atmospheric barrage, making this album a continuation of his last body of work.
Stream Blaqbonez new album “Emeka Must Shine” Here.
