The afrobeats star Joeboy, is riding high with sophomore album, Body and Soul….
- Photo credit: Emily Nkanga
Afrobeat singer Joeboy, famed for penning love songs which draw from both African and Caribbean influences, is back – and he’s clearly feeling the love. It seems the crowded musical genre of afrobeats still very much has space for one of its standout stars.
The Nigerian hitmaker’s latest album Body & Soul (emPawa Africa), which debuted on the Number 1 spot on Apple music’s Top 100 Nigerian hits chart and Number 6 on Spotify’s latest album chart in May is peppered with harmonies of love and light (Pun intended – Love and light is Joeboy’s debut EP – we strongly recommend).
Moreover, he has just finished a triumphant tour of four headline shows across the UK, wrapping up last Sunday 25th June 2023 in London’s Koko. If we were Joeboy, we’d be feeling pretty damn happy about life right now.
Clearly, the UK – as well as the rest of Europe, can’t get enough of his catchy good vibes live. His new album is garnering the same reaction. As the man himself says, ‘The major idea behind the album is the idea of love. Self-love, romantic love, love for family, love for life itself.’
Body & Soul, fourteen tracks laden with mesmerising vocals and infectious melodies, which reflect the Lagos native’s now trademark free-flowing lyricism and radiant rhythms, also features contributions from a who’s who of Nigerian talent.
Blissfully soothing opener ‘Normally’, featuring Nigerian up-and-comer Odumodublvck and Afro-fusion artist BNXN, sets the mood, before the title track and gorgeously joyful lead single ‘Body & Soul’ (already at over five million streams on Spotify).
Next is Woman, giving all the Amapiano vibes and featuring Oxlade, followed by delicate guitar-led love song, ‘Lose Ya’. Second single Duffel Bag’ is the one that will get Joeboy fans dancing with its infectious 808 bass lines – while the funk-laden ‘Contour’ covers more brooding territory, as he tackles betrayal and heartbreak.
Next, is ‘Wetin Be Love’ featuring Tekno where he muses on the dividing line between love and money, and then, ‘Sip (Alcohol)’ – Joeboy’s biggest smash hit to date, with over 700 million streams worldwide (it’s also the single that birthed a moment for most African content creators across social media –#sipalcoholchallenge ). Still a total banger, and what’s not to love about the fact that he once confessed his inspiration was simply being a “little tipsy” off some sweet wine.
It’s followed by two red-hot tracks with Tempoe on ‘Better’ and Kemena on ‘The Best For You’. ‘Halle’ wraps up proceedings on a rather spiritual note, with a hopeful prayer to the future.
Joeboy, who burst onto the scene in November 2019 with that stunning debut EP Love & Light, started to make waves pretty quickly, appearing on the #1 2020 single ‘Nobody’ with DJ Neptune and Mr Eazi (a hypnotically catchy single that bagged awards at the 2020 Headies as best pop artist), following up with his debut album, 2021’s Somewhere Between Beauty & Magic.
He was, we all realised, not a one-hit wonder in a genre that sadly sees a lot entries, brush with stardom and disappear just as quickly. The album shows true talent, substance and garnered rave reviews (Rolling Stone even dubbed it “one of the year’s best albums’)’.
Then, ‘Sip (Alcohol)’ went and exploded – becoming the biggest single of his career to date – meaning Joeboy ended 2021 as the year’s most streamed artist worldwide on Audiomack.
Before we go, it is worthy of mention that Joeboy has continued to prove, time after time, that he has one of the best recipes for a hit collab – Ckay’s Nwantiti ft joeboy went on to hit the Number 1 spot on music charts around the world.
If this intimate, personal follow-up is anything to go by (and it feels like he really did put his body and soul into this offering), he is set to remain a big part of the African – and global – music scene for a long time to come. From West Africa to London to Latin America, Joeboy, in his tantalising laidback way, is reeling music fans in with those crisp, confessional love-songs, through an Afrobeats lense. And we’re totally here for it.
See www.joeboymusic.com for more.
