Kaestyle’s “Stylish” Captures His Readiness For Takeoff

Kaestyle releases his long-awaited debut album, Stylish, a testament to his all-round growth as not just an artiste but also a person. Since his announcement by Keyqaad, Kaestyle has made a name for himself as one of Nigeria’s finest voices and songwriters. His track record speaks for itself. With two EPs and a number of hits on his hands, Kaestyle shows he is ready for the big stage with Stylish. The Port Harcourt-born singer invites his listeners into two worlds on the album. The R&B-themed Side A contains eight tracks and the 7-track Side B is predominantly Afrobeats. Each side of the album tells different stories and paints different experiences. Despite each side being polar opposite of the other soundwise, Kaestyle balances the listening experience, producing a balanced album that tells relatable stories and keeps listeners engaged from start to finish.

The album title Stylish supercedes fashion. Kaestyle describes it as an ode to his city Port Harcourt and how it shaped and styled him. He is a product of the circumstances of his environment.

Kaestyle opens the album with Bucket List, a laid back song which sees him promise a short but unforgettable Hollywood-esque moment to his lover where he ticks off her bucketlist; diamond rings, red bottom shoes, expensive lifestyle, 5-star living. The songwriting and the production on the song are impeccable. Lagos playboys have an anthem. The next song Cairo opens with: “Na this jam we dey use dey on the values and conducts.” He introspects on some past memories from Port Harcourt; run-ins with the police, his loved ones who lost their lives in conflicts and the heavy pain on his mind, hoping time takes it away. He passes a strong message on the song, calling for peace and an end to violence: “Many people take it for fun, but e no good to dey play with the gun.”

On One Life, he enlists Port Harcourt duo Ajebo Hustlers on a song about living in the moment. A late night solo drive on the Third Mainland Bridge is a perfect backdrop to this song. He sings, “YOLO, I have to enjoy myself to the max.”

Next is Misplaced Priorities. It opens with “Cana 1g, 20 thousand and the bandits no cease fire / Dem carry our sons and only daughter, but we call on Holy Father,” alluding to the recent seizures of cannabis by the Customs and NDLEA, while the government neglects bandit attacks that caused death and displacement of million across the country. The song protests against the government’s negligence on insecurity, police brutality and the overall poor quality of life in Nigeria. Within two minutes, Kaesyle crafts a song that encompasses the state of mind of the Nigerian youth and the hardship they face.

See Finish is a very relatable song for the average person in the dating pool in Nigeria. It looks at the dynamic of showing emotions or availability and being taken for granted by the other person, and eventually causing everyone to keep their emotions on guard. Kaestyle doesn’t hold back. He pours out his heart about how he was played and made to look like a fool all for taking a chance on love.

Kaestyle features his labelmate M3lon on To Me. M3lon sets the tempo for the song with an outstanding verse and chorus with Kaestyle picking up the pace. On the song, they press further on the dating scene; being played by a love interest, thinking they love you and you’re the only one in their life.

P.O.Y., a lustful song, plays next. Kaestyle only cares about the superficial features. He doesn’t care about what she brings to the table. This closes out the album’s Side A with Bere (Interlude) featuring another Port Harcourt creative Wizard Chan. It’s a mid-tempo song that reinforces the importance of music in fighting injustice and how it keeps us sane in the midst of everything happening. Side A of Stylish sees Kaestyle in his barest form. He lays out his emotions raw; heartbreak, grief, sadness, love and deceit.

Side B of the album opens with Eluwa, an upbeat feel-good song that mixes traditional sounds with Afrobeats, producing a song that will get your body moving. The song is a reassurance that everything will end up fine. Whatever it is, get up and dance, forget your worries. On the next track Baba, we get a surprise feature from veteran artist eLDee The Don. It’s a linkup of the new school and old school.

Kaestyle features his city OG, Duncan Mighty on Saki Ofori, a brilliant fusion of traditional style and Afrobeats. The Port Harcourt indigenes make a song for the streets of the South South, a jam for gyration, the club and the streets. Dey Go is the type of track you have on repeat to lift your mood. It is a “bad belle is not allowed here” type of song. If well-planned, Kaestyle has a December hit and club banger on his hands.

Mama is an apology letter to his mom for not chasing a corporate career as she would have wanted. He could have been a doctor, but rather he chose to chase his music dreams. It’s a potential sleeper hit on the album. On Differently, Kaestyle and Daviid Hart collaborate on another song. Differently is not just another catchy song with intentional writing.

The album closes out with Stylish, a song reminiscent of an 80’s production with synth. Kaestyle talks about the change in his lifestyle, coming from the trenches of Port Harcourt to living large.

On the album, he showcases his versatility, pen game, vocal ability, range with the beat selection and most importantly. These shows his growth as an artiste. Effortlessly combining R&B and Afrobeats on this album to showcase different levels of emotions and party bangers that keeps the central plot of the album is commendable.