Music courses through the veins of Barry Jhay, the son of legendary Fuji pioneer, Ayinde Barrister. Whether channeling the extemporaneous energy of contemporary Afrobeats over livewire instrumentals or experimenting with niche sounds within the wider Afropop plexus, Barry Jhay’s distinct brand of localised, ghetto-inspired lyricism and slick melodies have made him an avatar of street pop’s amelioration of Nigerian music. Primarily singing in an eclectic fusion of Yoruba, English, and pidgin, Jhay’s verses are a frenetic odyssey through the specific locations and events–good and bad–that have shaped his psyche. His most popular songs are candid examinations on the turbulent nature of life: “Aiye” is built around an urge not to look down on anyone while “Story” is a classic grass-to-grace story. But all of Barry Jhay’s philisophising on life cannot stop his knack for creating music that gets bodies moving on the dancefloor. “Ashe She” is a hall-parties favourite, and the amapiano-influenced “Ayewada” is an extravaganza even by Barry’s high standard.