Nigerian singer Kemuel returns with his eight-track sophomore EP, Borokiri Boy, a project that leans further into house and electronic production while keeping his R&B vocal style.
Kemuel first drew wider attention in 2023 with co-signs from Olamide and Spinall. His debut EP blended electronic dance music (EDM) and rhythm and blues (R&B), and he has since appeared alongside Wizkid. On Borokiri Boy, he continues that sonic shift, foregrounding house and electronic elements while retaining the soulful vocals and romantic themes of his R&B base.
Track by track#
- Seki
- Osei Baby
- Close 2 U
- YOLO
- FINI
- Wound Me
- Pitakwa Girls Riddim
- Spirit
The EP opens with “Seki,” where Kemuel asks a lover for a long-term commitment. The percussion is minimal but rhythmic, with backing vocals that answer his lead in the chorus.
“Osei Baby” follows a similar production approach, replacing warm piano notes with guitar riffs and keeping choral vocals low in the mix. The lyrics describe a woman who offers a no-strings-attached night.
“Close 2 U” moves further into house music, using intermittent claps, sparse log drums and three-step kicks. The song centers on memories of a romantic encounter that the narrator does not want to leave behind.
“YOLO” is a stripped-down counterpart to “Close 2 U,” built on a minimalist beat and electric piano keys. The lyrics focus on making the most of life and living in the moment.
“FINI” incorporates gongs and shakers into its rhythm. Kemuel uses varied vocal inflections and allegorical language while recounting a sexual encounter.
“Wound Me” draws on Nigerian R&B from the 2000s, with classical strings and a traditional song structure.
“Pitakwa Girls Riddim” is a pop track with a more straightforward production style compared with the rest of the EP.
“Spirit” returns to a cleaner vocal texture after the preceding tracks that leaned on indigenous sounds. It carries faint house elements from the EP’s first half and closes the project with a more soul-influenced sound.
