By Emmanuel Daraloye

Afrobeats is one of the world’s most versatile genres. A major reason for this is the fact that Africans continue to come in contact with other cultures, influencing the way we see the music and the way we merge our music with other sounds. As the soundscape continues to evolve, producers are dipping into their bags to unearth new combinations of sounds that would resonate throughout the music scene. One of such producers who is dedicated to perfecting his craft in the alchemy of sound production is none other than Timilehin Atunbi, also known as Raphbeatz.

It’s no surprise that his discography has continued to expand because of this. His journey to leave his mark within the African music space has led him to release multiple hit records that have reverberated within the sub-mainstream Afrobeats space. Raphbeatz shows his ability once again with Balogun on which he collaborated with Malik Abdul to bring to life. Raphbeatz’s delicate production creates a landscape for Malik Abdul to have a good performance on the song.

In recent times, we have seen the infiltration of Amapiano into the Afrobeats soundscape. For a while many Afrobeats producers tried to imitate the sound but not always to much success. Raphbeatz uses a different approach here. He only borrows some elements of the Amapiano sound to elevate the Afrobeats-centered production. Balogun is drum-heavy, and he lays the progression in a way that’s similar to what you hear at a typical owambe party. Log drums are used to create emphasis on the record, unlike a heavy kick which is usual on a typical Afrobeats song. Raphbeatz takes the time to blend these influences to create something familiar but still endearing to the listener.

Endearing is a great way to describe it because this song is designed to get you dancing. The combination of elements within the song make it an intense one that bursts the speaker and envelopes a room within its vibe. At 112BPM, Balogun is a fun, uptempo record that’s perfect for the nightlife scene and locations of enjoyment. Malik Abdul confidently relays these feelings with a strong vocal performance.

The singer is assured as he delivers every line on Balogun. Many of the melodies he weaves are in his native Yoruba language. But on this song, there are no language barriers because the song’s vibe can be caught universally. Malik Abdul keeps the energy up in line with Raphbeatz’s intense production. Balogun is as good as it is because of the combination of their talents.

Afrobeats is a special genre because there are many talents who are determined to go against the grain and create innovative sounds. Producers like Raphbeatz can provide the platform for experimentation and execution within the Afrobeats space, and this will make our soundscape much better for it. With his skills, we are able to witness the new, interesting perspectives that he has to offer, as he preserving the essence of the genre while pushing it forward. There is more to come from Raphbeatz in his journey to mainstream success.