Ayra Starr’s debut album, 19 & Dangerous, detailing an up-to-date ordeal of teenage fantasies, desires and trials in romantic relationships has been granted a Deluxe version a year after the release. This Deluxe edition serves listeners five (5) new tunes while re-introducing them to the initial eleven (11) tracks from the original version.
Louddaaa and London combined for the production and/or co-production of twelve (12) out of the sixteen (16) songs on the album, with Don Jazzy taking two (2) (Karma and Toxic) for himself, while simultaneously being the executive producer of the album. Andre Vibes & Henry Velasco combine for two (2) with Johnny Drille and Niphkeys sharing one (1) track each in production credit.
The five (5) new tunes are Bloody Samaritan (Remix) with Kelly Rowland, Lonely (Refix) with Zinoleesky, Running with Lojay, Rush and Skinny Girl Anthem with Kay Killo. All tracks stand out but in particular is the fourteenth (14) song, Skinny Girl Anthem in which Ayra Starr embraces her slim figure, singing about the fact that despite having “no ass and no titties”, stealing every girl’s man attention and having them crawl for her love is one less of her worries, all it takes is “Just a look and he’s with me”, she boasts of her marvellous facial beauty. The song encourages fellow skinny girls to embrace their bodies and stop focusing on the ending demands of boys for thick(er) girls. The pockets Ayra Starr filled in Skinny Girl Anthem are incredible, switching flows from singing to rapping while putting on a show of vocal dexterity.
Once again Ayra Starr delivers an impeccable performance, one to be reckoned with as she regally positions herself among the vanguard of Nigerian pop stars. Her ability to traverse genres of music and topics while maintaining her core (that is, the ordeal of teenage fantasies, desires and trials in romantic relationships) is an ability not many can pull off easily as she did on 19 & Dangerous (Deluxe)). How can we forget her ever-impressive songwriting skill? There is no room for a loosely written song. Ayra Starr keeps her bars tight just as always!