Not every year ends with a bang. Some close with a glow. For Ogaga John-Owoferia, professionally known as OGB, that glow comes through “Lemonade.” The record feels easy on the ears but rich in detail, a warm, melodic blend that shows how far the producer has come in a short time.
Co-produced with Archie A and featuring vocals from Outis, “Lemonade” is OGB at his calmest and most deliberate. The song flows like sunlight through blinds, gentle, confident, and carefully arranged. There’s a soft piano line that anchors everything, a rhythm that doesn’t rush, and percussion that sits exactly where it should. It’s feel-good music without the shortcuts.
OGB has always been drawn to melody. Here, he makes it the backbone. You can tell he’s a musician first and a producer second, someone who knows what it means to play, not just program. The little shifts in harmony, the air between the notes, the way each section connects, it’s all muscle memory for someone who’s spent years behind real instruments.
There’s also the quiet chemistry with Archie A. They’ve built a partnership that feels like a conversation. Archie lays the bones, OGB colours the mood. Together, they prove that collaboration doesn’t have to be loud to be effective.
But what stands out most in “Lemonade” is OGB’s confidence in simplicity. He doesn’t try to dazzle; he draws you in. It’s a brave move in an Afrobeats market crowded with high-tempo hooks and streaming tricks. Where others chase noise, OGB leans into control, proving that emotion can be loud even when the music isn’t.
It’s also a fitting way to close out 2023. After earlier highlights like “KOKO,” this feels like the calm exhale after a creative sprint. It’s not just a song, it’s a snapshot of growth. The way OGB balances rhythm and melody, live feeling and digital finesse, shows an artist coming into his own.
By the time the piano fades, the track leaves behind something subtle but lasting, not a hook, not a slogan, but a mood. That’s OGB’s gift. He knows how to make you feel without forcing it.
“Lemonade” doesn’t shout; it glows. And in a year full of noise, that glow feels like progress.
Swift, Rema, Shakira Lead Global Moments at 2023 MTV VMAs
Meanwhile, the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) highlighted the evolving global influence of music as American pop star Taylor Swift and Nigerian sensation Rema took centre stage in a ceremony that celebrated both chart dominance and cross-cultural collaboration.
Swift emerged as the night’s most awarded artist, securing nine wins, including “Video of the Year” for Anti-Hero — a feat that tied the record previously held by Peter Gabriel for his 1980s hit Sledgehammer. The win also made Swift the first artist in VMA history to claim the top prize four times.
In a symbolic moment of nostalgia and camaraderie, members of NSYNC, who reunited for the first time in a decade, presented Swift with one of her awards, also gifting her a friendship bracelet. The singer, who was visibly moved, called the reunion “an insane and beautiful surprise.”
“I had your dolls when I was a kid,” Swift said to the group. “You’re pop personified, and it’s surreal to have you here tonight.”
Alongside Swift’s sweep, Rema and Selena Gomez made history by winning the first-ever Best Afrobeats category for their global hit Calm Down, marking a milestone for African music’s growing recognition on mainstream Western platforms.
Rema, in his acceptance speech, described the win as a victory for the continent’s creative resilience.
“This is for Nigeria, for Africa, and for every young artist trying to tell their story through sound,” he said.
Other major winners included Ice Spice, who received the Best New Artist award, SZA for Best R&B Video, and Anitta, who clinched her second consecutive Best Latin Video award.
