#BumpThis: Oxlade’s “Legend”

There’s so much music out there that it’s hard for even the most loyal fans to stay up with their favourite artists or what’s new and hot right now. That’s why we’ve created #BumpThis – a daily series that features the one song you need to listen to, every day. Don’t say we never did anything for you.

Not since Wande Coal has an audience and artists alike been as voracious in their praise of an upstart as they are of Oxlade, the 22-year singer from Surulere who made “Shugar” and “Causing Trouble” w/ Dj Tunez.

He has cosigns saying the exact same thing from NotJustOk founder, Ovie and one of his closest peers, Blaqbonez. On “Legend”, his third major release in a matter of months, Oxlade creates a self-fulfilling prophecy that shows why.

The horns and backing vocals on “Legend” sound like what happens when a Jon Bellion OST meets the women of a Nigerian church choir. The melody created is fitting because of Oxlade’s against all odds story.

One of the best things about Oxlade and thus this song is that he sings like he has no other option. Passion oozes when he sings painfully about being rebuffed by his family for choosing music over more formal professions – “Family no wan gree make I do music, Them say which of my brothers wey dey do music“. It’s a scenario that is instantly relatable for any average Nigerian who’s ever tried to convince their parents to see the value of a life spent chasing one’s dreams.

And like the melody and the backing vocals, the songwriting elevates the entire song -“No be me sabi pass, I no be Xavi” – is the kind of cheeky line that makes you chuckle but ultimately reminds you that Olaitan knows where he stands and what he’s doing.

Oxlade’s “Legend” drips with a certain self-awareness of his promise. He says he recorded it in 2017 – before his more popular hit, “Shugar” which makes it even more poignant. Self-assurance never sounded so good.

It’s time to talk about Oxlade.

Listen to Oxlade’s “Legend” here.