By Emmanuel “Waziri” Okoro

Love and romance have always occupied an interesting space in Afro-Pop. At its best, the genre turns the ordinary business of yearning and longing into something larger. On typical Afro-Pop songs about love, one is bound to either hear a serenade, a boast, or sometimes just an excuse to flirt. As such, Afro-pop has never been short of men who have sung about the women who have captivated their attention.

Viighoo (real name Emovigho Mukoro Ovayaro) approaches that familiar terrain with a bit of mischief on “Right There”, from his project, The Sound of Hustle. It is a mid-tempo bop that blends an Alté-leaning drum bounce with faint chord flourishes into an easy-going rhythmic pocket.

Beyond his artistry as a vocalist, Viighoo has also built a name for himself behind the boards as a sound mixer and producer, and his fingerprints on the industry go beyond his own discography. His ear for detail and his insistence on getting a mix exactly right have made him a trusted collaborator for other artistes and producers alike, and that same precision shows in how deliberately “Right There” is put together. He raps his way through the verses, using the song to admire, tease, and reassure his love interest in equal measure.

His lyrics are deliberately playful, often leaning on Nigerian slang, sexual innuendo, and oddball references to make his attraction feel personal and specific. “I love the figure 8, yeah that’s the perfect size”, he says early on, before following it with “I dey try catch up with you, I don pick up”. There is a noticeable looseness to these bars that makes “Right There” feel like a man who simply enjoys the opportunity to impress a woman he really likes.

The chorus, sung rather than rapped, provides the necessary contrast. “If you need someone to talk to / I can be right there for you” strips away some of the bravado of the verses and presents Viighoo as a dependable lover.

But “Right There” is still very much a sensual record, and the repeated “Bam bam bigger, I go be your healer” quickly gears the promise of emotional availability towards something more physical. It is this combination of tenderness and sexual confidence that keeps the song rooted in the familiar Afro-pop romance canon.

Viighoo achieves three things on the record: make his muse feel beautiful, keep a composed demeanour, and let the music handle the rest. As such, the song is an uncomplicated expression of desire and affection; cheeky enough to flirt, but warm enough to mean it.

But much more than that, “Right There” positions Viighoo as an artiste worth keeping an eye on. It captures the easy confidence, playful writing, and melodic sensibility that make The Sound of Hustle an intriguing listen, suggesting there is more to his artistry than the immediate appeal of a catchy bop. If this record is anything to go by, Viighoo is steadily finding his voice and carving out a space of his own.

Rating: 7.6/10

Emmanuel “Waziri” Okoro is a Nigerian writer and journo with an insatiable knack for music and pop culture, with his works referenced or published on Afrocritik, PM News, Tribune, Zikoko, The Sun, ThisDay, Vanguard, Culture Custodian, DigiMillennials, and The Guardian. When he’s not writing, you will find him arguing why Arsenal FC is the best football club in the multiverse. Connect with him on Twitter, Instagram, and Threads: @BughiLorde.