Since his seminal breakout hit song, the Zlatan-assisted “Am I A Yahoo Boy”, Naira Marley has surged precipitously to the forefront of the Street Pop movement, not just as one of the most prolific acts in the effervescent sub-genre but as a talent manager, having launched a spate of mercurial acts like Zinoleesky and Mohbad into superstardom.

 

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Following this prolific run in 2019, Naira Marley has only doubled down on peeling back more layers to his artistry. His brief stint with EFCC on charges of suspected internet fraud, spurned one of the most dynamic runs in Afropop history which culminated in the release of a slew of high-flying singles such as “Soapy”, “Mafo”, and “Tesumole” and the release of his debut EP ‘LOL (Lord of Lamba).’

Two years ago, in his NATIVE 004 cover story, the now Lagos-based singer shared candidly: “People say ‘Issa Goal’ blew me. People say ‘Marry Juana’ blew me. People say EFCC blew me. But it was me the entire time. I didn’t stop, I kept going. If I stopped after ‘Issa Goal’, I wouldn’t be here talking to you now. If I stop now, I would probably be irrelevant in a few years.” This level of defiance and self-assuredness is one that many people have come to expect from Naira Marley across the years. Now, it’s this same sure-fire confidence that trails the singer as he embarks on his most defining moment yet: the release of his debut album.

Released earlier today, Naira Marley’s debut album ‘God’s Timing’s The Best’ gracefully confirms him as one of the most compelling artists of the now. Across the 14-track project, he boasts of a stacked roster of guests, including Mayorkun, Zinoleesky, Jada Kingdom, Lil Kesh, Mohbad, Busiswa, and more, who seamlessly integrate themselves into his world. The album is also replete with gratifying upbeat Pop tracks, including previously released hits such as the Busiswa-assisted “Coming”, “First Time In America”, “Kojossese”, and Zinoleesky-featuring “O’dun”.

Stream ‘God’s Timing Is The Best’ below.

Featured image credits/DanielObasi

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