YKB, whose real name is Yusuf Oluwo, is an Afropop singer and songwriter and he has just released his second official single of the year, San Siro. YKB spent most of his childhood in Ketu, Lagos, Nigeria where he developed an inclination toward music. YKB is gifted at crafting melodies and is a versatile artist. His music is a fusion of Indie, R&B, Afrobeats and Pop, which is evident on the melodious San Siro.
YKB’s new track San Siro is named after the Milan-situated stadium San Siro. On the record YKB brings together his effortless art of storytelling, merged with his hypnotising vocals as he sits smoothly on the production, filled with rich strings and percussion breaks. The track follows him as he employs hyperbole and puns in his expression of love for the special someone over the Finito-produced Afropop instrumental.
YKB is known for his tagline “Baba si won” which loosely translates to “the father of them.” With the tagline, YKB is exuding major confidence in his musical artistry. The subtle Amapiano infusion into the Violin-embedded Afropop beat which YKB obliterates with a enchanting flow add up for an insane replay value of San Siro.
The intro gets things going beautifully as YKB sings “Before I begin the explanation, Make I paint a picture, Make I write literature, Describing the future…for you Yusuf baby, baba siwon.” Later in the song, YKB uses a very clever pun as he sings “I’m already a bachelor so ka ma ba se lo already, Government don pass law already, Say your love no be crime, Say your love no be felony.” YKB describes the extent he is willing to go, just to prove his love as he sings “The amount of love wey I get, E fit to fill up eleven basket, E fit to fill up San Siro, I could be your number one hero, Till I enter casket.”
Innovative wordplays also add life to the song, such as “I need a doctor wey go cure my craze, And I fit call Dre but then, It’s only you that can treat me better” – a double-entendre on Legendary American producer Dr Dre and his 2011 hit-single I Need a Doctor and “I’m still waiting for your call up letter, If you post me, I no go redeploy” – relating to the mandatory one-year NYSC service done by fresh graduates in the nation, but instead of redeploying to a favourable state as some are accustomed to, YKB promises to stand by his lover under any circumstance. These beautiful innovative puns shed light on his incredible songwriting skills.
Listen to San Siro here: