In 2020, Sierra Leonean-born, Ghana-based singer Skillz 8Figure became one of those artists no one could possibly ignore with the release of his debut EP ‘Gangsta Luv’, an honest 6-track confessional that merged dancehall sensibilities with trap-soul melodies, while staying true to his familiar Ghana bounce.

Skillz 8Figure’s musical journey is an intimate reflection of vulnerability intertwined with dark thoughts. Packing jazzy bangers with dreamy sounds, his irresistible songs are influenced by his vast cultural background. With roots in Sierra Leone and transversing across Ghana and Nigeria, he often describes his sound as coastal. Since then, the singer has been releasing new music, clearly improving on his sound with each subsequent release and amassing considerable fanfare along the way.

 

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Last year, the prolific singer released his stunning debut album, ‘After Dark,’ which found him continuing to fashion himself into a singular pop star, by leaning into a laidback, arcane sort of personality. The album presented a refined take on the positives from his debut while expanding the scope of his artistry in intentional and definitive ways.

This year, he’s only been working on peeling back more layers to his artistry. A fortnight after the release of his lead single “Delilah” featuring Kelvyn Boy, the EP titled ‘Phones On Silent’ arrives today with anticipation. The 4-track EP is mixture of R&B, Afropop, and dancehall sounds, presenting a cocktail of sounds while touching on topics such as spirituality, love, sex, and energy.

Opening with “P.O.S” featuring Yung Demz, a brassy anthemic number with catchy snares and drums, Skillz 8Figure’s smooth melodies glide over the mellow beat as he serenades his muse with lyrics such as “loving you makes me feel a different excitement.” Elsewhere on “Down Flat,” with hitmaker Kelvyn Boy, Skillz 8Figure trades catchy lyrics about getting his shit popping with humble wisdom underpinning his songwriting. With plaintive hooks and sharp verses, Skillz 8Figure conjures a formidable body of work across the EP’s 11 minutes run-time, while gracefully confirming himself as one of the most captivating artists of the new vanguard of Afropop stars.

Listen to ‘Phones On Silent’ below.

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