Since Crayon’s breezy introduction on the Mavin Records all-star record “All Is in Order” and his debut EP Cray Cray in 2019, the Afropop newcomer has been grabbing attention. And the industry has taken note: He secured a nomination for Rookie of the Year at the prestigious Headies Awards in 2019. Crayon’s artistry welds musical influences from R&B to samba and Afrobeat into the music, and he has a raw rhythmic flow reminiscent of Afrobeats veterans P-Square and Wizkid in their early days. A simple rhyme scheme and poignant metaphors inspired by growing up in the streets of inner-city Lagos pop up frequently, too. On “Tatashe,” he compares the impact of a love interest’s beauty to both a fire extinguisher in action and the spiciness of the red bell pepper variant favored by Nigerians. On his follow-up project, 2021’s Twelve A.M, the evolution is clear as he synergizes with fellow new-generation acts like Rema and Bella Shmurda across its four tracks. And his chemistry with Ghana’s Kelvyn Boy as they trade stellar verses on the dazzling “Tele” peels back yet another layer of talent on a youngster eager to entertain all year round.