Before Qing Madi’s debut album was even on the horizon, she had already begun crafting her professional narrative, preparing whoever cared to listen for the fact that she is a Pop star per every sense of the word. “I always feel like I’m that person. I know I’m special, the type of music I make is special,” she said in an interview from January. Blessed with the right foundations – grooming by a mother who was strongly aware of the gift bestowed upon her daughter, enrolling her in ballet classes and fixing her in the choirs of the various churches they attended – along with an unwavering dedication to her larger vision, she has worked her way into the conversation of Afropop’s most talented rising stars. 

Hailing from Africa’s most populous country where the air is constantly charged and the people heavily constrained by socio-economic failings, seemingly unattainable dreams, uncertainty and hopelessness, it is rare to find a 17-year-old girl taking a seat at a table reserved for the small percentage of people who make it, especially in a challenging industry like Nigerian music.  But that was what Qing Madi set about doing: when her debut single, “See Finish,” hit the airwaves, there was a freshness to her sound, which leaned into R&B and not the regular upbeat Afrobeats sound ruling the mainstream charts. The reception to the single was every indication that another young superstar was on the rise.

If there’s one thing about  Qing Madi, every step she takes is calculated – and her first album was going to be her statement to the world, reiterating the charm and fire powering her idiosyncrasies. But she didn’t just jump into it. After her debut single, a sophomore record “Why” gained her a burgeoning fanbase for speaking on bullying, a topic affecting a large number of teenagers. She was nudged further into the mainstream when “Ole” featuring Bnxn arrived. It was the biggest step yet on her methodical rise to the pinnacle of Afropop and arguably one of the best collaborations of 2023. The vision became clearer with her eponymous debut extended playlist, ‘Qing Madi,’ accompanied by a deluxe, home to the Chloe Bailey feature on “Vision Remix.”

A lot has changed for the now 18-year-old star since then. Her previous releases reflected a somewhat unclear stance on her persona, exposing a gap between her perceived abilities and her embodiment of the title of Afropop’s’ youngest rising star. For instance, 22-year-old Ayra Starr’s signature appeal lies in her emphasis on age. It’s almost impossible to encounter Ayra Starr without being reminded of all she has accomplished at such a young age. Qing Madi, on the other hand, emerged onto the scene even younger than Ayra, yet this fact isn’t often emphasized—it’s almost as if she’s hesitant to claim the title. A perfect opportunity to reinforce her presence would have been riding the momentum of   “Ole,” to capitalize on the head-bopping “American Love” or the smooth synergy with Joeboy on “Adenuga,” and her immaculate delivery on DJ Neptune’s  “Honest.” 

Nonetheless, “I am the Blueprint” sees her far away from the hesitation, unearthing a far gutsier, more audacious energy. On the record — a solo effort with zero features — Qing Madi is bold, daring, self-assured and more than ready to conquer the world. It’s an energy that animates much of the songs on Blueprint, starting as soon as the intro comes on. “I know that I am destined. I gat all the potentials that they tell me…Sebi I can be what I want,” she sings on the mid-tempo JAD OH-produced record.  It is followed by a hankering for the Grammys at the top of her bucket list, reflecting the dream of one determined to leave her mark. 

As one would expect of a star her age, Qing Madi’s forte lies in her unending quest for romance, previously explored on  songs like “Ole” where she unfurls intrepid desires and lusts over another person’s partner; or the adventurous musings of a teenager drunk in love on “American Love,” or in the charged thirst for a blooming sex life with a lover on “Chargie.” In her short career, the singer has mastered the art of  wooing a love interest,  wholeheartedly leaning into one of the quirks of youthful exuberance and enjoying the intoxicating rush of love. With Qing Madi, the tingly feelings of having a crush take on a very intense form, while the music built around that feeling becomes a wholesome kind of group therapy thanks to her golden voice and gift for distilling the minutiae of those feelings into dance-ready anthems. 

On “Ali Bomaye,” Qing Madi is in her most passionate element, likening the mood to the charged moment between boxer Muhammad Ali, George Foreman and a revved-up audience edging Ali to take out his opponent. But she doesn’t mean this in a bad way. Instead, she sings happily, “You dey knock me off my feet like Ali Bomaye.” The song is enlivened by the  thrumming of  Prestige’s production, accentuating the warring ethos of this track. “Akanchawa” follows the same love path but her approach is straightforward, with no detours, just pure, intense affection. She remains steadfast in“Garden,” a song about wooing a lover. “A minute with me in the garden. So, won’t you gimme just one chance, chargie? Oh-ooh, see, I’m promising you nothing. Drop your doubts, and drop ’em farther,” she sings. The chorus is lush and moving, the kind that sticks with you after the first listen.

But it’s not always rosy in Qing Madi’s world. As much as love is a leading theme in most of her songs, she doesn’t shy away from being openly vulnerable about the pain that can hide between the cracks. Her debut single “See Finish,” was inspired by a debilitating friendship breakup; “Why” explored low self-esteem and bullying; and “Madi’s Medley” focused on depression and the aftermath of a harrowing betrayal. It gets even more intense on ‘Blueprint.’  

On “Feeling Alright,” she acknowledges the strains of survival, especially as a young woman in an often unforgiving industry: “On the grind you go sabi your place. This place woman dey turn to men.” It is a deeply introspective moment on the album where she directly confronts the reality of her journey. Then there’s heartbreak: “Damn It All” paints a vivid picture of betrayal as she sings, “If you let a man come close one time, e go drag your own… Damn all the time I dey play Mr nice guy.” 

The disappointment lingers in “It’s a Game,” where she questions her lover’s recklessness over a soulful instrumental: “How do you sleep at night? Now you know that everything you do affects me. Why do you act so wild, babe?” It’s a maturity that reveals itself in layers, showing that Qing Madi is not just about the love highs, but she has also experienced the lows of letting her heart yearn for companionship. Her vulnerability peaks on “Pressure,” where she casts all her despair on God, hoping she finds some comfort in the divine: “But the pressure, e wan dey killi me now. E wan dey killi me now. Holding Your hands, Lord. Make I no drag me down,” she soulfully sings. It is a raw, open plea that reveals the weight she carries as a young star navigating the wild world of superstardom. 

Despite the daunting agony that plagues these records, the popstar still finds a way to bridge the pain and deliver stellar mainstream bop on “Goosebumps” and “Favorite Psycho” a current TikTok favourite among her most loyal fanbase, and where her fame snowballed. Tuzi’s production prowess shines on the former as Madi’s vocals seamlessly float over the Bass guitar. The latter’s appeal comes from the “shey your body don see wetin you dey find since” line that has somehow graduated to a trendy humorous meme for the result of stubbornness in various relatable situations.  

When it seems like the journey is coming to an end, she solemnly approaches the PD produced “Right Here,” with sheer honesty and motivating clarity. “The money is not as peaceful, but I pray for you to have it,” she sings. She’s also keen to dispense some wisdom from her journey: “Popping bottles and doing drugs can be distracting. Focus on the needed and believe you gon have it all.” It is the final stamp on her story, the closing statement of an opening salvo from a young artist who has found her voice, her confidence, and her path. ‘I am the Blueprint’ is Qing Madi’s declaration of a refined identity fusing youthful exuberance, heartfelt storytelling, and the audacity to dream beyond boundaries. She is carving a legacy, and if this album is anything to go by, she is well on her way to becoming the very blueprint she claims to be.