Ycee must have gotten tired of hearing people asking him to rap again.
During a conversation in the first half of 2019, I asked him if he felt any need to respond to the endless requests for him to return to rapping, or make a song like Jagaban.
His answer on the day was vague – something along the lines of “I’m an artist. Nobody should put me in a box”
Months later, it would appear he has finally answered the question.
In celebration of his 26th birthday, Ycee lets the bars guide him once again on “Balance”, his first release since starting his ANBT label.
Full of braggado, chest-thumping affirmations and “owo ati swagger – no Cartier”, “Balance” reminds the fans, and Ycee himself, of what can happen when the self-styled Omo Alhaji gives in to his hip-hop inclinations.
The song’s frantic pace is a reminder so obtrusive that fans on social media responded with tweets implying that Jagaban is back.
You could say Ycee hasn’t sounded this confident since “Jagaban” and you’d be right.
It takes nothing away from his growth over the years – pushing his limits has helped Ycee morph into a genre-bender in his own right with hits like “Tropicana Fruit Juice” and “Juice” under his belt.
It is somewhat fitting that Ycee chose to call this one “Balance”.
The image that sticks in your mind after the first listen is the same as the cover art.
A feeling that Ycee can find a place in the middle–between this fan-favourite boisterous flow and his more laid-back, ambient sensibilities.
You can listen to the song here.
