It is Lojay’s world, and we are all just renting space. Since his big break with his “bad-boy love-laced” single, “Monalisa“, Nigerian artiste Lojay has become one of the continent’s finest acts. He undoubtedly ticks a lot of boxes for what it means to be an Afrobeats star. The success of his debut project “LV N ATTN”, a collaborative project with producer Sarz introduced us to an individual with remarkable penmanship and very distinct vocals.
With a hit-packed project, one would have thought the pressure on Lojay to deliver subsequent stellar records would have weighed heavily on him. However, the “Milky Man” has shown that the best is yet to come from him. After having the continent in a chokehold with Tonongo and Monalisa which had a lot of people putting their souls into things, Lojay would bounce back with what is in this writer’s opinion, the first brilliant project of the year “Gangster Romantic”.
The project was released months after the lead single “Leader” was released late last year. He would release subsequent singles, Canada and Moto before the EP itself was released earlier this month. The seven-song project only features Dj Maphorisa and Kabza De Small on Canada. The song has four new songs which together with the three pre-released songs tell Lojay’s story of love in lust. The project is Lojay’s confession of feelings and emotions he has towards his love interest. His feelings and emotions in the songs swing from love, lust, patience, and affirmations. His silky vocals and penmanship come alive on this 17-minute melodic ride.
The intro to the tape “Yahweh” is a sultry attempt to attract the attention of a woman. He talks about putting her on god-level for the things she makes him feel in a very sexual way. His lyricism although simple has a touch of imagery that takes along the story. As a bad boy, he sure knows how to pick his woman. This woman is treating him just the way he likes. He moved from riding in a moto to making love in a Mercedes with sweat dripping all over their bodies. To him, sex is one way to kill his depression which is why he chooses to call Yahweh. Although the God of the Bible does not like sharing, it seems Lojay’s Yahweh is a sharer “I pray your ex never try to sleep over. Cause we been fucking on the side he finna sleep on”
Unlike Yahweh, Lojay suffers some heartbreak and stress in “IYD and OVA”. He switches from lust to love in both songs as he talks about dealing with romance and trusting someone with your heart. It is very funny how time flies. One minute, she is making you feel all sorts of ways in an AMG and making you call out names. The next minute, she is making you second guess your feelings and emotions.
In IYD he seeks closure from a woman he was with who seems to have moved on from him probably because his pocket is not fat enough. “Heard you in love with a billionaire now, still can’t afford all your feelings” Although someone has issued her release clause, he still has feelings for her. He asks that she allows him to tell his story before they finally say goodbye. He appeals to her emotions by telling her how their time apart has affected him. “I know it sounds unoriginal but I’m losing sleep. I’ve been through too much wey you barely know”.
Tracklist For Gangster Romantic
After his attempts to get closure in IYD, and reconciliation in the song “Availabu” all fail, he calls it quits on the last track, ‘Ova”. Gangster Lojay seems to have switched character midpoint to soft boy romantic to help him get his woman back. As that does not happen, he offers himself closure.
He bares it all on Ova by stating how he believed things were going to change but the girl chose to be toxic about it. In clearing his closet, he lets loose a secret “Now all my feelings you hang on the ceiling. I should have cheated on you”
That shocked me a bit because someone that found the satisfaction of love and lust in one person was now thinking of cheating on her. But I guess that is the gangster romantic in him talking. If he cannot be with Amaka, he might as well get with Afia. The end of the project bares bits of pain and regret as against the joy, happiness, and fulfilment at the beginning of the project in songs like Leader, Canada, and Moto.
Lojay’s writing style, although very simplistic, employs subtle use of “Lamba” and imagery to deliver the intended messages he wants to convey. The silk but rough touches of his vocals have a way of making a listener feel warm inside as they are being serenaded by the amazing melodic delivery by Lojay. There is a case of irony with this tape. One would assume Lojay’s intro was going to be a first step in seeing him take full control and assert dominance in his romantic life. Just like a typical gangster would do when it comes to taking control of affairs in their business. However, that is not what this writer deduces from this tape. He may be a Leader, but Lojay is no Gangster.
The tape is a great addition to what already is an amazing catalog for the Nigerian artiste. Stream Gangster Romantic, out on all platforms now.