For years, the alternative scene (popularly termed as alté) has dwelled in the underground space, frequently excluded from conversations involving the acts at the forefront of the Nigerian music industry, as opposed to their more mainstream counterparts. This is not to say, however, that they were without impact. Majority of millennials and youth at the fringes of Gen Z grew up listening to the likes of DRB, Ozzy B, Code Z and other acts laying the foundation for the alternative movement as early as 2007.
It’s no news that the alté scene is currently witnessing a fresh wave of new generational artists growing a relevance that could rival the mainstream, championed by household favs like Odunsi [The Engine], Lady Donli and Santi. And certainly, digital advancements have enabled these acts to transcend international borders and penetrate foreign airwaves; a far cry from the Soundcloud halled days of their predecessors. In this light, it’s safe to say that this feat would have been unachievable without the groundwork laid by their forerunners, who dared to defy the norms and inherently paved the way for these new stars to shine.
Rap collective, L.O.S, can certainly be credited as one of the core pioneers of the alternative rap movement, thrilling our early teenage years with cuts like ‘Bad Guy P’, ‘Pamparampe’ and ‘Magic’. But as all good things do, the group eventually disbanded, forging separate paths in their careers and each perfecting their craft along the way. Now following in the footsteps of fellow pioneers, DRB, in what may seem like a bid to cement their preeminence in the alté community, L.O.S have unexpectedly released a new project as a group (Tribe) – the first time they’ve convened since Zamir’s 2017 single, ‘Akanti’.
Eight years removed from their last offering as a group, and not much has changed. The seamless synergy that fascinated us as young teenagers is still present as is portrayed on the sultry project opener, ‘Didn’t Know’. Over an infectious bouncy tempo and fluttering hi hats courtesy of Smallz and Cubix, Zamir, BrisB and Bridge dish out catchy verses tied together with Tomi Thomas’ minimal magic on his soulful chorus, ‘Didn’t know/Didn’t know/Chilling with the righteous ones’.
Switching out the breezy tones for a more subtly dark palette, ‘Language’ sees Zamir, BrisB and Bridge trading more hard hitting bars and flexing their clever wordplay, showcasing the debauched confidence they thrilled us with on ‘Bad Guy P’. GMK’s sound engineering meets Kufre’s production, providing the perfect backdrop for this rap-heavy cut. Elsewhere on ‘Emotionz’, the quartet delve into more vulnerable themes as they question a love interest on her reason for intentionally toying with them. Over Genio’s signature syncopated synths, they croon ‘Why you playing/Why you joking huh/Why you toying with my emotions huh ?’, bringing the 3-track EP to a befitting close.
‘Birth is continuous and as long as you are willing to learn, you will always have the ability to birth’, alté leader, Santi, tells The NATIVE in a 2017 interview. ‘Birth and death go hand in hand’, he further adds, alluding to his transition from Ozzy B to Santi. Rapper Ozzy B had to die for the genre-defying Santi we all know and love to be born. In this light, it wouldn’t be outlandish to assume L.O.S have undergone a similar transition, hence the reason for their hiatus as a collective. One would notice that even the new release came with a new page on streaming and social media platforms alike (L.O.S Music). And with further observation, you’d notice the cover of the EP holds a picture of a butterfly, serving as an allusion to their metamorphosis. Things are still a bit foggy and many questions are left unanswered, but one thing is clear – there’s a new era of L.O.S on the horizon and that’s enough to be excited about.
Welcome to the tribe.
