Kwate

By Seye Adetoye

Music is power. The application of it makes it more powerful. Music might be a mere word, yet it has saved a lot from ending their lives. Some people found joy in music; I can remember years ago while rounding up my first degree at the University of Osun State in 2021, music was there for me. It even became worse when I had to re-write some courses.

The shame and embarrassment were too much for me to bear; in my lowest moment, music was there for me. Songs from underground artists like Seyi Vibez, Kwate, and more were some of the songs I listened to.

The name Kwate might sound Ghanaian. However, he was born and raised in Lagos. In the second half of the 2010s, the singer released five tracks with the topic tethering between love, party, and love. They became the balm to my injury while rounding off my schooling.

In the mid-tempo “I Don’t Know,” the singer shows encomium on his partner. He reels out how she makes her feel, how he is crazily in love and lust over her. The second verse of the song found him assuring her of his love and protection. It is a cool and nice song that celebrates romantic love.

The 2016 released “Love” is a dancehall-themed type of song. It reminds the listeners of the 2000s Galala type of sound with its bouncy baseline. JKL, the featured rapper, seems to have a better grasp of the song as he effortlessly flows on each track, tagging along with the fine production of the song. Being a Dancehall, the track is party inviting; it can be inviting sometimes, with the duo all coming together to craft a soulful track. At the end of this spin, you are bound to appreciate cultural acclimation. While Dancehall is not a Nigerian genre, artists have been able to crack the code due to their listening to the genre.

On the percussion-based track “OvbokhanMven,” Kwate sings praises of his wife. He sings mostly in the local language. With sultry input from backup singers and an ear-pleasing production. In the second verse of the song, Kwate switches to the English language to articulate his feelings properly. The production of the song sounds dated; however, the delivery of Kwate makes this less noticeable.

“Halla,” is a celebratory tune in which Kwate takes a copious hour of inspiration from Azonto. As expected, some of the lyrics were delivered in his language. Halla is a lovely tune with a crossbreed of inspiration. The sparse lyrics get punctuated by the danceable instrumental.

The respected singer, Tty, was on hand to support Kwate on the Dancehall centered “Enjoy Yourself.” Kwate seems to shine bright whenever he hoops on a dancehall-themed track. The lyrics are more sequentially arranged; perhaps he would have been a fine Dancehall artiste if he had been born in Jamaica or the Caribbean.

Kwate sings well. Love and freak moments seem to get the best of him. With a more pristine production and properly a fine songwriter, he stands to make it to the top in the Nigerian music industry.