Notice: Function _load_textdomain_just_in_time was called incorrectly. Translation loading for the wordpress-seo domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /home/bcm/src/dev/www/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6121
Love It/Hate It | Zikoko!

Quizzes

Stacks

Shows

Podcasts

Newsletters

Naira Life

Love Life

Hustleprint

Love Currency

Sunken Ships

What She Said

My Bro

So You Don’t Have To

Interview With…

Zikoko Memes

Jollof Road

Cholera Outbreak Update

Follow our socials

  • Love It/Hate It: Rema’s Rave & Roses

    It’s World Rema Day and the internet is going wild. After three years of dropping EPs and singles back to back, Rema has finally released his debut album, Rave & Roses to the world. For Love It/Hate It, we asked Nigerians what they think about the new album. 

    “If Rema’s mouth starts to pain him, he should know it’s my fault.”

    — Sandra 

    Rema’s Rave & Roses is the first Nigerian album I’ve listened to top to bottom without skipping since Made in Lagos. This guy says, “Another banger,” and means it every damn time! The transition from Divine to Hold Me, the banger that is Are You There? and making me want to fall in love with Mara, everything is just… so fucking good. Rema is clear and no one is seeing his back. 

    “Everything is about sex. I was expecting something more.”

    — Dike

    Rave & Roses is alright and the songs are sweet, but why is everything just about sex from start to finish? I don’t have a problem with singing about sex and mundane stuff, but with a debut album, I was expecting more. Give me an experience. Make me feel something. Also, the songwriting on this album is very mid, but hey, “Afrobeats”. 

    “Rema has invented a new genre: Afroknacks and I’m here for it.”

    — Moji

    If you thought Rema turned bad when Soundgasm dropped, then trust me, you’ll need to drink anointing oil when you finish listening to Rave & Roses. This guy is unhinged and I love it. I don’t know why people were expecting something deep and profound. It’s Rema! My guy is out to just vibe and have a good time. By the way, this Dirty song is for the girls that like to get on top  (a.k.a me). LOL. 

    RECOMMENDED: We Ranked Some Of Rema’s Best Songs

    “It feels good to see a Nigerian artist make sick music like this.”

    — Fidel 

    Not Rema out here dropping gems on this album. What? But you know where I draw the line? When he said, “Love is not a source of income.” I nearly spat out my water because who said it can’t be abeg. Love and income can go hand in hand, please. Rema, please allow me to hustle in peace. In all seriousness, this guy is incredibly gifted and it’s so dope to see a Nigerian artist make music like this. Sick!

    “Rema was deep in his melodies’ bag, but this is not the life-changing album we were anticipating.”

    — Laolu 

    I was really excited going into Rave & Roses because we’ve been waiting for it like for three years now. I’ll be honest, it’s not the life-changing music I hoped it’d  be. In this album, Rema had moments where he was deep in his melodies bag, and Addicted — a 1980s pop synth-inspired track — is by far the most experimental and the track, and I’ll keep going back to it. But I  wanted a little more.

    ALSO READ: On “Bad Commando”, Rema’s Superhuman Range Is on Full Display

    Conrad Johnson-Omodiagbe

    , ,
  • Love It/Hate It: Cruel Santino’s “Subaru Boys: FINAL HEAVEN”

    Alté hive, arise! Cruel Santino has rejoined the group chat. Three years after releasing Mandy & The Jungle, an album that cemented his position as a leading voice among a new group of Nigerian creatives pushing the musical thread, Cruel Santino — formerly Santi — has made a major comeback with his new 21-track album, Subaru Boys: FINAL HEAVEN. For Love It/Hate It, we asked Nigerians what they think about the new album, and this is what they had to say. 

    “Ajebo agberos, rise! Don’t waste this album” — Josh  

    Cruel Santino is the only one that can unleash both the ajebutter and agbero side of Nigerians at the same time. You listen to him and you want to break bottles but you also want to talk to your girl about romance and anime. This album is peak culté. It’s insane because no one man should have all this power. Is this the best album I’ve listened to this year? Yes. People may say I’m capping, but my question is: and so fucking what? Is it your cap?

    “I see we’re back with this pretentious shit. Alright.” — Khadijah 

    Fake alté people will not allow us hear word for the next one week because of this very mid album. Their oga may have changed his name, but everything else is still faux-intellectual rave BS. I listened to it because, honestly, I want to like his music. I don’t know where the hype is coming from, but 21 songs where I couldn’t hear you properly on like 18? Oh wrong nau. Old Nollywood called, they need their aesthetic back. 

    RELATED: Love It/Hate It: Asa’s New Album, “V”

    “This is the type of album you release when rent is due. Inject it inna mi veins!” — Tobe

    Subaru Boys for life mehn! I don’t know how he does it, but Cruel Santino is way ahead of his time. My brain cells can only comprehend like three of the songs on this album, but that’s what you get when you listen to an artist who’s experimenting with his sound. Now I want to listen over and over again until I actually get it. This is what good music is about and I’m soaking it in. The man did a madness abeg. 

    “Werey will not touch me IJN (Amen)” — Lara 

    Why does Cruel Santino like to play with demonic spirits? It doesn’t sit right with me and my heavenly race. His music reminds me of the evil Mount Zion films preached against, but my coconut head will still listen, and I will be jumping up and down to the songs. Please and please, this album is elite. But as much as I love vibing to it, I’ll never shout, “Werey touch me,” because na from clap, dance dey start.  

    “Gorgeous gorgeous girls do usually listen to Cruel Santino” — Ashley

    Instagram stories and TikTok will ban me from using songs from this album before next week, let’s bet. I can’t believe he made us wait three whole years! This album was totally worth the wait because it’s the most cohesive album I’ve heard in a long time. Everything just blends and no song feels out of place. It’s easy to get bored listening to an album with 21 tracks, but this man had me in a chokehold and I lowkey liked it. Hey daddy!

    “Cruel Santino needs to push himself with collaborations” — Uchenna 

    In my opinion, no one makes alté music like Cruel Santino. He knows what works for him and he has mastered it. But at what point do you actually reach outside the box? This album is golden, but the collaborations are predictable. The guy needs to work with people with different sounds. Can you imagine how much a Cruel Santino and Zinolesky track would bang? Santi’s collaborations need to come out for air once in a while. 

    CONTINUE READING: The Year in Alté: 12 Songs That Got Us Through 2021

    Conrad Johnson-Omodiagbe

    , , , , ,
  • Love It/Hate It: Asa’s New Album, “V”

    Asa is back. Nearly three years after her last album, Lucid, our queen of Afro-folk, soul, and everything nice is back with a new album, V, signaling a major departure from the sound she introduced us to over a decade ago with Asha. For Love It/Hate It, we asked Nigerians what they think about the new album, and this is what they had to say. 

    [newsletter]

    Laolu – “Asa making pangolo music? Inject it!”

    If you ever wondered what pangolo music by Asa would sound like, the answer is tasteful AF! IDG is definitely the main character on that project. So many details in the background of that song, and P.Prime the producer is insane! Deadass music for a Saturday morning with your lover. 

    Faridah – “If I don’t sing Morning Man and Show Me Off for a man before July, I might actually die.” 

    Asa, sis, is it a crime to be single? This babe used to make songs for us single and sad bitches and now she’s telling us to go out there and get booed up. What a betrayal? But what my queen says, I will do. This album is perfect from top to bottom. Asa, your shop will not burn IJN (Amen). Please, excuse me while I answer all the DMS I’ve been airing. Asa said it’s cuffing season. 

    Temilade -“Asa and Amaarae can break my back anytime, any day.”

    Who is this Asa? What? All I Ever Wanted with Amaarae is a madness and it’s especially good because, on paper, you don’t see it happening. We already know Amaraare is a bad bitch, but hearing Asa singing about wanting to break backs, omo, I didn’t know how much I wanted to be dominated until now. I’m rinsing the hell out of this album. 

    Chuma -“I’m afraid to say it on the TL, but I want my old Asa back.” 

    I love that my fave is experimenting, but I can’t be the only one who wants her to just stick to what she’s been doing for the longest — and very well if I might add. In a time where everyone is making the same shit, it felt good to know we had someone who would be a constant for us, musically. You don’t see Adele collaborating with Lil something on TikTok, do you? 

    Seye -“No skips. I repeat, no skips.” 

    I love everything about this album. There are literally no skips. I love that it has the makings of a classic Asa album we’ll play years from now, but also infused with some of the Afrobeats we’re used to. Also, the collaborations couldn’t be more perfect. 10/10.

    Dika -“Can’t wait to see Nigerian aunties’ reactions to All I Ever Wanted with Amaraae.” 

    I love V. Good Times with The Cavemen. is my favourite song off the album. I also think she came out of her shell with these songs and took risks. Like the song with Amaarae, All I Ever Wanted? I think our aunties are going to love the album until they get to that song. 

    Sharon -“It doesn’t measure up to the Asa I know.” 

    Don’t get me wrong, I love this album. My only fear is how it’ll stand years from now. Are we going to fuck with it the same way we do Asha, Beautiful Imperfection or Bed of Stone? I doubt that. I love that she’s experimenting, but this is a major shift. Let’s see sha. 

    KC -“A Wizkid song without ‘She tell me say’, mad oh.”

    The way Asa got Wizkid to sing and not add, “She tell me say” is something that should be studied in universities when ASUU resumes. IDG is a jam. All the collabs and solo songs slap real hard. We’re eating good this year, thanks to Asa. 

    Conrad Johnson-Omodiagbe

    , , , ,
  • Love It/Hate It: Burna Boy and Wizkid’s B.D’OR

    Odogwu and Big Wiz have given us hits before, so what happens when they team up to close out the year with one final song? For Love It/Hate It, we asked Nigerians what they think about the latest collaboration between the Grammy winners, and this is what they had to say. 

    Temilade – “If Wizkid and Burna ear dey pain them tomorrow, na me cause am.”

    The more I play this song, the sweeter it becomes. It has to be jazz, abeg. These guys are in a league of their own. While Essence became the biggest hit from Made in Lagos, nobody can say Ginger wasn’t an absolute banger. Come on! Now they’re back again? I will rinse this song until they both come to Ebgeda to beg me. 

    Amaka – “Nobody is seeing Wizkid⁠—musically and lyrically. The man is clear”

    Omo, Wizkid took all the shouting and gragra Burna Boy was doing on Ginger seriously because tell me why he decided to feature on a song and outperform the owner? Is it crack? He ate the beat like somebody eating for the first time after seven days of prayer and fasting. The real Nigerian goat. Absolutely love this jam. 

    Mayowa – “Forget Omarion, unnecessary collaborations like this are the real pandemic.”

    Let me start by saying Ginger was overhyped. Yes, I said it. Just because two of our faves collaborate together doesn’t mean the song will always slap. But when you see Wizkid FC and Outsiders, they will start acting like this song is the best thing since small chops. Everyone should rest. The song is very mid. 

    Kosi – “You can’t tell me Burna wasn’t dragging Mr ‘look into your eyes all I see is your waist’ on this song”

    We all know Burna was dragging Davido on this song, right? What else did he mean by “one man, two-man, three….don penkelemess”? Who is the third man? Burna has not forgiven Mr. Philanthropy and I’m living for this beef. Yes guys, drag each other like small gen. 

    Jessie – “Wiz, we are poor. Money can impress us”

    When Wizkid said “I neva see person wey fit use money to impress me”, I did not feel it in my soul at all. What kind of oppression is this? Ayodeji, people are dying. We are broke bitches in this household. It’s a cute song though. Not sure it matches Ginger or Sponono but cute nonetheless. 

    Ndifreke – “I want both of them to drop a collab album, but I’m afraid they’ll end up racking” 

    This track proves yet again that Burna and Wiz have great chemistry in the studio. Jah Love is True gave us a hint and this track just cements it. Now, imagine if they did like a Watch the Throne style album? My only fear is that Burna Boy will start moving mad and we all know Wizkid doesn’t like stress. Let’s see what happens. 

    Conrad Johnson-Omodiagbe

    , , , ,
  • Love It/Hate It: Kizz Daniel’s Barnabas

    Kizz Daniel has had us in a chokehold since dropping “Woju” in 2015. With new music and some interesting collaborations hitting the streets, we decided to ask Nigerians what they thought about his new EP, “Barnabas” for Love It/Hate It. 

    Sarah – His music has evolved, love it!

    Kizz Daniel’s sound is evolving and I like it. Just like Adekunle Gold, you can see that he’s adopting this new fusion of Afrobeats that’s very chill and mellow. He’s making the kind of music you’d hear from Buju or Fireboy. Music that you can just vibe to, you don’t really have to dance and shit. Pour Me Water could’ve easily been a Buju song. 

    Kayito – I hate that unnecessary The Cavemen feature. 

    It’s not the worst song, but if you’re going to do a song with The Cavemen, you have to make it epic! As a fan of The Cavemen, I can’t stand that Oshe song. Also, The Cavemen too should learn to say “no” abeg. Is it every feature you will carry your guitars and drums to? Maybe I went in with too high expectations.

    Wale – Why is Kizz Daniel out here singing about racism? 

    I like the EP. For the first time in a long time, I was like, “Okay, now I get why this guy is still relevant.” I appreciate the writing because honestly, Nigerians rarely care about the writing process, but I also felt like he was doing the most to appeal to oyinbos. But with all that is happening in Nigeria, why is this man out in the streets singing about racism? Skin is just weird to me. 

    Ifeyinwa – I need something new, some edge. 

    I’m tired of male artists singing about how they’re the best thing to happen to women since sliced bread. Kizz is a Yoruba man. Wickedness is in his DNA. Why does he always sing these love songs about all he’s going to do for a girl? I need something new. He tried to do it with F**k You, and he definitely needs to do it again.

    Josh – This is the best record of the year!

    Last year, Odogwu, Big W, Tiwa and Davido all dropped albums, and this year has just been meh. Until Kizz Daniel changed that. 

    I like the EP a lot! Kizz knows how to make hits even though most of the songs sound the same. 

    Conrad Johnson-Omodiagbe

    , , , ,
  • Love It/Hate It: Davido and Focalistic’s Champion Sound

    While we’re still bumping to “Ke Star (Remix)” by Davido and Focalistic (?), OBO has come again with “Champion Sound”. We decided to ask Nigerians what they thought about the song for Love It/Hate It! 

    Florence – “It’s not giving”

    I feel like this is the only amapiano song I wouldn’t dance to. It’s not giving anything. We shy away from lyrics in Nigeria but this one was too much. There wasn’t a single vibe to be caught here. Hate it, and Davido should start refunding everyone’s  money based on this song.

    Chelsea – “I’ll love it when I’m drunk.”

    I feel like it’s forced, but if I was drunk, I would totally dance to it just because of the beat. There’s a part that gives major “whine your waist” vibes. My verdict? I’ll love it when I’m drunk, but I’m sober now, so it’s a no for me.

    Chuks – “This song signals the end of amapiano for me.”

    It sounds like the taste of cow shit. I feel like my ears should be plucked off after listening to this. It’s a desperate attempt to recreate a hit song. Hate it so much! This song officially signals the end of amapiano for me. We can’t come back from this.

    Fidel – “This is a certified hit.”

    This song slaps! Maybe it’s because it’s still fresh and all, but I really fuck with it. Unrelated sha, but I think the amapiano thing is becoming oversaturated. Everyone is doing it now and at some point, we’ll all get exhausted. That being said, I can already picture myself in the club.

    David – “No one is seeing Davido”

    There’s a reason Davido is one of the best artists of this generation. He’s doing what no one else is doing aesthetically and sonically. This song just shows that he’s at the top, and no one is seeing him. No one! What if they drop a joint project? That would be insane.

    We know you love good music, we do too! Subscribe to our newsletter for access to the songs that fuel our crazy work days.

    Conrad Johnson-Omodiagbe

    , , ,