The Fresh Prince of Lagos - EP

When “Sometimes”—T.I BLAZE’s sanguine ballad about the hustle and strife that characterised his growing-up years—blew up near the end of 2021, it all but confirmed the mutation of Nigerian street pop from the jarring, percussion-inflected bacchanal fare of its origin to an almost therapeutic art form fuelled by angst and personal demons. On The Fresh Prince of Lagos, T.I BLAZE leans into this meditative essence, settling on an eclectic fusion of minimalist drum patterns, soulful synths, and string arrangements that create an immersive sound. The first words uttered on “Try” (“I get many things wey dey bother my mind”) offer a portent into the anxiety-ridden mind of the newcomer whose hollowed-out raps and nimble melodies overpoweringly hammer on the indisputable utility of money. There’s a much-needed spiritual salve on “Oba”, a collaboration with Barry Jhay that offers the semblance of catharsis, but the most poignant moments arrive on “Sometimes” (and its Olamide-assisted remix), on which T.I BLAZE reveals the struggles of the come-up behind his Fresh Prince persona.