Alright, so we stumbled upon The Men’s Club tv show on a trip with a bunch of dear friends. It was at the point of the interaction were we had completed our various catch-ups, tuning into whatever anyone would like to share about their lives giving advice or support where necessary.
Then, someone tuned in; The Men’s Club.
Written by Dami Elebe & produced by Tola Odunsi, The Men’s Club follows the lives of four far from veracious Nigerian men & how they navigate their mainly drama-filled tumultuous love lives.
Season 1 was jammed packed with some of your known faves like Youtuber; Grace Ajilore starring as “Naomi” , Sharon Ooja “Jasmine” , & tall dark & handsome; Ayo Ayoola starring as the wealthy “Aminu Garba” located in Lagos.
It’s important to note that albeit somewhat an accurate depiction of life in Lagos, The Men’s Club is just a bird’s-eye view into a very specific niche; the Nigerian elite. Upper middle class & above.
After you watch season 1 on Youtube, you’d get the exact picture we are trying to paint. However, one thing that is similar & accepted amongst all the socioeconomic classes in Nigeria seems to be infidelity in marriage. Pushing the scamming & dangerous boys will be boys agenda, as women found in this boat are quickly castigated & branded with the scarlet letter A.
Season 2 touches on some marriage customs observed around the world like, the marriage of convenience “keeping the money within prominent families, defunct of love & passion. Simply, an arrangement of commerce & how the women usually end up with the shorter end of the stick in these agreements.
You can catch-up on both seasons of The Men’s Club on REDtv or YouTube. It is sponsored by UBA & they aren’t afraid to plug this all throughout the episode. Just remember; WhoToldYou because; we did!
Not only does she make her own set; gathering props from anything in her grandfather’s closet to random household knicknacks. Kihmberlie also takes most of her pictures, relying on the help of a self timer & ladders when neccesary. With this, & a whole lot of creativity, she creates magical imagery.
The shoot below was inspired by a long saved Pinterest photo. But unlike the rest of us Kihmberlie actually followed through & executed it. She was able to get those angles by tapping her phone to the ceiling, & setting a automatic timer.
This other look down below, was inspired by Kihmberlie’s desire to look like a plant in a Terrarium.
Rocking her savagexfenty, she was able to achieve this look through the help of flowers from Michaels, a pool ball from Walmart, her mum & power inverter with some major hiccups you can read more about on her instagram post. What was important was she didn’t give up. Else, we would have never been able to witness this art.
Don’t give up on yourself.
Kihmberlie is based in California.
You can book her by contacting her at Kihm.berlie@gmail.com. Kihmberlie inspires us because she takes initiative to follow her dreams & actively shows us, sometimes, you just need a little imagination.
WE TOLD YOU
Sure, you’re mainstream but we want you in the know!
Prettyboydo’s highly anticipated new album Everything Pretty begins with a heartfelt prayer from his mom. You can literally hear the love. Feel the passion most mothers have for their child, especially as it relates to when Nigerian offsprings decide to pursue an unconventional life path.
What is unconventional to them?
Well if you are Nigerian and you are not a doctor, nurse, accountant, engineer or lawyer, then what the actual fuck are you doing???! We don’t think so…obviously.
But this is how you are made to feel. That said we hear the prayer fueled by the unconditional love a mother has for her child & her desire to see her offspring happy and successful.
“Pretty boy, ladies & gentleman understand, Pra Pra, Prim Prim, they can never get us, they can never stop us, you understand. No be by rolly no be by G-Wagon, Fuck anybody”
DO quickly picks off of where his mother left of with some prophecies of his own. This album slaps in your car speakers or with headphones. You can feel the energy DO is radiating.
“because your papa give you fine car, when you see us now you don’t us to well”
DO has a unique way of expressing a thoughtfully conscious narrative throughout the album. His critiques of the Nigerian government and the dystopian social structure are down to earth & relatable. Prettyboydo voices the thoughts of millennial Nigerians living diaspora & at home. The verse then slips into DO’s signature melody, as he flexes his vocal prowess.
“Trying to get my mother motor”
The number of flows on display in this intro is simply a bold display of mastery, 10,000+ hours spent perfecting his trade. The transitions from rapping to singing to rapping are flawless. The development of DO’s sound has taken a new sonic frequency.
Production is distinct, DO has crafted his own lane, and is not scared to let the beat ride. On the Motto alone he has no features but when you listen to it, you make think you heard one . You didn’t, that’s just how good he’s mastered his voice inflections.
Shawn Micheal
The track begins with some inspiration from legendary soca & dancehall artist; Kevin Lyttle “Turn Me On“. DO, ever the witty lyricist used many WWE wrestling references. He mentions several wrestlers specifically the emotional archetype each fictional character embodied. Giving us relevant lyrics with a hit of nostalgia. Prettyboydo sings to his love interest about how he desires to take her down the way the undertaker would, an unconventional yet effective expression that is tastefully relevant. With consent though!
Terminate
Bad vibes we terminate!
DO & Sugarbone team up on this track to co-create vibrant vibes the way only diaspora can. This track needs no commentary, checkout the video below.
This visual gives the world a peek into the life and times of the rapidly evolving counter culture. They say pictures are worth 1000 words. The vibez in this video leave us speechless.
Pata Pata
“I do my thing, yeah I do my thing Pata Pata”
Prettyboydo starts off again showcasing his signature sing song flow. Makes you want to throw up some finger guns & bust a whine!
The song has a smooth transition into his signature gidi rap flow. & yes! Most things are signature for DO because he puts in a lot of effort towards being different. It’s nothing you’ve heard before. Trust us. “Boom Boom Pow she want the realest G in town” (No Drama) presents duality, and versatility. This is an artist with multiple well developed flows.
Jargon
In no hurry to place his rap persona on the shelf, Jarogn is another display of DO’s musical prowess. He is the singular artist on this song, yet there is ample space for his multiple flows to support, overtake, & compliment each other.
Pull Up
“Only man I fear is when I am looking in the mirror”
Here we have another standout track with a feature from the Alte Godson himself, Santi. Down below is the music video, and the emotions on display are raw. Prettyboydo’s videos always tell a story, all while staying culturally relevant.
Rabba Man
We love to hear DO’s freestyle flow. The track is supplied with assistance from Esojay Luciano. Bars. Bars. Bars. In a way only DO can deliver.
Awilo (Meow Interlude)
“And all the neighbors they can hear us through the window, & now she screaming so I make her bite a pillow”
To be honest this song would quickly made its way up unto anyone’s “Adult Activities” playlist….if you catch our drift. It is quite tastefully vulgar. The balance between that & Prettyboydo’s lyricism is splendid. Unmatched.
DO’s use of onomatopoeia throughout this track is a trademark of his sound. Here we have yet another song in which we hear a transition in the beat & lyrical flow. It’s steamy, it’s loud, it’s passionate.
“if you wanna get some good daggering; her father called said she not answering, her kitty wet I said she start stammering, I give her good, now she start staggering”
About two thirds of the way through the song it happens. The atmosphere has changed.
“Girl you make a man mad for you matter”
DO is now ever so gently conversing to his lover’s kitty cat. The story captured & reproduced in this track is truly a capsule of reality. Many can relate to it! & it’s all conveyed by an artist confidently painting a picture with his voice & cadence. Prettyboydo is a storyteller.
No Wahala
“How you say you wanna be my hommie, go behind my back & you be snitching on me”
DO is making clear statements. He is not here for the drama. His primary focus is on amassing funds. He is aware of people’s shifty loyalties. He does not trust lightly. He prefers to avoid problems. A.K.A Wahala & we can all relate.
Chop Elbow
A traffic stop inspired freestyle that is full of grievances & vexations with the Nigerian society & government. DO recorded this song right after he was unlawfully targeted by the Nigerian police due to his expression of self. Prettyboydo seems to have fun with his music. He seems to prefer to express himself with witty intelligence & humor.
Check out the visuals down below!
Itty Bitty
Here we have yet another display of the intimate side of DO’s artistry. This song is comparable to his song; Meow Interlude.
Mi Mother
The production throughout this album has been a new take on West African Hip-Hop sound. Afrobeats the incumbent genre has now given rise to a new alternative scene of the culture. A new interpretation of the atlantic breeze on West Africa’s shores. Mi Mother is a simple carol jam packed with vibez. A promise of love. Macking! the way on Prettyboydo can.
Footwork
“Im a lover man & not a fighter”
We can hear dancehall & reggae influences in DO’s flow. It’s quite pleasurable -to say the least- hearing the cross collaboration of cultures within diaspora. The music would unite the people!
Footwork is a fantastic example of the genre DO titles his art: World
Usually, we listen to the music we write about as we write. However, Megan is too much of a problem! Immediately you play this mixtape, one just starts to throw some ass & throw whatever you were doing away!
Seriously, try it !
We tried it thrice.
Same results; throwing ass & rapping at the top of our lungs!
Megan won 1st place.
REAL HOT GIRL SHIT!!!
Yes, you’ve seen or read other Fever mixtape reviews from bigger publications, but considering the fact that THEE hot girl just released her mixtape on May 17th; we wonder, did those other guys really have the time to digest the art?
Who knows?
One thing we do know is, we know every single lyric by heart. If that ain’t digestion then we couldn’t tell you what is.
The first song on her mixtape; as Megan politely clarified, is
Immediately Megan introducing us to the Hot Girl, another alter ego of hers, not to be confused with young Tina Snow.
They both go hard on a hoe though!
From the beginning of Realer the listener already knows what energy & vibe the whole mixtape is about to be on. Hard, heavy, bars with an upbeat sound.
‘I am not signing for less than a mill/ if you don’t like it then fuck how you feel‘
The aura of the mixtape is a bad bitch that knows who she is & would like to be compensated accordingly for her work. Megan is braggadocious & she takes no prisoners nor does she apologize for it.
Sadly, Megan lost her ride or die & right hand man, her mother; Ms. Holly to brain cancer this year. Ms. Holly was Megan’s manager before passing. May her soul Rest In Peace.
Here is a video below courtesy of The FADER of Ms. Holly coaching Megan on her delivery to the lyric above.
Before you get the opportunity to gather your edges… cause they’ve probably been burnt up by the Hot Girl’s bars, she blesses us with a group banger! Megan is in touch with the culture. The song begins with a famous video turned meme.
‘I wanna do it cause it’s fun, it’s fun to do bad things’ then you hear the Hot Girl in the background coming with the delivery, chanting;
‘hood rat shit/ with my hood rat friends‘
& if you’re not shaking your ass or something at this point??!
You’re probably a corpse. Oh & Megan’s mixtape doubles as a pre-workout for the gym.
‘He say he hungry this pussy the kitchen/ Yeah that’s my dwag he gon sit down & listen/Call him a trick & he don’t get offended‘
Megan is the double entendre mavin! Did you catch all of it?
It’s one of the fan favorites on the mixtape. Sure, having one of the most famous artist out of North Carolina; DaBaby on the the verse don’t hurt. All of Megan’s lyrics scream a woman in charge, she knows she’s sexy & the shit. She wants her love interests to show her why they are worthy of her time.
Hey! She’s in her bag & his too.
Also, let’s talk about the water splash effect on the production. Straight eargasm!
This could be the new age Knuck If You Buck – Crime Mob. Not because of any direct lyrical comparison. Not that we would ever pit two bad bitches against each other, but maybe with energy? It’s crunk.
Do y’all think sonically T.I – 24s ? A reach? We don’t know. We had in house debates about it. You tell us.
Megan can also hold a note, sort of the way Drake sings on a conventional rap beat, so it’s not exactly RnB but it slaps all the same. It’s a vulnerable side of the Hot Girl. Through the lyrics she depicts a woman who can be a ‘down’ partner if you show her why you are worthy. A queen knows her worth.
Probably the most controversial song on the mixtape & this is because of the social media shenanigans about who wrote the hook. Let’s be clear. Megan writes all her raps; it what she takes pride in. Regardless, Simon Says featuring Juicy J was a match made in heaven. Juicy even dubbed Thee Stallion, the verse killer. Both rappers make lyrical raw booty shaking music. It was also a homage to Three3 Six6 Mafia -a group Juicy J was a part of-‘s Slob On My Knob
A$AP Ferg took inspiration from the legendary group on his song Plain Jane:
More bangers for the club or the gym! But real ones know these places are basically the same. To be honest, there was some slight body shaming lyrics embedded in this. ‘We teach girls to be in competition with each other’. However, the general vibe of the Hot Girl is positivity & girl power, so we are gonna one-off the questionable lyric on grounds of creativity & making art.
If you are real Hottie then you know Megan can go toe-to-toe with anyone free-styling. She does this on a regular inside or out her car with the music blasting. Her lyrics are witty, dominant & sexy. Running up was one of her many iconic freestyles that made its way onto the mixtape. You can literally dedicate your day to listen to Megan’s whole freestyle catalogue & remain fully entertained.
Megan comes in with her sing-song flow, heavy on her southern drawl in her delivery. This isn’t quite about the Cognac, neither is she the one consuming said beverage but the vibe is nearly synonymous.
If you listened to Megan’s last mixtape Tina Snow , then you know, Megan has an affinity for Cognac. You might also realize that she dedicates at least one song on her projects to her love for the brown liquor & the mood it puts her in. This time the cognac puts her in an upbeat vibe.
‘drinking Henny out the bottle/ let’s get ratchet‘
This was the single from the mixtape, & all the Hotties were able to call in to get a snippet of the track prior to its release. A glimpse into Megan’s marketing genius. As pledged Hotties we signed up too, only a few people were more hype for the mixtape drop than we were.
Double entendre queen; green for money & the color of the green Powerpuff girl; Buttercup. Her references are on point & super relatable.
Megan is not afraid to talk from a dominant perspective belittling the opposite sex at any chance she gets, lyrically. She is that girl! Thee Hot girl. She also got the inspiration for her mixtape cover from blaxploitation movies.
Steve Lacyis definitely a gem & if you’ve been sleeping on him; you’re just in luck! On time to put yourself on because his official debut album is out in 9 days!!!
Steve Lacy is brillant; & he has a TED Talk on how he used the bare minimum; his iPhone 7 & some simple instruments to get into rooms with equipment he intially couldn’t afford.
Through beats made onSteve‘s iPhone 7 he became a 16-year-old grammy nominated artist. Beats made off of Steve‘s iPhone got him on the likes of J-cole, Kendrick Lamar &Solange‘s radar.
He calls it “the bare maximum”. & although he has access to all the high tech equipment he could ever need, Steve Lacy still produced some songs on his 2017 Ep titled Steve Lacy’s Demo; on an iPhone, in the studio with his guitar under a candlelight.
Talk about setting the mood!
Looks – Steve Lacy is the first song off his demo. & it gives very Daft Punk-esque vibes mix up with all the Funk. Throw on Ryd – Steve Lacy ; perfect soundtrack for a long drive… & all other riding purposes alike.
Steve Lacy makes music for lovers. Dark Red – Steve Lacy is him professing his love a girl as he is about to be a victim of unrequited love. He voice is a beautiful soulful low register. & you can hear the simplicity in some of Steve Lacy’s beats as you get engulfed in his voice.
Fun fact: Steve Lacy is a Gemini. Not sure what this means for his music but on Haterlovin – Steve Lacy he repeats this lyric “just as much as I love you, I hate you” -on brand- over & over again to the strum of his guitar, making what sounds like a low tempo early 2000’s boy band rock group.
The good stuff.
One listen toSome – Steve Lacy would show the listener this man’s an old soul. So funkadelic; makes you want to go in a picnic date with the love of your life. At very end Steve show’s his vocal ability, belting high pitched note reminiscent of Robin Thicke.
Steve Lacy‘s Demo was a concise, solid body of work & all the songs could be married with one another due to its seamless transitions.
This could be why the California-native only made one visual to depict RYD/Dark Red; which by the way, he also produced using Garage band.
Heavy on the Gemini energy! Steve Lacy categorized his Demo as R&B/Soul.
Lyrics like “don’t need no approval girl you valid” assure the listener Steve Lacy would take anyone’s significant other with smooth lines & the perfect strums of his guitar.
Think we’re kidding?
Put it on replay. We dare you.
Steve Lacy has been slept on since his 2015 single; C U Girl – Steve Lacy. He proved his range & vocal ability; giving the listener 90s R&B & longing lyrics that would have the listener reminscing about their nonexistent belle or beau.
You’ll love to hear it.
Stream his debut album; Apollo XXI next week!
Support the artist.
Just remember #WhoToldYou
WE TOLD YOU
Sure, you’re mainstream but we want you in the know!
