Since he rose to fame with 2014’s “Gallardo,” Runtown has established himself as one of the most impactful acts of his generation. His 2016 classic, “Mad Over You,” is referenced as a high watermark in the genre, and Runtown has steadily imprinted his vision for Afropop through his ‘Soundgod Fest’  collection, a trove of albums, extended plays, and mixtapes that have marked all the eras of the Enugu-born musician’s journey in the music industry. 

Three years ago, Runtown released ‘Signs,’ a quickfire follow-up to the highly collaborative ‘SoundGod Fest Reloaded.’ In the time since then, Runtown has retreated from public view, releasing only a handful of tracks and guesting on collaborations that offered hints of a clarity that has come with age and diverse experiences. 

‘Soundgod Fest Vol IV,’ the fourth installment of the ‘Soundgod Fest’ series, arrives following a slight delay that prevented its release over a month ago.  Across the six-track EP, Runtown sounds grounded, merging emotional intelligence with characteristic genre-defiant finesse. The EP examines themes of love, ego, emotional duality, and nostalgia with Runtown’s dreamy lull guiding the journey. 

The project opens with “Mood Swings,” a lush, emotionally aware cut that sees Runtown embracing the beautiful unpredictability of a partner’s ever-shifting energy. It’s a song that doesn’t demand clarity but dances with chaos—a reminder that love, in its truest form, is layered and nonlinear. There is a romantic dedication to a love interest on the balmy “Bebe,” as the singer describes the effect she has on him. “I pledge my allegiance to you my baby,” he affirmed. 

Some of the most downright inescapable Runtown songs have come as a result of his granular description of love’s effects on him. From “For Life” to “Do Me,” he’s mastered the art of layering those specific anecdotes that run through the intersection of longing and adoration. It’s a trick he repeats on “Dangerous Hearts,” a collab with UK singer-producer Mr. Hudson. Sampling Sade’s timeless “The Sweetest Taboo,” the record is reimagined in pristine fashion while maintaining the nimble mastery of iemotion that always made him a thrilling listen. 

Listen to ‘Soundgod Fest Vol IV’ here.