If it wasn’t already clear from his out-of-the-blue 2024 debut, Tears of a Mad Man, Chella doesn’t play by Afropop’s modern conventions. If anything, the singer (born Uzochukwu Michael Ikechukwu) is a throwback to the early days of the genre, melding his humorous outlook on situations with an inventive writing style and hypnotic cadence that has made him a viral star. Following his March 2025 single “My Darling” becoming one of the most popular Nigerian songs of the year, Chella unfurls the full breadth of his powers on CHELLA CHANT, urging his listeners to the dance floor with seven songs that are as energetic as they are melodic. Chella presents an insouciant interpretation of Afrobeats across CHELLA CHANT, looping in influences from amapiano, punk, and Jersey club. The result is a project intended to shock Afrobeats into life on the back of a forward-thinking mix of witty lyricism and propulsive instrumentals. Zesty guitar riffs underpin a call for solidarity and community on the project’s title track, artfully introducing the dance manifesto that Chella builds on. Even when serving dance-floor summons, he’s still fixated on love and connection, making an evocative call for affection on “Seedy” and promising companionship on “Loyal.” If these grand declarations of love lull listeners into a sense of safety, the spirited angst of “Shake am” is perfectly crafted to rev them up, capturing Chella’s talent for madcap experimentation that lands perfectly.