One of the things that makes our creative scene so exciting is the way artists link up and build something potentially larger than themselves. ‘Files ‘26,’ the debut album from the Lagos-based collective Cosamote, is one of the most recent examples of this. The project gathers 11 rising musicians—Suurshi, Fimi, Tiwi, Jamz FR, Musta4a, Reespect, Amakah, Adebaby, Caleb Clay, Creen Caesar and Rozzz—giving lyricists and vocalists room to be spellbinding in their own ways, with the subtext of romance as the throughline.

What distinguishes the album is its conceptual ambition; the music even served as the catalyst for Michelle Ejiro’s novel, A Portrait of Atypical People. The record moves through the shifting phases of love, from the rush of new attraction to the eventual strain of commitment and the perturbing dynamics that can surface over time.

Early standouts such as “One + One” and “Sweetest Taboo” capture the giddiness and heady thrill of catching someone’s eye. Midway through, the interlude “Take It” shifts the tone. The song is a haunting ballad in which Suurshi’s powerful voice conveys the depth of its theme. By the final stretch, the tracks dwell on the harder, more complicated aspects of love and relationships. The novel runs in lockstep with this emotional arc through the story of Uloma, whose illustration appears on the album cover.

Sonically, the project casts a wide net, threading together Afropop, Rap, and R&B into a fluid, cohesive soundscape. It hosts a formidable lineup of deft spitters like Fimi, Reespect, Rozzz who flaunt their skills to a dazzling degree. The music is particularly appealing thanks to its entrancing, melodic listening experience and the way each artist commands whatever track they feature on. 

Projects of this calibre matter, especially in an independent landscape that grows more demanding by the day, as the game is rife with talents who are truly committed. What began as a creative experiment led by executive producer Oke “Emaxee” Emmanuel and his team to test how far collaboration could stretch, even with lean resources has evolved into a sophisticated spotlight for Nigerian talent. ‘Files ‘26’ is a validation of the depth of skill within the industry and a clear reminder of what becomes possible when artists are afforded space to build.

Listen to ‘Files ‘26’ here.