In its usual signature of crafting genre-bending sonics, acclaimed music collective, Native Sound System, is back with a double record to kickstart their 2023 run. This time, the super collective – composed of Teezee, Seni, Addy and Sholz – tag teams Sholz on this solo outing as a producer-artiste, creating two vibrant records dubbed, Cruel Love, and Vex. 

NuTrybe’s Tar1Q and Somadina exude a seamless chemistry on the first tune dubbed, Cruel Love, while Native Record’s Grime scientist OdumoduBlvck, Native Records founder and artiste, Teezee, and Chocolate ity’s Candy Bleakz unite for a hard-hitting socio-political satire on the closing track dubbed, Vex. 

While the funk-fusion Cruel Love soars with a sanguine and soothing feel, Vex leaves the world of synths and immerses itself in simmering sonics, especially matching Candy Bleakz’ Street Hop, with Teezee’s melodic rap and Odumodublvck’s indigenous grime (a style of rap popularised in the UK). 

Like in their 15-track debut album, Nativeworld, Native Sound System rehash their template of pushing boundaries with sonics, everly redefining audience preferences when it comes to African music. With this new release, Sholz, as well as Native Sound System – which recently inked a joint venture deal with Def Jam Records – is consolidating their efforts at becoming the apostles of artistic freedom in Nigeria’s music scene. 

Cruel Love and Vex are out across streaming services.