There are only a handful of contemporary Afrobeats stars who not only remember the sonics that soundtracked their childhood, but also attempt to revisit them in their recordings. For Kurrious, the young troubadour born Olaniyi Innocent Omolola, his emphasis on relatability and originality, especially in infusing his music with 2000s Afrobeats and indigenous elements from Fuji, has since distinguished his music as a culturally relevant staple in contemporary Afrobeats.

Kurrious’ discography mostly rings with a very distinct vintage Nigerian influence. His last compilation project, a 4-tracker extended play titled, “On The Road” is a good example of his heritage-fueled artistry. Combining influences from Afrobeat, oldies Nigerian RnB/pop, and Fuji, he creates a very unique sound that feels like a bridge between several eras of Nigerian music.

The EP opens with “No Worries”, a love-themed Afro RnB record that feels like a meld of 2000s-era Paul Play and 2026 Fola. “All I want to do is be with you (for life),” his heartfelt tenor tears through the soothing piano chords that give the song its nostalgic feel. He pours out his heart in Yoruba and English lyrics, creating poetic lyrics that emphasize his message. His delivery is similar across the entire EP, with “No Worries” setting the tone for the entire record. It’s calm, unpredictable, hyper-melodic, emphatic and also very Nigerian.

It segues into the Fuji-toned Pop jam, “Later”. He combs through his struggles with strife and unflinching ambition to be “all about his mulla!”, as he channels that old school 9’ice energy in his delivery. It’s easy to tell he’s an old soul, with how he mixes those slow-burn vintage Nigerian delivery style with his natural Fuji-textured vocals. His scat singing, rich use of falsetto and backing vocals appear as motifs across all the records, colouring them with vibrance and groove.

The EP continues with “Boya”, which arrives as its most charismatic and cathartic spin in the fray. “Boya lo ma dele o/ Ibi lo ma ku si,” he choruses, spinning the track around a centre-point of emotive intensity. The way he stretches some of the lyrics in the supporting verses etch the record with a very airy, uplifting and mood-lifting feel. It layers his delivery with lyrical emphasis, easing it with easy recall and replay value.

In the closing track, “Do Something”, he channels that Fuji energy even stronger. It sounds like a Pasuma-meets-Wande Coal type of record, as he serenades his lover in the groovy highlife-Fuji-pop fusion. The guitar chords in the song stand out, texturing his lyrics like “Obe to dun, owo lo n pa/ Sisi wey sweet, na money kill am o,” with a very dancey vibe. It’s very reminiscent of oldies highlife from the eras of Orlando Owoh and Fatai Rolling Dollar.

Overall, Kurrious’ songwriting and sonority stand out as his strongest pillars in his artistry. The Ondo-indigene who grew up in protestant church musical traditions seems to understand the subject of tonal clarity and resonance in each of his records. His lyrics easily combine Yoruba, English and Nigerian pidgin with a certain finesse that help them feel relatable, original and memorable.

As a contemporary pop star on the rise, he’s stealthily distinguishing himself as a champion of Nigerian heritage, creating timeless records that tribute the past and reimagine the future. His music thrives with shock value, cultural impact, relatability and catharsis, edging towards a delicate balance between introspective, moody and dancey melodies. He’s definitely among the front-burners of contemporary pop stars to watch out for this year.