Luwa.Mp4 has always committed to the part right from the start. The rising singer and rapper presented himself early on as a musical chameleon who embodied the Punk ethos of non-conformity and a do-it-yourself ethic. If his fluid songs which mostly fused Hip-Hop with elements of Rock didn’t convey his message adequately, his outlandish fashion choices drove home the point. 

His signature mohawk and audacious fits earned him the “alté Balotelli” moniker as he also channelled some of the football maverick’s mercurial spirit. He’s kept that unwavering commitment to this artistic vision alive on his recently released debut album ‘punKstA*,’ a definitive and concise body of work that helps solidify his creative identity. 

Across the album’s 12 songs, Luwa.Mp4 expands on his auto-tune-drenched, sing-rap melodramatic multiverse, displaying the remarkable dynamism that has established him as one of the most unique and daring acts around. On the pounding album opener, he declares himself a “staR” rapping, ‘Apart from the fact that you ain’t got my teflon, nigga I’m the best and no one’s reaching me I swear,’ with the confidence and arrogance of a certain American controversial rapper-producer phenom. 

He goes on to back up this claim through the album’s 25-minute runtime, fusing genres like Punk Rock, Afropop, Hyperpop, and Rap with a breezy nonchalance while also making frequent excursions into Electronic music terrain. Arguably, the album’s strongest offering comes in the form of “pEEP My RIDE,” one of the few downtempo cuts that appear in the project’s second half. 

Produced by JTRN, “pEEP My RIDE” is an instant feel-good record that evokes some of the nostalgia of the MTV television series that its title slyly references. It’s the kind of music you want to drive around town with the top down to. “This is the Lagos living, ooh? (Ooh) / Yes, I’m driving in a Lexus, down Bourdillon Road,” he sings coolly in the record’s opening seconds. 

The first verse, however, gives a depressing glimpse into the shared reality of many young Nigerians, but more peculiarly, one that he faces due to his lifestyle and creative choices. “First stop I see police but they won’t stop me / Coz me and cyk riding in a big body / Only thing they could ask me for is a lil’ money / But they won’t tell me, “Get down,” they think I’m somebody’s son,” he sings. 

The follow-up lines paint a more frightening picture: “If I was in an Uber, it wouldn’t be fun / They always say I’m a scammer or I have a gun / Acting like I’m Jeffrey Dahmer but I’m not on the run.” It’s relatable and distressing, but like many great artists, Luwa.Mp4 manages to turn some of his most morbid experiences and moments into something truly compelling. 

After crossing the first metaphorical checkpoint, the rest of the ride/record feels more celebratory and less anxiety-laden. The song eventually transitions into the more boisterous “pAPARAZZI,” as he resumes making bold artistic choices and claims that deliver on the album’s title. However, through the sticky melodies and ambience of “pEEP MY RIDE,” he’s able to reflect on the price of choosing and living a non-conformist lifestyle, forcing a confrontation with the solitude and misunderstanding that accompany a path less traveled.

Listen to  ‘punKstA*’ here.