Kimilist’s “Bad Boy Diaries” Reveals His Romantic Maturity 

Ghanaian singer-rapper Kimilist has always believed in the power of love. From his early releases, such as Yawa and Bokor Bokor, the artist has leaned towards romance and the problems generally associated with relationships. But it’s all been on a lighter mode.

In his debut EP, Bad Boy Diaries,  Kimilist seems more in control of his love life as he delves into the nature of relationships in modern society, spotlighting in particular the duplicitous image of the bad boy in romance. His sonic style, emerging from  influences of Hip-hop, Afro swing and Alté, is conspicuous throughout the project, revealing him as a technically gifted artist who is equally aware of the complex musical taste of his African and non-African audiences.

The five-track EP begins with Own That, in which the artist explores his fantasies with a girl, his object of affection. His amorous advances linger in Come Closer, where he teams up with Larusso as they try to entice the lady in question.

On Peng Tin, the persona of the female lover becomes more pronounced through featured female singer Abbla Unique, as she engages actively in the narrative and takes turns with the “bad boy” to profess love. “papi you just know what i like/the way you hold a girl make me wanna be with you oo,” the feminine confesses her commitment to the love ties. Slower, a soft-rocking tune is probably just as its name sounds. Kimilist creates a freaky moment here, painting the picture of a erotic dance with his anonymous lover through the lines, “do it slower/just put it on me do it slower/slower grind on me do it slower”.

Kimilist’s guts are at an all-time high in Trophy Girl where he tries to tempt his lady to be a bad girl for him, requesting a reciprocation of the gesture he’s offered so far. “if you say you like me, you better come my way,” he says, encouraging her to be just as free with him as he is with her. 

Kimilist’s Bad Boy Diaries is available on streaming platforms: