Tunji Ige has a rite of passage in "Prince of July" mixtape

From last year, Tunji Ige began to penetrate the consciousness of Nigerian music tatstemakers and enthusiasts with an eye for good music.

Philadelphia born, American through and through with Nigerian parents in Pennsylvania, USA. From being exposed to music at a pretty young age, he has grown to be a creator of rap music, which has gained him recognition. According to Fader Magazine’s Carrie Battan, his style consists of “switches between rapping and singing, between aggressive, pitched-down vocal tracks and soft, breezy ones. Any gruffness is hedged by sensitive confessions and strong melodies”.

Tunji released his debut mixtape, “The Love Project”, which he recorded and produced entirely on his own in the basement of his dorm at West Chester University. Even though his equipment was normal—a Rode NTK microphone, an audio interface, and Macbook—he still amassed a collection of noise violations.

In April 2016, he released the “Missed Calls” album. July, which is his 21 birthday month, has him coming through with the “Prince Of July” project.

His best work to date, Tunji delves deeper into his trap-influence from Philly, where he introduces you into his world of sex, interactions with alcohol, flexing, and braggadocio. He never fails to appreciate his come-up at a young age, and all of these open up the mixtape with ‘I suppose’.

21 years old, with two 2 years of dropping decent projects and getting recognition, has the singer’s head  grounded in the hustle of America, with his Hip-hop lessons well learned. The ladies and the paper are the subject of a man revelling in his youth on ‘Throw it back’ (freestyle). The streets place their call on ‘Better’, with rising kicks and deep basses. There’s electronic party vibes on the vacant ‘Lost in translation (freestyle)’. More of that wouldn’t have hurt, but ‘Summer Love’ makes up for it.

‘Pounds (Naira, Dollar)’ is still the ultimate highpoint of this project, with the switches and delivery possessing an unrivalled infectious bounce.

With each passing project, the sounds from Tunji’s basement shows immense maturation and growth in delivery. Work still needs to be done on more lyricism, to give it character and width. Tunji Ige has gone from avid hobbyist to dream chaser.

Ratings 3/5

Ratings

1-Dull

2-Boring

2.5-Average

3-Worth Checking Out

3.5-Hot

4-Smoking Hot

4.5-Amazing

5-Perfection