Oris Aigbokhaevbolo in Bakwa Magazine:
POP, HIP HOP AND POLITICS IN OLAMIDE AND PHYNO’S 2 KINGS
Every moment chooses its music. Or maybe it’s the reverse, the music chooses its moment? Anyway, days after Oba Akiolu of Lagos issued a threat targeting Igbos, you could listen to Olamide of Akiolu’s own ethnicity on a joint album with Phyno from the targeted tribe. How is that for subversion? For those preferring their pop with politics, the title, 2 Kings, counterpoints niftily to the Oba’s declaration. If, as they say, politics is about interest, then pop is about the best tunes.
That Olamide and Phyno together make great tunes has been obvious to their audience. “Ghostmode” (2013), the duo’s first single alerted the country to the possibility of rap from east and west cohabiting. A few more songs later, some with company, notably Reminisce’s potent “Local Rappers”, and buzz of a full collaborative album erupted online. But everyone knows not to take the internet too seriously...[continue reading]