Features  

Review of Alpha P’s EP “King of the Wolves”

By Akinwale Akinyoade

23 December 2019   |   1:11 pm

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on WhatsApp Share on Telegram

Universal Music Nigeria signee  Alpha P may just be 17-year-old but his age isn't deterring him from aiming for a top spot in the music space. The native of Benin in November this year released an extended play (EP) "King of Wolves" which serves as his introduction that he is one of Nigeria's latest new…

Alpha P | NotJustOk

Universal Music Nigeria signee  Alpha P may just be 17-year-old but his age isn’t deterring him from aiming for a top spot in the music space.

The native of Benin in November this year released an extended play (EP) “King of Wolves” which serves as his introduction that he is one of Nigeria’s latest new talents to watch out for in 2020.

The 5-track King of the Wolves” gives listeners a taste of the artiste’s sounds and his “genre-blending” style that promises to bring whole new energy to the music scene. Universal Music Group, announcing their new signee (Alpha P) described him as an artiste bringing “genre-blending flavor” to the table. Born Princewill Emmanuel, the Benin-bred artiste will from the start, be considered Rema 2.0. His narrative will be linked to the Mavin wonder kid. His music, however, offers the opportunity to swerve left, be a man of his own.

EP Review

“Fayah” is the first track on the EP and one thing that hits you when this track is done is the band lyrics although you may overlook that thanks to the melodies, piano chords, woozy cloud string, use of bongo drums that the song employs.

“Fayah” merges the beats per minute and essence of 2016 dancehall music with afrobeats. The song’s climax fittingly lands amidst a collision of mumbles, adlibs and expletives.

“Paloma” is the second success on this song and hinges on the bars of lust. The song is saved by its producer London who ensures that it didn’t matter who is on the song, it gets to you. The lack of meaningful lyrics is a forgivable offence thanks to the afrobeat sounds and adlibed chants as well as the use of underlying guitar chords.

London’s fine production extends into “Radar,” a song which, yet again, plays into the subtle nuances of affection. “You’re on my radar,” Alpha P sings over a percussion-heavy song which borrows from Native American chants and Folk music. Even the very attractive sound that forms the hook on ‘Radar’ is very Native American.

“More” flits between two different sounds, emerging at the middle. This is a trap offering and opens up to melodies of alternative pop and spazzed out vocal strumming. The song comes alive on its hook and around, “More and more and more…”

The EP closes with “Tonight,” a beautiful song that has funk-rock esque bassline dominant in its production. The song might give you the feeling of listening to a 2017 XXXTentacion. This is not a trap song, this is alternative rock.

Alpha P clearly has potentials and given time will no doubt grow into his music. “King of the Wolves” is an introduction tape, and the artiste is – understandably – learning in the genre he has chosen to dabble in.