Comprised of members BOJ, Fresh L and Teezee, DRB LasGidi have spent the last few years collectively building their presence as key figureheads within Lagos’s rapidly expanding Alté scene, and individually, they have amassed an impressive resume that would make most artists jealous.
After a run of successful solo and group mixtapes, EPs and singles and during a time when Nigerian art, culture and music continue to shape global narratives, DRB’s debut album has become one of the most highly anticipated Alté releases in years. With the title a nod to their role within shaping African youth culture, the album marries the best of classic Afro-beat and hip-hop and includes features with the likes of other Alté acts such as Santi, TEMS and Lady Donli.
The album features original artwork created by renowned new wave Nigerian visual artist, Anedu Edozien, who was also responsible for the album artwork. Entitled ‘Midnight Friends’, it portrays the community, style, culture, cool kids, creativity as well as the rebelliousness of Lagos culture.
The 12-track features an all-star alté cast of Santi, Tems, Lady Donli, Prettyboy D-O, Wani and mainstream street music general Olamide. The album is a delightful mix of Afrobeat infused with the new wave of the Alté sound and makes for a 35 minutes blissful listening experience.
SOFTLY rendered by BOJ, Fresh L and Teezee was rendered on an highlife derivative beat. One couldn’t help but appreciate the Fela vibe adopted in the song. The Pheelz-produced song is a mid-tempo beat decorated with cool lyrical coverings with an imagery of the African Shrine.
MA PARIWO which featured Lady Donli, another alté conveyor is a mid-tempo track which basically saw the lady rapper kill it behind the microphone.
KASALA follows right after with a moombahton sound and African vibes. The rhythmic flow was rendered on a supersonic ambience with no room for slothfulness.
SALTY which saw the likes of Santi and Maison 2500. This tune can be regarded as an Afro soul offering with a resonating sound leaving it’s hearers wanting more.
‘SET IT OFF, BASED ON, I SWEAR‘ among others further show the lyrical spontaneity and peculiarity of this pioneering group. The icing was then delivered on the cake with the unveiling of baddo, Olamide in ‘Shomo’.
The structure of the project was great as they weaved through different genres like trap, RnB, Afro-pop, cloud rap, and even Jazz while making sure they stick to their alte sound. The idea of the project was to stamp their foot as the actual pioneers of the alté movement and that theme was well followed. This is a really good work from the alté group as they’re rightly positioning themselves at the middle of the spotlight and they have proven to have great prospects.
