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Call it the rainy season or summer if you will – the holiday season between June and October is synonymous, on a global scale, with lavish parties, holidays, colour and the kind of music that you can absent-mindedly party to.
Songs don’t become party anthems because of their storytelling. But on “Greed”, two of Nigerian pop’s more exciting upstarts, Jinmi Abduls and Oxlade, manage to fit a stern story about cheating on their babes into what is sure to be a certified summer bop.
Both artists are at the forefront of a generation that is extending the ranges of a new mid-tempo take on Afropop; as such it is not surprising that the song starts out bare. Oxlade’s voice providing much of the melody singing out in apparent desperation, “I no fit do without you, my love
The song starts off in smooth folksy/R&B territory – a lane that Jinmi
But just as you begin to get comfortable, heavy drums bring it to life and place you smack in the middle of the most laid-back summer vibe. The tempo alternates between languid, through both artists’ verses and upbeat – when Oxlade calls to his “Oga pastor” to convince his woman that cheating is actually off-brand behaviour for him.
This constant inflexion is what stands out most about “Greed” – the hook delivers on traditional pop tropes, yet it incorporates Abduls’ taste for languid production & Oxlade’s love of percussion and rhythm.
“Greed” may be about cheating but it’s happy enough to move to and its multiple layers have enough to satisfy the most avid listener.
Stream Jinmi Abduls’ & Oxlade’s “Greed“
