Ladipoe and AG’s Ekwe: Duplicate, replica yet different
I love darkness. And I've had the longest week at work. What a Friday it’s been! The music has been beautiful. Wizkid’s Kese prepared my heart for warmth, Peruzzi and Olamide’s Jah Love laid this bed for comfort and from a first listen, Ladipoe and Adekunle Gold’s Ekwe has had no need to grow on me. The flow is with me. The direction is linear. And there's light.
Simi’s husband is artistically rebellious. He can't get it wrong, can he? He has a delectable taste for impeccably-relatable lyricism. His songs are easy to chew and easier to digest. You don't have to think a lot. All you need do, my dear, is dance.
Adekunle Gold has refined himself and has perfected his art so well that he could be Aminat Obirere’s feature and still kill it. His versatility is immense. He sings like he does art and graphics back when he used to wish he is where he is now.
In this darkness of my room, Ekwe blasts through my headphones and it’s not Original Stereoman’s. This song, by no means fake, is a sample of the jungle musician’s ‘Sample Ekwe’ release of more than a decade ago.
https://youtu.be/bLEZr3MUcnA?si=xkSRtwRj8OLJCDYB
Nigerian artistes have dug deeper this year for direction and thanks to many artistes who have paved roads, they have a lot to hold on to for stability and firmness.
Ladipoe chose a perfect accomplice to kill a song and Stereoman must be proud of what his hard work of many years ago sounds like in another generation’s more refined instrumentality. Like Stereoman, Awilo Lokomba’s ‘Pamutuku’ word was employed in a brilliant meshwork of different understanding of Afrobeats.
The freedom of the art is such that songs from any walk of life could make a potential hit for an Afrobeats artiste. It is a song that sits eminently as one of the best I've heard in a while with all the Tungba vibes and modern bravado.
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=La-K8w-DCS0&si=u3VX1PKQ9JXGyLVW
Ladipoe’s hip-hop never plays second fiddle in songs he owns and here, he offers just enough to make a brilliant combination, and the sort that the industry has since yearned.
The song sets for a buzz and vibe that should be enjoyed and the messaging is to have fun while at it. Both artistes keep a serious look while delivering and even if that could be pretentious, they looked serious about the need to enjoy life. Ekwe isn't that serious. It only asks to live and have a lot of things to cheer about, be carefree yet composed.
I have no complaints. It is a good way to end the week. My ears will agree.