Today is duets day, starting in Nigeria…
[Video]
[7.83]
Jacob Sujin Kuppermann: The last time we checked in on Rema he managed to avoid desecrating Sade; here, he and Ayra Starr perform a sort of “Hips Don’t Lie” cosplay, a horny-more-than-romantic duet about being down horrendous on the dancefloor, accompanied by regional styles shot through with the high drama of early 2000s R&B. Fortunately, the two prove distinctly able for the task; Starr sounds unstoppably confident, Rema appropriately flustered but charming. I get it — sometimes you see someone so hot that you compare yourself, implicitly, to Mojo Jojo and Wentworth Miller.
[8]
Dave Moore: Production value on the video slash song here suggests that Nigerian pop is doing just fine, but it does seem like the pipeline between Afrobeats and South African house that opened a few years ago hasn’t really done the scene any favors. This one abandons any hint of the crossover and wrestles the spotlight back, even if it sounds like they’ve instead borrowed from everywhere else in the world to compensate.
[7]
Al Varela: A match made in heaven. One of the catchiest and hottest songs about the most irresistible girl at the club that fully sells you on what a baddie she is. The horns are tremendous, the beat keeps you constantly moving, Ayra Starr and Rema have incredible chemistry together, and the hook is blaring in your head for the rest of the day. Might just be Ayra Starr’s best work to date.
[9]
Alfred Soto: Dancehall and Afropop maintain a fine ferment on “Who’s Dat Girl.” I feel the energy and the adrenaline rushin’. Future attempts at self-mythology should sound this necessary.
[7]
Ian Mathers: Well, this immediately becomes the most party-ready song I’m aware of to mention murdered Nigerian activist Ken Saro-Wiwa (although, I must admit, not quite my favourite song to mention him at all, that will probably always be this). Starr is already doing a strong job leading the track when Rema’s increasingly-fast verse threatens to steal the whole damn thing from her, but ultimately they can share; there’s no losers here.
[8]
Nortey Dowuona: Black Powerpuff Girl… well, there’s a Ken Saro-Wira shoutout, so Ayra, go home. Rema, you did very well. RAGEE! The Elements! We have to have a talk. (AYRA and REMA leave) I’m very proud of you both! You took an Eve classic and flipped it into a jam! Very impressive work. We gotta do something about this ending though. Too abrupt.
[8]
Afropop, you say? I am definitely into this. Though I’m a bit miffed that Rema follows up a fantastic string of not just fast but syncopated rapping by saying one word a whole bunch. Still, I’ll take more of both of them, thanks. [7]