Synths harmonising, “They try to put a hex on me/ they bring out the best out me/ now I’m gonna flex on you” warp you into “Unleash”. In the light of recent events in Runtown’s life—getting in another court case with Eric Manny Entertainment, and kicking off his own label—Runtown is re-upping with a shrug for the rest of the year. You can almost picture the smirk on his face when he goes, “We getting money call police”.

Setting up a new label with uncertainties surrounding his old record deal means Runtown may indeed have the police in his rearview mirrors. You get a sense of a Runtown who is going further into obscurity and out of public eye while doing the needful: making music that puts a cheque in the bank at the end of the day. It’s glaring that the story he is telling is not the victory lap; He’s still “smoking on the low”, pitching his tent with a muse in hand instead of the “many girls” in the wild—“baby bami nowo” (baby, please spend my money with me”).

Moments like this make or break any career. In the words of Kendrick Lamar, when nothing is a given, perhaps all the black man wants is a wahala-free “nookie” to keep warm from this cold world. If you have had a rough first half of 2018, “Unleash” is motivation to remember the important things so you can re-energise for an epic second half. Stream Runtown’s “Unleash” via Apple Music below:

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Toye is the Team lead at Native Nigeria. Tweet at him @ToyeSokunbi

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