A long time coming, but well worth the wait – LADIPOE rounds out the fourth quarter of 2018 with the monumental release of “TAP (Talk About Poe)”.
The prolific rapper debuts a solid full-length project in the form of a mixtape; a collection of ruminations from the mind of Nigeria’s very own.
The Mixtape which was exclusively premiered on Wednesday on the PGM Radio Show sort to answer the looming question, Who is Poe? Considering that in the past Poe has shown glimpses of his versatility on various features, often leaving fans appreciative of his talent but yet confused with the question still hanging, who is Poe?
And it safe to say that these questions only intensified when he signed to the Mavin empire in 2017 leaving fans speculating even further on whether his style will be diluted under the Mavin banner.
“It has taken me time to figure out what kind of artist I am,” Poe said. “A lot of people didn’t realize you could be Nigerian and be yourself. You can be authentic and eclectic. Now I understand what kind of role my music plays, and what it will be in the future. I’m filling a void left open in the Nigerian music space.”
Poe is in top form throughout the 10-track offering, showing off the full range of his talent as a versatile but established artist. On “TAP” he traverses several genres with finesse, including Trap, Dancehall, new Highlife (Palm-wine) and of course, hip-hop.
The tape begins with the reflective “Voices”, an outward expression of Poe’s inner monologues – touching on destiny, choices, life and the struggle to put art first.
“‘Voices’ marks the moment when I heard my own voice above the noise,” he said. “That song represents when Poe really started to talk about Poe.”
The first track gives way to the cut-throat “Double Homicide Interlude”, a lyrical killer featuring Ghost of Show Dem Camp, and a declaration of Poe’s independence when it comes to flow. “Double Homicide” invites the expectation of impeccable lyrical performances throughout the rest of the tape.
Other stand-out rap offerings include “Mood”, featuring a playful and relaxed Poe vibing to a BankyondBeatz bounce, and the soon to be sure-fire trap anthem “Win Win” – which nods to the brash bravado we saw on “Man Already”.
“It’s just a f***ing jam,” Poe said of the single. “I intentionally wanted to do something that would hurt your speakers. Win Win by force.”
There’s the occasional subtle and tasteful departure from the light-hearted, as is the case with “Hello Goodbye”– a breezy, melodic tune featuring Sir Dauda. This song easily tackles challenging topics like loss, regret and moving on.
“It’s a very personal song for me,” the rapper added. “It deals a lot with the uncertainty – but also the certainty – of the future.”
“TAP” showcases other notable vocal features from powerhouse singers Seyi Shay and Efya, newcomer Tems and frequent collaborator Funbi, and masterful production from IKON, Otee Beats, Duggie and Spax.
Each song has its own energy, telling a different story but all coming together for a cohesive first project from one of Nigeria’s best rappers.
Following the success of his first two singles under Mavin Records, the mixtape is a prime example of why we’re poised to “Talk About Poe” for years to come.
‘Talk About Poe‘ officially drops today! Get your copy here.
