Edo-born singer Kwate recently shared his first official single of the year, “Usain Bolt (Speed).” The new single comes off the back of 2024’s ‘Shout Out to My Ex,’ his latest project that houses the semi-viral title track, which has found success on streaming platforms and social media. 

Lyrically, “Usain Bolt (Speed)” is a classic grass to grace anthem, with the Edo-native contrasting his modest upbringing to his current affluent status. Sonically, things are more interesting, with the singer collaborating with Mikaba – a fast-rising producer, responsible for songs like Davido’s “Awuke” and Ayra Starr’s “Gimme Dat” – who delivers an infectious beat that fuses traditional Hausa elements with modern Afropop rhythms. 

In a recent press release discussing “Usain Bolt (Speed),” Kwate explains that he’s particular about his approach to music making. Even though a couple of his songs have found some success on social media, the singer adds that he’s not making music that’s necessarily tailored to TikTok or other social media platforms. “Sometimes I think people end up trying to find ways to make TikTok-worthy music, or music that will trend on TikTok. And I think sometimes that takes the heart out of the music. It has to start with authenticity. If you can feel like an artist is being honest and if they are being true to themselves, I think that’s what we as human beings can pick up on, even if you don’t know them personally,” he explains. 

Speaking specifically about his latest drop, he reveals that the record was inspired by pain, recovery and divine speed. “It’s more than music; it’s a testimony. From coma to comeback, this is resurrection.”

Listen to “Usain Bolt (Speed),” here.