One year ago, the music world was shaken with the sudden loss of Mohbad, a phenomenally talented Nigerian singer and composer. In the wake of this profound grief, however, came a bittersweet gift – the release of what would go on to be his final project during his lifetime, the Blessed EP. Today, as we mark the anniversary of that release, we revisit this project, not just to review its brilliance, but to celebrate the enduring legacy Mohbad left behind.
Stars are abound in the Afropop galaxy, but Mohbad shined a different light. Through brilliantly rendered songs like “Feel Better” and “Ask About Me”, he kept himself in popular discourse, cornering the angles for a project drop that solidified his new path.
Blessed came with that motivation. Released one year ago today, it has eight tracks and features Bella Shmurda and Zlatan. These interesting pairings nod in the direction of Mohbad’s fuji-informed street-hop origins but also his tendency to really rap, which contributes to the distinct colours in his music. He’s surely had a fine run-up to this EP, so it was enthralling to witness his approach to this sophomore body of work.
From the opening track, BEAST & PEACE, which has Army band-type drums starting out. Very atmospheric, it’s like a dove hovering above a streak of dark clouds. Mohbad is really spitting; you have to love this reserved flow. Every word is hitting, the cadence is quite Reminisce-esque. “You don’t have to hurt me before you win” is such an heartbreaking line.
Mohbad’s singing never fails to be evocative: he studied the greats, you can tell. And you can see this in the second track, SABI, Mohbad knows how to take it to church; I wonder how much religion influenced him growing up. The violinist here was absolutely stellar.
These first two songs just sink you into a reflective, poignant, but ultimately grateful mood. There’s something about the musical quality that sounds like the aftermath of struggles and tribulations.
ACCOUNT BALANCE FT Zlatan and LA PIO PIO shut down clubs and parties that year, very bouncy, catchy songs. The mysterious feel of these drums are synonymous to the Lagos nightlife where anything is said to happen. ACOUNT BALANCE, many would agree, became the breakaway hit from the project.
Mohbad’s ear for beats is underrated. He’s hardly picked a bad beat throughout his career, and his understanding of their nuances also reflects in how he utilises his vocals. When he gets into that smooth-sounding delivery, where his vocals barely rise over a whisper, the richness in his vocals comes alive. OMO MI was a testament to this.
“Many people say me I dun too fumble,” sings Mohbad some lines into BLESSING. His awareness of self is beneficial to his music. His vocabulary is quite expansive if you peep it; he’s able to relay very conflicting emotions easily. Everytime he performs, he puts the merit of his celebrity under perspective, especially with the gory past of the label conflict. He’s willing to grow in public and that carefreeness reflects most especially on this song.
Having one of the best vocal deliveries in the game, Mohbad makes light work of the beat. When he sings ASK ABOUT ME he’s really about that talk. It’s remarkable how consistently evocative Mohbad was over the years. The female backups, golden. Great song, man.
The true brilliance of Blessed lies not just in its technical mastery, but in its raw honesty. Many have speculated that “iwo lo ma f’Eko le” (it is you who will leave Lagos) from Ask About Me. The repeated mention of being chased. By whom? Listening back today and judging by the controversies surrounding his death, it’s impossible to ignore the emotional weight this lyrics carry.
Despite the melancholic undertones, Blessed is ultimately a celebration of life. Mohbad’s infectious energy permeates every track, reminding us of the joy and passion he brought to his music. Mohbad delivers like someone who’s got something to prove, while for large parts ignoring the obvious elephant in the room.
Blessed EP’ saw an increase of 530% across streaming platforms in Nigeria in the weeks following Mohbad’s death and it is the first EP to get the No.1 position on the album charts.
In a particular week, he gained the No.1 spots on the Artiste and Streaming charts with ‘Beast and Peace’, while he held the most positions in the Top Ten position of the Top 100 charts with the songs, ‘Ask about Me’ at No. 2, ‘Beast and Peace’ at No.3, ‘Peace’ at No. 5, ‘Pariwo’ at No. 7, ‘Sabi’ at No. 8 and ‘Feel Good’ at No. 9. Such is a testament to the musical prowess of the young musician, who influenced the Street-Hop Genre massively since his entry to the music industry.
One year later, Blessed remains a powerful testament to Mohbad’s artistry and his impact on the music world. It’s a bittersweet reminder of the talent we lost, but also a source of comfort and joy for his countless fans. He may be gone, but his music continues to echo through our hearts, a lasting legacy that will continue to inspire generations to come.
Thank you, Mohbad, for the gift of your music. You will be forever missed.
