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“Sui Generis” Review: Reminisce’s New EP Is a Gritty Fusion of Indigenous Rap and Fuji Rhythms

“Sui Generis” Review: Reminisce’s New EP Is a Gritty Fusion of Indigenous Rap and Fuji Rhythms

Sui Generis

Sui Generis reaffirms Reminisce’s place in the contemporary music soundscape while reminding us of the roots that anchor his artistry as one of the lyrical titans in Nigeria’s Indigenous Rap scene.

By Abioye Damilare Samson

Nigerian Hip-Hop heavyweight, Reminisce, might not be the first name that pops up when you think of Afrobeats’s global ascendance and expansion. Still, he has been a cornerstone in Nigeria’s Indigenous Rap scene — standing tall as the embodiment of street culture and authenticity — for over a decade. From his early forays as a gritty underground Hip-Hop artiste to his ascension to mainstream Afro-Pop consciousness, the rapper—with gruff Yoruba vocals and catchy street-inspired one-liner—has consistently pushed the envelope and helped codify what Indigenous Rap truly represents in a country often overshadowed by pop music’s glitz. 

After a prolonged hiatus from releasing new projects, his last album, ATSG, Vol. 1, arrived in 2023 with much anticipation, marking a seven-year gap since his most critically lauded hip-hop offering, El Hadj, was released in 2016. 

But in that time, the soundscape has undergone a significant shift, and ATSG, Vol.1—despite its departure from the raw grit and fluidity that initially defined his artistry and the curated collaborations with some of the most prominent new-generation artistes like Oxlade, BNXN, and the late Mohbad—struggles to maintain the visceral connection to the heart of Nigerian music that his previous projects effortlessly captured. 

With the release of his latest EP, Sui Generis—The Latin phrase which translates to “of its own kind”—Reminisce reestablishes his rightful place in contemporary music discourse. This time, he teams up with fellow rapper Vector, alongside young talents like Bad Boy Timz, Bahdboi OML, and Logos Olori, with production support from up-and-coming producers.

Opening records are a chance to lay down an EP’s values, and “Kupe,” Sui Generis’s lead track, wastes no time. It kicks off with a long dramatic stinger sound before Reminisce bursts in, guns blazing, rapping in his signature gritty flow, delivering his bars with the same unshakeable flow that made him one of the genre’s key players in the first place. 

When he confidently spits, “I have never served you none of those cheap flows”, it feels less like a braggadocio and more like a statement of fact—that his bars have always carried a weight that separates him from the other rappers.

Sui Generis
Sui Generis

The transition to “Ire” brings a shift in tone. Against a lush backdrop of violin and piano chords paired with a shimmering mid-tempo beat, BahdBoi OML, one of the most promising Street-Pop talents, contorts his voice to produce mesmerising melodies that takes center stage on the song. 

His catchy verse and chorus usher in Reminisce, who taps into his reflective side, rapping about his journey to stardom while sending a heartfelt plea to God never to be left alone. This blend of Reminisce’s storytelling and BahdBoi OML’s infectious hooks makes for a standout moment. 

It switched up to a higher tempo on “Up As Fxck”, an insistent and eminently catchy song that blends the street-savvy melodies of Bad Boy Timz with Reminisce’s knack for heavyweight delivery to create a club-ready anthem that’s both aspirational and relatable—packed with the hustle-driven energy that speaks directly to the streets. 

Reminisce
Reminisce

One of the popular signatory rhythms of Wasiu Ayinde’s Fuji song, “Awa Tunde Batinde”, off his 2013 album, The Message – A Classic Affair, opened the Fuji-inspired “The Ultimate” track, where Reminsces pairs up with Vector to deliver a low-tempo, sultry song. As Reminisce’s chorus starts, the song’s hedonistic theme becomes unmistakably clear. Vector leans into sexual innuendos, asserting, “6 foot for the third leg, opambata, yesuah! Do it for the culture”, which complements the track’s flirtatious undertones.

For all the thematic consistency that defines the album, a significant portion has Reminisce kicking back into his comfort zone. The moment the keyboard opens, followed by the talking drum accompanied by a soaring saxophone on “Owo”, it becomes abundantly clear that Reminisce is intent on exploring the rich nuances of live music production to evoke the essence of Fuji tailor-made for Owambe celebrations and late-night gatherings.

On “Sco Pa Tu Mana”, a title that cleverly references the viral phrase popularised by Ghanaian artiste, Patapaa, in his 2019 hit, “Daavi Neba”, alongside another Ghanaian sensation, Kawoula Biov, Reminisce collaborates with Easyscope, Logos Olori, and Bardbank on a catchy track heavily infused with playful lyrics and an irresistibly infectious beat that demands one’s attention and makes it impossible not to move.

In the Lucid-assisted outro, “Backshots”, Reminisce continues the unabashedly hedonistic narrative established in the project. The title alone alludes to the song’s provocative theme, yet it is Reminisce who ignites the track with his opening lines: “If you like choky choky, ama grab your neck”. The sensual intent is intricately folded into the lyrics, allowing him to convey much while revealing little. Lucid’s honeyed vocals elevate the track, enveloping it in a sublime harmony.

Sui Generis tracklist
Sui Generis tracklist

For all intents and purposes, the EP boasts consistently brilliant production quality from start to finish. The instrumentals are suffused with detailed finishing that makes Reminisce and his guest artistes flow smoothly with palpable confidence. Reminisce pulls all distinct artistes and producers together to make the album work in tandem with his vision.

While Sui Generis is less structurally complex than last year’s ATSG Vol. 1, it is steeped in traditional Fuji-pop influences, not as a departure from Reminisce’s gritty hip-hop origins but as a building block for a more expansive and nuanced evolution of his sonic palette. 

See Also
Don’t Hold Me Back

Sui Generis reaffirms Reminisce’s place in the contemporary music soundscape while reminding us of the roots that anchor his artistry as one of the lyrical titans in Nigeria’s indigenous rap scene.

Lyricism – 1.5

Tracklisting – 1.0

Sound Engineering – 2.0

Vocalisation – 1.0

Listening Experience – 1.0

Rating – 6.5/10

Abioye Damilare is a music journalist and culture writer focused on the African entertainment Industry. Reading new publications and listening to music are two of his favourite pastimes when he is not writing. Connect with him on Twitter and IG: @Dreyschronicle

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