Singer’s ‘African Bad Gyal’ is pure Starboy before he became Caribbean

There’s a new Wizkid song which just got officially released. It’s titled ‘African Bad Gyal’, and features superstar Chris Brown.

Wizkid reunites with Chris Brown on his new single off his third forthcoming studio album “Sounds From the Other Side.” The track will serve as the follow-up to the previously-released singles, “Daddy Yo,” “Come Closer,” and “Sweet Love.”

Over the exotic and mellow production by frequent collaborator Sarz, the two international stars show their love and appreciation for the beautiful women of African descent.

The song isn’t exactly new. Wizkid and Chris Brown have already had the song recorded in the bag as far back as 2015. It was done and dusted, the hype was already filtered to the press. This was at the start of Wizkid international campaign, where everything USA that touched him was magnified back home as a win for the continent.

It was new, and everyone reveled at the possibility of Wizkid going international. Back then Sony was still a distant claim. The fortuitous ‘Ojuelegba’ remix with Drake was still a wish. But Chris Brown and Wizkid had become friends. Something clicked between them, and they began recording. Sarz, who has been instrumental in giving Wizkid some of his biggest hits helmed the entire work.

In 2016, during Chris Brown’s ‘One Hell Of A Nite’ Europe tour, a video surfaced on the internet of Wizzy and Breezy performing. The song was ‘African Bad Gyal’, and they moved to the crowd with the Island-ready vibes, which was magical. Before then, they had performed it in South Africa together.

“I would always play the live version over and over from their performance in South Africa in 2015.” A fan commented.

“Love to finally hear a better full CDQ version without cuts. Breezy sounds incredible and just a voice that melts you. Owns any genre. Amazing single and Wizkid needs to hurry up with the video.”

It was one of the few highlights of a rocky 2016 for Nigerians. The country’s economy had hit a recession, and money was tight for everyone. Wizkid gave music enthusiasts excitement, and people called on him to release the single.

But those calls were not answered. Not immediately anyway.

Wizkid had to sort out business. Sony Music had made their move for his talents, and he was in the process of crafting a strategy for breaking through. Unknowingly, ‘African Bad Gyal’ was already in the bag, and marked one of the first international collaborations of Wizkid that we celebrated,

That’s why it is emotional for many fans. It’s that Wizkid and Chris Brown song that everyone was looking out for and hoping it was released. This was before Drake. Before ‘One Dance’!

And you could tell in the delivery. Wizkid and Sarz were still experimenting with fusing Wizkid’s delivery and sound with Caribbean sounds. The singer still had his intrinsic Nigerian delivery. Where these days, he delivers straight from Kingston, here, you could taste the gritty air of Lagos in his words.

It was the ultimate fusion of both worlds as Wizkid attacks the beat with lyrics which read like: "If you like Galala make you dance, if you like Konto, make you dance…”

There’s nothing more Nigerian than references to our ghetto music. Chris Brown’s delivery took right from Wizkid’s playbook. Some of my colleagues are still unable to tell between Wizkid and Chris Brown. That’s how integrated they were.

Subsequent singles have had WIzkid delving deeper into his patois, but with this song, Nigerians can hold on to the mid-point between the Wizkid of today, and the guy they fell in love with yesterday.

It’s beautiful to listen to. And you can’t wait to see what the video would become. Bring on “Sounds From The Other Side.”