Ryan Omo grows and flexes his versatility on 'Ace' [EP Review]

In 2018, Nigeria - or a small part of it - was introduced to Ryan Omo on the 8-track EP lazily titled, 'Gimme Love.' While Ryan Omo was still visibly raw on that EP, his versatility and talent were on show with the sonic diversity and pristine flows/delivery that the EP is built on.

Fast forward, it's 2020 and Ryan Omo is considerably grown and more comfortable with the furtive experimentation that Gimme Love sought to project. His delivery got better and his productivity got more convincing. He picks daring beats and he delivers music on his second EP, Ace. This is most evident on the sonic zenith of the hook on 'Belema.'

On that track, Ryan Omo who was introduced to the world as a Dr. Dolor signee at Teni's Billionaire Concert in December 2019 starts off with the sonically pleasing yet nonplussed delivery. He sounds like Wand Coal, Wizkid and Rema on the verse, but on the hook he becomes his own man with something this writer thinks only him can do because it sounds like nobody.

The hook is built on a magical multilayered, sonically dense vocal experimentation on different pitches and keys. It doesn't matter what he was singing about, 'Belema' is one of the best Nigerian songs of this year so far. The talent embedded in Ryan Omo is exemplified by what comes next in, 'Orlando Drive.'

The track is an Alternative/Emo/Cloud rap as Ryan Omo seethes in the face of heartbreak, caused by a vicious woman. Built on guitars, Ryan Omo fills the track with spazzed out vocal samples that mimics melodies. If there was ever something as a befitting ending to an EP, it's 'Mena.'

When it starts, you're tempted to think it's an alternative track before it breaks into Afro-pop madness as Ryan Omo interpolates 'Guantanamera' by The Sandpipers with melodic, memorable hums. This EP would have been rated higher if the opening two tracks, the Alternative/Emo/Cloud rap 'Self Introduction' and the Afro-pop 'Need Ya' were as impressive as the final three tracks.

They're not bad, but they're not as excellent as the final three tracks. Ryan Omo needs to work on his album titles though - Ace is another worrying title and Ryan Omo is a curious stage name.

But overall, this writer absolutely loves the final three tracks on this EP. 'Belema' is a total jam. Of all the kids Dr. Dolor has been testing the waters with, looking for his 'new Teni,' Ryan Omo has been the most convincing. Nikita is two years ahead of schedule and Hotkid isn't up there yet.

There's a star somewhere in this kid, Ryan Omo. More importantly, he sounds like he's finally ready.

Ratings: /10

• 0-1.9: Flop

• 2.0-3.9: Near fall

• 4.0-5.9: Average

• 6.0-7.9: Victory

• 8.0-10: Champion

Pulse Rating: /10

7.0 - Victory