Patrick Ezema, Author at The Culture Custodian (Est. 2014.)

Gyakie Balances Romance and Range on “After Midnight”

Gyakie’s After Midnight was named after the period in which most of the inspiration for its songs came—the moonlight hours when the world slept and melodies and lyrics in the 25-year old Ghanaian singer’s head spun to life. The songs it contains are similarly alive–bursting with the mellifluousness of a voice that persists six years […]

Patrick Ezema

2 months ago

Review: Burna Boy’s Ego Casts a Shadow Over “No Sign Of Weakness”

On No Sign Of Weakness, Burna Boy finally peels back his last layer of restraint, exploding with venom aimed at fellow artists, former lovers, fans and haters alike. If I Told Them… was a belated retort to those who doubted him at his ascendence, NSOW reveals his need to confront as unresolved. Burna Boy has […]

Patrick Ezema

3 months ago

Braye Bares His Soul On “I Wish I Had More Time”

Braye’s debut single on Spotify is dated October 2024, but before he mustered the courage and resources to release his own music, he had already immersed himself in the scene for years; as a songwriter, instrumentalist and more. Instagram archives show him locked in studio sessions with the likes of Tems and Amaarae, while he […]

Patrick Ezema

4 months ago

ID Cabasa is Connecting the Past and Present Through Reimagined Songs

ID Cabasa continues to walk a delicate line: crafting reimagined songs that are neither too close to the originals that they become duplicates, nor too far that they risk disrespect.

Patrick Ezema

5 months ago

The Changing Face of Nigeria’s Rap Scene

Amidst the big wins, the disappointing losses and the perennial problems resurfacing at the 17th Headies held two weeks ago, the win of Shallipopi and Odumodublvck’s club anthem Cast as Best Rap Single slipped somewhat under the radar. At the time of its nomination, the song generated controversy over its eligibility, even from other artists—it […]

Patrick Ezema

6 months ago

Five Key Takeaways From The 17th Headies

The 17th edition of the Headies, Nigeria’s premier music award, was held on Sunday, and as usual, it was a festive music event, featuring both freshly minted stars and music legends alike vying for their own iconic Headies plaque. It also saw the return of the many drawbacks that we must now assume to be […]

Patrick Ezema

6 months ago

“5ive” Is Davido’s Happiest Album Yet — and That’s Enough

To open 5ive, the poet Alhanislam recites a spoken-word commentary on the album and the man behind it. It feels a little pretentious, rooted in the same idea that drives artists to label every new project their deepest and most personal work yet. Yet some of it does have grounding in real-life events. Alhanislam hails […]

Patrick Ezema

6 months ago

“BlownBoy Ru” : Ruger’s Victory Lap Is Stunted By Tired Tropes

It is a waste of Ruger’s talents that he continually puts his skill to the most irritating topics. His breakout EP exhibited traces of it—“Bounce your body or we bounce you out”— but it was fair to assume these tendencies would mature by some combination of personal growth and executive oversight.

Patrick Ezema

7 months ago

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“5ive” Is Davido’s Happiest Album Yet — and That’s Enough

Review: Burna Boy’s Ego Casts a Shadow Over “No Sign Of Weakness”

Braye Bares His Soul On “I Wish I Had More Time”

ID Cabasa is Connecting the Past and Present Through Reimagined Songs

The Changing Face of Nigeria’s Rap Scene

Gyakie Balances Romance and Range on “After Midnight”

Review: Burna Boy’s Ego Casts a Shadow Over “No Sign Of Weakness”

Braye Bares His Soul On “I Wish I Had More Time”

ID Cabasa is Connecting the Past and Present Through Reimagined Songs

The Changing Face of Nigeria’s Rap Scene

Five Key Takeaways From The 17th Headies

“5ive” Is Davido’s Happiest Album Yet — and That’s Enough

“BlownBoy Ru” : Ruger’s Victory Lap Is Stunted By Tired Tropes

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