By Chinonso Ihekire
Moody hums and piano chords open “Humanity” with a deft intrigue that grips one from the jump. The latest record from Nigerian musician Iseay, born Israel Eluwoyin, is another fine attempt at alternative RnB-pop fusion that stands out with its own emotional ambience.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re black or white/ It doesn’t matter if you’re red or brown/ It doesn’t matter if you live in places near the sky/ Or you’re living where the heaven raining ice/ First of all I’m human/ Blood and water passing through my veins/ Then, I’m human; so love your neighbour as you love yourself,” Iseay’s lyrics establish the direction and mood of the song as his sombre baritone booms over lo-fi chords.
With a didactic, faith-inspired message central to the lyrics, Iseay presents an inspiring soundpiece that celebrates the fragility, nobility and ability of humans. It’s a wake up call to service, with love as the overall north star in our pursuit of peaceful co-existence across the world.
A well-timed beat drop just around the first minute switches up the record into a Hip Hop terrain, as Iseay sing-raps across pockets of the track. It transitions the song from a melancholic to bubbly groove, while retaining that reflective consciousness throughout the spin.
Apart from the song’s sonic architecture and the lyrical emphasis in the delivery, Iseay’s “Humanity” functions, overall, as a cathartic spin. Thanks to its fluid tonal drift from moody to bubbly, the song stirs both strong emotion and intellectual awakening. It’s one of those feel-good, morally instructive records that eases the listener out of overwhelm, while maintaining a balanced emotional temperature, experimental soundscape and enjoyability.
The production choices and mixing engineering on the track also elevate its appeal. Mixed by Iseay himself, with production handled by Dizzla D Beats, “Humanity” thrives on the simplicity and intentionality that a lo-fi RnB-Pop-Hip Hop fusion like this requires. From hollow chords to slow drum kicks, the vocals sync seamlessly with every portion of the beat, preserving the moodiness of the song. Soft ghost notes, echoed choruses, looping chords and emotive delivery are mosaiced together to deliver a music masterpiece.
Overall, “Humanity” works as a mood-stabilizing, inspirational and deeply resonant tune that instantly charms the listener at first listen. Its ample production and engineering propel it as a very immersive and cathartic spin still sprawling with shock and replay value. It’s a niche sound, especially within Nigeria’s broader music mainstream; but its appeal lies in the satisfying nature of its execution.
Iseay, born Israel Iyanuoluwa Eluwoyin, is a Nigerian contemporary Christian artist from Ibadan known for blending gospel, rap, worship and cinematic storytelling into faith-driven music. He began his music journey in 2011 as a secular artist, later earning international collaborations in 2020 and working with notable Nigerian producers and engineers including STG Mix, TY Mix and Vtek. In 2024, after a conversion experience, he transitioned fully into contemporary gospel, using his music as a tool for purpose, worship and global impact.
