Disc Jockeys have always been a key member of the Nigerian music industry. Long before artistes started using music producers for music production, DJs were the one to give them a beat. For hip-hop lovers, they would remember that in the early years of the music genre, the DJ gave rappers a beat they would freestyle to. The days of battle rappers, artiste exhibiting their skill and prowess.

Things later changed with the advent of music producers and a lot of production software, yet the DJs kept themselves in the business. They started dropping mixtapes of songs released over a period of time, later, they began churning out mixtapes for artistes, labels and regions.

In Nigeria, the likes of veteran DJ Jimmy Jatt, DJ Humility, DJ Walex and others were releasing mixtapes. The popular Alaba international market became a distribution channel to other parts of Nigeria. Since the beginning of the 2020s, things have changed for good with DJs now exploring distribution channels for their mixtape.

DJ Mankind, the Nigerian born DJ has been releasing a number of mixtapes since the beginning of the year, unlike others, his mixtapes target underground artiste. With over 200 million people in Nigeria and the youths forming the majority of this population, there is no doubt that the number of artistes that sing increases by the day.

The DJ whose real name is Gbenga Peter Makinde released a brand new mixtape on October 22, 2024, he titled it “Ultimate Soundwave.” It was released under Amebo Loaded Worldwide, R.B Entertainment, DJ Sunny Slim Entertainment. It features DJ Sfresh, Rude Bone, Biggy Khali. DJ Sunny Slim, Rude Bone, Biggy Khali served as the executive producer of the mixtape.

The mixtape is just three minutes short of half an hour with tracks Fall to Rise – Ayabecca ft A6ixx, Like – SaintOdeba ft A6ixx, Gbese – Ellizzee ft Yomi boss, Spokegizzy, Breath Of Life – Bmelemu ft Lucky Gee, Philomina – Munaachucks ft Kel Cypha,Vex For Me – Viighoo ft Louspeeka, Kel Cypha, Faraway – DJ Sfresh ft Khing SB, Urgent 2k – DJ Sfresh ft Kel Cypha, Smooth Criminal – DJ Sfresh ft A6ixx, Closer – DJ Mankind ft. Mide Troy & Dee, Jo – DJ Mankind ft. Mide Troy & Andre, Girl Your Body Calling – Biggy ft Loudspeeka, Xchizzy, Pressure – Angela Utsu ft Warship, Dance Like A Butterfly – Rudebone, Madiba – Biggy Khali ft Logicx, Oroma – Biggy Khali, Listen – Biggy Khali x Fewa, Soyaiya – Ayabecca ft Spoke Gizzy, Blessings – SpokeGizzy, Mary Jane – DJ Mankind ft. Tyther, Flykid & Bolu, Won N Be – DJ Mankind ft. Spy B, Leave – DJ Mankind ft Tinnyzee, Material – Rudebone & DJ Kunsept,Comments Section – Rudebone & Terry G, and Bandana – Rudebone & DJ Kunsept.

One of the impressive traits of this EP remains the dynamic mixture of the songs. DJ Mankind even featured tracks from fellow DJs. Tracks like Faraway – DJ Sfresh ft Khing SB, Urgent 2k – DJ Sfresh ft Kel Cypha, Smooth Criminal – DJ Sfresh ft A6ixx and others were songs from the world class DJ Sfresh who has also been an integral part of artistes who have been offerings platforms to yet to be known artistes. The song from DJ Sfresh swirl between love and party with the featured artistes showing off their creative output.

Record label boss, singer, songwriter and eccentric performer, Biggy Khali’s arrays of song also got spotlighted on this mixtape with DJ Mankind putting the songs to good use with his impeccable sound mixing. Songs like Girl Your Body Calling – Biggy ft Loudspeeka, Xchizzy, Madiba – Biggy Khali ft Logicx, Oroma – Biggy Khali, Listen – Biggy Khali x Fewa. For instance, a track like “Oroma,” would always elicit excitement from the listeners. The bounce, finesse lyrics and highly percussive instrumental would stand it out.

Popular Afrobeats superstar, Terry G got a spot alongside the maverick Rudebone on “Comment Section”. Beyond Terry G, DJ Mankind also highlighted other songs from Rudebone like Bandana – Rudebone & DJ Kunsept and Material – Rudebone & DJ Kunsept.

On “Ultimate Soundwave,” DJ Mankind became a sonic chef as he mixed a lot of tracks, skillfully looking out for the track sequencing. When the track starts off with a shout out from Davido’s ally Dremo, an Hausa song comes up, the up-tempo track opens a vista to the mixtape. It is a rolling stream of percussion, a heavy one at that. It’s swiftly followed by a trap production with A6ixx blazing through with some free flowing stream of thought.

On this mixtape, DJ Mankind deliberately keeps the track between the sixty second and ninety second mark. The tracks swirl between love, life and party with occasional shout out from artistes and fans of the DJ. One peculiar trait of this DJ is his innate ability to switch between music genres. Although Afrobeats and Hip-Hop remain the most dominant genre yet, slices of R&B, Dancehall are scattered on the project.

The DJ beautifully mixes the genre, and at the end of the spin, you are bound to repeat it. With Afrobeats geared for global growth, it is important to give a helping hand to underground artistes, right now, DJ Mankind is doing just that. He deserves all the encouragement he can get, perhaps, other budding and established DJs would be inspired by this.