When Ajebutter22 and BOJ first created Omo Pastor in 2012, one thing that was very obvious on the track, was how naturally captivating their musical chemistry was. BOJ’s sultry, yet distinctive vocals and Ajebutter22’s smooth rap flow and wordplay, make them the dream team of collabs in the industry. In 2018, they released the first installment of Make E No Cause Fight, featuring timeless bops like Tungba, Amala and Taxi. At this time, the alternative music scene in Lagos was gradually taking shape, and both of them, especially BOJ, was one of the pioneers of the genre, exploring the possibilities of infiltrating the mainstream music scene with their unique sound. The EP was centered around their shared experience, with life in Lagos as a central theme, and the music deeply reflected this.
The next year, they stretched the capacity of this connection, when they collaborated with Falz, on Make E No Cause Fight 2 , introducing the rapper to their duo, the project was well-received. Boj and Ajebutter22 synced their predominantly alternative sound, with Falz’s spin on Hip hop and Rap in a Yoruba accent, called Wahzup music. Too Many Women and Rock Your Body, were some of the chart toppers on this EP, as the project took a quirky approach to spotlighting what love and relationship dynamics looked like for many young people in Nigeria.
Following a four-year hiatus, Make E No Cause Fight is back with its third installment, this time focusing on reenacting the original cohesion between BOJ and Ajebutter22 on the first project and highlighting this through the latest five-track EP. Like the first EP, all the songs on this EP are produced by Spaxx, who appears to be the third piece of the trifecta, cementing all other creative elements that brings the project to life.
The EP opens with 42, switching the initial digits on their first track on Make E No Cause Fight 1, 24. Spotting similar chords like the latter, the track is a reminiscent follow up of some sort, as the duo trade stories about how far they’ve come through in their careers and journeys. In one of Ajebutter 22’s verses he applauds their consistency, highlighting that “we don dey drop jams for ten summers.”
The next track, Emergency, is a classic love song, BOJ takes the lead here, delivering his serenading vocals and lyrics in laid-back, effortless fashion, pointing out that one of the markers of love, is showing up, like its an “emergency” as Ajebutter22 follows through with a love-struck verse dedicated to his love interest. Rora comes right after that, building off the relaxed aura of the previous songs, and playing into the romantic, lover-boy personas the pair are exploring on this project. Spaxx flexes his production muscles here, with heavy instrumentals before BOJ takes over the song. Unlike the previous songs, Ajebutter22’s tempo is increased, excited to convince his love interest to “relax,” convincing her to give him a shot, as his vocals glide over the melodic track.
On the only artist collaboration of the EP, BOJ and Ajebutter22 partnered with one of their favorite rap duos, Show Dem Camp, recreating the exact collaboration on their 2018 Palm Wine Music 2 track, Damilohun, also produced by Spaxx. Unlike the first three tracks, Sweet Life is more cheery, as Tec and Ghost deliver a verse each on what an ideal intersection of “romance and enjoyment” would look like, as the track is their first-ever in 2023.
The EP closes with DITR, an ode to true love, and the lengths Ajebutter22 and BOJ are willing to go to prove it. Ajebutter22 even references one of the most iconic love songs in Afrobeats, Ma Lo by Tiwa Savage and Wizkid, just to drive home his point, and in one of his lines, he says “I’ll give you powerbank when I’m on 1%,” analogizing his selfless act to the generosity and sacrificial nature of true, undiluted love. BOJ’s chorus is more poetic, convincing even, as it reaffirms the range of emotions true love evokes.
Leaning on their friendship, and brotherhood, BOJ and Ajebutter22 explore the essence of the five-year-long chemistry of the Make E No Cause Fight Project. This EP is a representation of their journeys both individually and as a collective, creative team. It celebrates their synergy.Although the project does not explore their shared experiences outside love and relationships, it highlights BOJ and Ajebutter22’s love for the Lagos-romantic experience.