Artists come and inevitably go. Their works, though, if preserved, can last on forever. The latter is the case for Nigerian artist Sound Sultan who passed on last July. The death of Olanrewaju Fasasi, fondly known to friends and fans as Sound Sultan, shifted the air of the Nigerian music industry on the day the news broke last summer. Many Afropop lovers, feeling the stab of pain, stared reality in the face: one of the icons of the country’s music scene was gone, forever.

Sound Sultan was a man whose sojourn in the entertainment scene spanned over two decades, juggling music, acting and comedy. His hit songs and timeless records —“Mathematics,” “Motherland,” the 2Baba and W4-assisted “Ole (Bushmeat),” the M.I Abaga-assisted “2010 Light Up,” the Wizkid-featuring “Kokose” and “Natural Something,”—soundtracked the lives of Nigerians through different eras.

 

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A post shared by Olanrewaju Fasasi (@soundsultan)

Mostly known for using his songs to speak against poverty, corruption and bad governance in Nigeria, Sound Sultan was far from didactic; the hard topics were couched in a softness that made for enjoyable listening. Recently, the estate of the late Nigerian pop’s everyman released his first posthumous release consisting of tracks recorded before the veteran passed away. With the release of new EP ‘Reality Chq,’ his family and friends have undertaken the task to keep his voice still ringing out on airwaves and, most importantly, in the hearts of his fans and music lovers at large.

On ‘Reality Chq,’ those qualities are present. Over five tracks, which were produced by Nigerian music producer ID Cabasa, Sound Sultan offers social commentary and jovial observations. The project is also a bridge that connects the past and the present, with Sound Sultan’s longtime pal 2Baba and new-school acts Bella Shmurda and Zlatan appearing on the record.

The lead single “Friends” sets the tone for the project. Over groovy production, Sound Sultan interrogates the duality sometimes associated with the song’s title. “I wanna let you know it blows my mind/Anytime I look around o/And I see you you you,” he sings, expressing gratitude for the people who surround him. When he sings, “I pray make thunder fire all my enemies yesterday/But today I no fit find my friend/See gobe,” it is easy to imagine the shock on his face at the realisation that not everyone close to him wishes him well. The song encapsulates both his befuddlement and understanding of the mysteries of friendship.

On “Siren,” Sound Sultan and 2Baba decry the political and societal state of the country. Sound Sultan places the blame on the laps of corrupt politicians when he sings, “And as dem don dey do funny politics/Soldier dey die for Sambisa/While dem pikin dey jolly jolly/Dey jaiye jaiye for Ibiza.” He and 2Baba call on the people to embrace their powers as electorates to kick out bad politicians.

“Follow me make I carry you to reality/ Take a break from the Internet and its vanity,” Sound Sultan begins on “Reality Cheque,” which features Bella Shmurda. On the mid-tempo track, he administers doses of reality to the listeners: money doesn’t solve every problem in the world and you should quit yearning for someone else’s fancy reality because you do not know the burdens that they carry. “Face your fears and conquer/Live your life, no competition,” Bella Shmurda adds to the list of dos and don’ts. The backing vocals join in too, ensuring that the message of the track doesn’t escape the listener.

“Levels” strays into Afropop territory but its theme keeps in touch with the message of the project: no matter your station in life, find the positives and lead a happy life. Zlatan is a fine accompaniment on the track as he preaches about the benefits of staying in his lane and seeking progress.

 

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On “Naija Na Wa,” Sound Sultan is exasperated about the poverty in Nigeria, which is exacerbated by harmful political and religious practices. “On top money no dey (Na Wa)/They come dey form mugu (Na Wa)/Government dey play you local (Na Wa)/You dey look as your family dey suffer (Na Wa),” he sings. The percussion-heavy track gyrates with an infectious melody that massages the harshness of the issues Sound Sultan addresses. In the end, Sound Sultan cautions listeners that only concrete positive actions can deliver the positive changes they want to experience in the country.

Jointly released by EMPIRE and Naija Ninjas, which Sound Sultan co-owned with his brother Baba Dee, ‘Reality Chq’ is a compact presentation from an artist to his audience. He is not here but his music is here, and the problems he addresses with it are still present and demand upright citizens to solve them. That, in essence, is the reality check.

Listen to ‘Reality Chq’ below.

Featured image credits/Guardian