Boj alias Boj on the microphone finally releases the highly anticipated Gbagada Express, his first album since “Magic” (2017) but third overall discographically. Gbagada Express is an Afrobeat/Afropop/Afro-fusion midtempo LP pulling its weight behind Boj’s ability to come up with catchy hooks and easy-to-learn but intricate verses while also being supported by A-list features from Nigeria to Ghana to the UK.
Wizkid & Darkovibes (Awolowo), Tiwa Savage (Your Love [Mogbe]), Davido & Mr Eazi (Abracadabra), Fireboy DML (Owo Ni Koko), Buju (Lekki Love) and Victony (Unconciously) all represent Boj’s motherland Nigeria with the exception of Darkovibes but he would soon have the representation of his Ghanaian comrades like Kofi Jamar & Joey B (Get Out The Way) and Amaarae (Money & Laughter). Other excellent featured artistes are Enny (Culture) from England, Lebanese veteran singer, Melissa & Ghanaian-American fast-rising act Moliy (In a Loop) while multicoloured hair diverse singer-rapper, Prettyboy D-O (Confam), Zamir (Money & Laughter), Boj’s DRB Lasgidi brothers—Teeze [Yarning Many (Skit)], Fresh L (Lekki Love)—and Obongjayar (Action Boyz) round up the Nigerian representation on Gbagada Express.
Subject matter varies from romantic love to living the good life—acquiring and lavishing money which come up frequently on Gbagada Express with quite a few other topic points like patriotism on Culture, bragging about being one of the Alté pioneers on Yarning Many (Skit), introspection on Tinu Ewe and being true to self on Action Boyz.
Through the 42-minute playtime of Gbagada Express, Boj makes sure to keep the tracks well synced lyrically and production-wise as all tracks are well produced and the sounds are plush; Boj does what he knows best, blending simplistic minimal lyrics with well expressed catchy hooks on short spanning songs while calling the assistance of his colleagues, making sure they bring in their A-game on the tracks while assigning them to the proper tune that fits their voicetone and niche as an artiste. An incredible all around job execution I must say.
Listen to Gbagada Express.: