“Nights in Gidi” Album Review – The Hip Hop African

British-Nigerian rapper $tevoxcv released a new EP titled “Nights in Gidi” earlier this year. Tracks on this EP include ‘Grinding’, ‘Ready or Not’, ‘After Party’, ‘Running’, ‘Jungle Fever’, ‘Stubborn’, ‘Trust Issues’, and ‘Destiny’. He features EBII and David Meli on this EP.

The cover art of this EP is very interesting, featuring a blown-up artwork of him in the middle, with two women in smaller graphics underneath. In the background, a plane flies across the sky amidst high rises. At the corner, there is a sign that says ‘Enjoy Lagos’.

In this review, I will discuss ‘Ready or Not’, ‘Stubborn’, and ‘Destiny’.

To begin, ‘Ready or Not’ is a really intriguing song that initially touches on sex and women in a negative way, but then shifts focus to his work ethic. $tevoxcv says, “Every little thing that I touch. Putting in work. No fit consider I no fit dey dull. Is you ready or not. Ball in your court”. Through these lyrics, it’s evident that $tevoxcv is proud of the effort he puts into everything he does. In Pidgin, a widely spoken language in Nigeria, he says, “No fit consider I no fit dey dull” This adds to his confident self-expression. He seamlessly transitions between rap and singing on an incredible beat that captivates the audience.

Contrary to that somewhat inspirational song, ‘Stubborn’ takes a different approach. Throughout this song, $tevoxcv mostly objectifies women, which is disheartening to hear. He says, “Girl in my top three but she ain’t second or third”. Initially, given the title of this song, I did not expect this content. Moreover, he casually mentions, “Mans in London now but I’m Lagos bred”. This shows his pride in being Nigerian, aligning with the theme of his EP, where he uses this song to discuss his identity as a Nigerian man.

On a lighter note, ‘Destiny’ is an incredible work of heart where he talks about being a child of destiny, his religion, and once again instills confidence in himself. He begins by saying, “Stevo you are a child of destiny. Always put God first. I love you”. It’s remarkable to start the song with these lyrics and it definitely grabs the attention of the audience. He showcases a different side from his other songs where he devalues women. His chorus sings,“Say no boy dem fit to run my race”. This is also in Pidgin and indirectly means that nobody can compare to him.

These three songs, among many on his EP, are incredible works of art and speak volumes about his life as a young Nigerian man living in London.