EP Review: On Sorry I’m Late, Buju Arrives On Time
The afro-fusion darling debuts his brand of melodious tunes and aspirational lyrics.
Buju is one of the Nigerian artistes who owns this year. His hot streak of delicious verses and hooks, which began with Blaqbonez’s “Bling,” blazed through LADIPOE’s “Feeling,” “Outside,” Savage’s “Confident,” Wizkid’s “Mood,” Basketmouth’s “Your Body,” and, most recently, Timaya’s “Cold Outside.” These efforts stoked the interest of music lovers, which then heightened when he announced his debut project.
On the seven-track EP Sorry I’m Late, Buju distils his qualities of melody-driven singing and deft songwriting, a product of his formative years as a rapper. The project is both an apology and a fulfilment of a long-held promise to his fans. Buju released his first official single “Catch a Vibe” in 2018, had two viral moments in 2019 with “Commander” and the Zlatan-assisted “Spiritual,” signed to his mentor Burna Boy’s Spaceship Entertainment in 2020 and left the label after the contract ended. Now floating his label To Your Ears Entertainment, Buju delivers Sorry I’m Late with the help of American record label EMPIRE and Nigerian producers Timi Jay, Rexxie, Denzl, Steph and Perlz.
On the opener “Daniel Benson,” which is Buju’s real name, the afro-fusion artiste boasts, “You know my rhythm on fire/ You know my sound is on fire.” He sings of finally carving his niche in the music space, despite the negativity of naysayers. It’s a fitting intro, in light of the fact his name is on the lips of most music lovers.
Buju pronounces that he is “a mix of Burna Boy and 2Baba with a sprinkle of Khalid and Frank Ocean” on “Never Stopped.” He declares that hard times and discouragements didn’t put him off his path and will never. Timi Jay’s vibrant production of drums, percussion, horns and saxophone hugs Buju’s brilliant vocals like white on rice.
Rexxie raises the energy with his brand of afro-piano on “Kilometer.” Here, Buju demands his money because he has worked hard to perfect his craft. “If I hear the beat I jump on it, no mercy,” he sings. Perlz brilliantly blends afro-pop and amapiano on “For Here,” which sees Buju dive into the pleasures of a relationship as he makes promises, both romantic and sensual. “It’s your temple I’ll worship, from afar,” he sings.
On “Something Sweet,” Buju requests for a woman’s affection. In tandem with its title, the song is an earworm manufactured by Denzl’s production and Buju’s sweet vocals. An unlikely alliance is formed on “Ogechukwu,” which features neo-highlife band The Cavemen. An Igbo term, the title means “God’s time” in English. Buju ascribes his success to a God-approved timeframe. The Cavemen. bring their much-loved highlife flavour of ululations and masterful instrumentals.
On “I Do,” which has a hip-hop bounce, Buju makes room for vulnerability. “The things that bother me you ain’t got a clue/I laugh and smile but inside I’m feeling blue/I know the drill so I stay jiggy with you/But deep inside I’d rather be in my room,” he sings. For Buju, music is his most precious possession and he is ready to sacrifice anything, even his comfort zone, to succeed in his career.
In July, Buju’s old tweets were unearthed. In the tweets, which went as far back as 2015 and 2016 and as recently as 2020, Buju took shots at Nigerian artistes Wizkid, Davido, Mr Eazi and Rema, calling their artistry into question. Buju’s apology calmed frayed nerves and he resumed his good form. This was a sign that he had made an impression on the hearts of music lovers, especially on diehard fans of Wizkid and Davido, whose reputation of reaching unprecedented levels to defend their idols is documented. With Sorry I’m Late, Buju’s transition from viral sensation to superstar is nearing completion.
Go HERE to stream Sorry I’m Late.
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