Kpos Lifestyle, Vol.1 by Ajebo Hustlers

BACKGROUND

Ajebo Hustlers are a Nigerian highlife duo hailing from Port Harcourt. Their claim to fame came in 2020 when they released a song, 'Barawo', which commented on the political injustice in Nigeria at the peak of the End SARS movement. Ajebo Hustlers take pride in their ability to make hits out of serious situations, akin to Kendrick Lamar and, locally, Burna Boy.

Kpos Lifestyle, Vol.1.

In 2021 Ajebo Hustlers released their debut album, Kpos Lifestyle, Vol.1. This Album managed to capture the hearts of music lovers all over the continent with its laid-back energy laced with stark sociopolitical commentary. Today we take a deep dive into the album, breaking it down song by song.

Bus Stop

The first checkpoint. Bus Stop fuels us for an incredible 30-minute-long journey through the minds of the Hustlers. This song establishes the album as a vibey project with easy instrumentals and soft-hitting yet thought-provoking lyrics.

Yafun Yafun 

An underrated track on the album. Yafun Yafun walks us through what seems like a toxic relationship between a man and his ex, detailing how she made him lose his mind. Like every other song on this project, the track has remarkable instrumentals and could easily serve as background music for any situation.

Solace

A very interesting song. Solace walks through a journey many of us guys have been on, healing a broken heart. Being a shoulder to cry on is a responsibility many of us have taken up, with many of us having very interesting and questionable methods of handling the people who need support. Solace has arguably the best instrumentals on this project, making it easy to skip past its devious lyrics. I won't spoil the intrigue; listen for yourself!

Symbiosis

My favourite song. For our non-science students, symbiosis is a biological term that defines the long-term relationship between two (or more) biological species. Symbiotic relationships are two-way transactions where both parties enjoy equal benefits. For instance, certain birds clean large animals by eating parasites off their fur. In context, Symbiosis talks about how the artist and his mistress give off the same energy in their relationship, whether positive or negative.

Pronto

The smash hit. Omah Lay CARRIED! Pronto has the best hook on this album by far, and its instrumentals are one of the best too. I wouldn't listen to this song for the lyrics; whenever it comes on, I'm amazed by how smoothly Omah Lay slid on it. Ajebo Hustlers had good verses, but this was Omah Lay's song.

Sophisticated Iyawo

A cool song. Nothing too special. For the longest time, I thought Olamide was on this track.

Oh My Home

An anthem. The first song with sociopolitical commentary. Ajebo Hustlers speak on the struggles of living in Nigeria. Like many African countries, success in Nigeria is dependent on who one knows. "You no get job 'cause you no know the DG" is arguably the most relatable bar on the project. Oh My Home feels like the sequel to Burna Boy's Collateral Damage.

Zamo

A Gospel song. Zamo implicitly states God's unwavering love through the sinful nature of human beings. An incredibly wholesome track.

Barawo (Writer's Pick)

THE Anthem. Alongside Davido's FEM, Barawo made rounds all over the continent for its unapologetic commentary on police brutality in Nigeria at the peak of the 'End SARS' Movement in 2020. Barawo was released as a single long before this album was released, and it was an introduction to Ajebo Hustlers.

Kpos

Mid. For such a solid project, its outro was pretty disappointing. It was an 'okay' song, but it feels more like an interlude than an outro.

Conclusion

A solid debut project. It achieved what it was supposed to; introducing a new take on Afrobeat music. Kpos Lifestyle, Vol. 1 is an album I recommend to anyone looking to get into Afrobeat, and its title suggests there's more to come from Ajebo Hustlers.