Richardine Bartee
Last week, Nigerian artist and rapper ODUMODUBLVCK released a fourteen-track mixtape called ‘EZIOKWU’ through Def Jam’s partnership with Native Records. Described as “one of the most exciting voices of the country’s capital in the last decade”, the Lagos-born rising star took on a profession seen as “boring” or non-profitable in his home country to many. In the controversial words of Nigeria’s beloved artist, Wizkid, “I don’t listen to rap – that shit is boring to me. It’s dead now, it’s tired. These guys do the same shit, rap on the same beats, same flows.”
To some, ODUMODUBLVCK is an indigenous rapper like Zlatan, featured on ‘PICANTO’, but only time will tell us how far he will go and what kind of listeners he will attract. Recently, the fast-rising artist appeared in a NOCTA x Nike collaboration, and his song ‘Declan Rice’ (now at 37.7M+ streams globally) which debuted at #27 Billboard US Afrobeats Songs chart and used as the official announcement audio in the Arsenal Declan Rice announcement.
Check out the star-studded album featuring Amaarae, Blaqbonez, Bloody Civilian, Fireboy DML, Reeplay, Teezee, PsychoYP, Cruel Santino, Zlatan, and ECko Mile.
