LADIPOE is a battle-tested lyricist known for his suave flows and candid lines. With almost a decade of experience in the rap game, he’s still on an upward trajectory, polishing his skills and adding new tricks to his arsenal. On 2021’s “Rap Messiah,” he made clear his superiority, rapping, “Rap Messiah, saving Africa/Bearing all the crossfire/Still an all-timer/In the shooting calibre (wo).” On “Revival” off 2018’s ‘T.A.P (Talk About Poe),’ he fired shots at his detractors and termed himself as “the last of a dying breed.”

It’s album time for LADIPOE and he’s taking no prisoners. On “Shut It Down,” his newest single, he declares he’s here to shut down any noise or doubts about his abilities. “Album mode switch, DND to my friends/Stopped flexing still the movement is tense/I was alte rap then turned it to a trend/Don’t blame BIC what I do with the pen,” he raps. Produced by Nigerian DJ and record producer Sigag Lauren, “Shut It Down” is a fine example of Hip-Hop, with its Drill-influenced thumping bass and drums and hypnotic samples.

When LADIPOE isn’t preaching the gospel of Nigerian rap, he’s stunting on his haters and focusing on his grind, like he did on 2022’s “Big Energy” and “Guy Man” with Bella Shmurda, which was released in June. Other times, he’s laid back and reflecting on life’s ups and downs, like on 2021’s “Feeling” with BNXN and “Running” with Fireboy DML. Elsewhere, he places his attention on the opposite sex, digging for emotional connections on “Know You” with Simi and “Love Essential” with Amaarae.

On “Shut It Down,” LADIPOE readies listeners for his forthcoming album while also celebrating his victories. “Fucking shut it down down/Me and the man dem around now/Came a long way from the SoundCloud/See me controlling the sound now yeh,” he sings on the hook, showcasing his talent for melodies. Sigag Lauren’s production expertly blends Drill with Amapiano log drums, ultimately creating a catchy soundscape for LADIPOE to commandeer. This isn’t the first time LADIPOE and Sigag Lauren would work together; they had collaborated when Lauren had remixed LADIPOE’s “Jaiye” with Aluna.

As the self-proclaimed Leader of the Revival, LADIPOE is all about making lasting statements. With “Shut It Down,” he offers a whiff of what he has been cooking for his album—a project that he reveals has denied him sleep. While we wait for the album’s arrival, “Shut It Down” is a worthy inclusion to the artist’s catalogue.

Featured image credits/NATIVE