No one could ever accuse Ema Onigah of lacking an understanding of cultural terrain and the interplay that defines its evolution. On his second EP, ITEM VII, the Cross River-hailing singer fleshes out his come-up story with wit and humor, while paying homage to the resilience, inventiveness, and joie de vivre that have traditionally powered Afropop. Picking up where he left off on his 2023 debut, Dust Off, the rising star is fully up to date with the lingo, euphemisms, and perspectives shaping the culture across ITEM VII. Each track is a layer, Onigah foregrounding gratitude for fans and supporters on opener, “Natural Highness,” and then revealing himself a romantic on the syrupy “With You.” On “Do Me,” he shares the depth of his fascination with a lover, promising her the world and some extra if she’ll have him. By the time we get to “Greatest Lover,” Onigah has veered into bitter truth, admitting—atop stabbing piano keys—that love can sometimes be treacherous. That sense of disillusion creeps into other songs: whether by way of rebuking haters for blocking opportunities on “Chance” or recounting disappointments in the first half of “Paradise”;. But as that song’s closing half shows, Onigah is certain of where he wants to be, and undoubtedly headed there.