OLADIPS AND PRODUCER RIYO SHINE THROUGH ON “SHE TELL ME SAY”
The talented Oladips is navigating the Nigerian music space with dexterity and poise. Over time he has created a reputation for himself through his unique artistry, enabling him to forge formidable relationships within the industry. His song “She Tell Me Say”, produced by RIYO, demonstrates Oladips’ ability to lace verses in tandem with kicking, creative production.
“She Tell Me Say” is a hip-hop record which sees Oladips rap through the song’s 3:30-minute duration with no chorus. Nigerian hip-hop has gone through phases of collapse and revival but Oladips’ performance indicates that the RIYO-produced record leans on the latter end of the spectrum. The simplicity of the production creates a canvas that allows Oladips to paint his own pictures through dexterous wordplay.
As the song begins, the kicks and percussion reminds the listener of Kanye West’s “Good Morning”, but RIYO’s vision for the production went in another direction. More elements of the instrumentals become evident as the song wears on, but the listener is firmly immersed into the boom-bap nature of the record which pays homage to the pure, undiluted hip-hop of the 90s and early 2000s. The record’s subtle bassline adds another layer to the instrumental that allowed Oladips the room to navigate different flows, making for a convincing performance and combination from the pair.
RIYO, the producer born Emmanuel Ariyo, connects well with Oladips on this record. The beat has a simple progression but the kicks give it great intensity which Oladips feeds off as he laced his bars in RIYO’s production. The talented producer continues to expand his catalogue and records like this are sure to add pedigree to his list of excellent instrumentals.
“She Tell Me Say” is a testament to the talent and creativity of RIYO and Oladips. Together they’ve created a record that gives a good impression of Nigerian hip-hop at home and in the diaspora. Their connection is evident as the production set the stage for a unique rap performance. More music from the duo is sure to shake up the Nigerian music industry as we know it.
