AMONG all the music on rotation in Afrobeats, one voice that actually causes one to pause in astonishment is Gabzy’s. Beyond the euphony that is his discography, Gabzy, born Gabriel Adeyemi, is currently ricocheting with a streak of evolution.
As he shoots for the stars, the London-bred RnB maestro is upping his ante across all cadres – from songwriting to harmonization, overall maintaining a distinct voice worthy of acclaim in the current global reign of Afrobeats.
After stepping out with a cocktail of slow-burn love jams in his debut solo EP dubbed, Malone, the young musician arrived at the corridors of mainstream Afrobeats with At The End Of The Night, his sophomore soul-stirring duet EP with Nigerian sound whiz Melvitto. With songs such as “Rice and Peas,” “God Bless My Enemies,” and “Way Too Much,” it was easy to nitpick his formula for enigma, self-fulfilment.
Towing a road less travelled, the singer-songwriter continues to make emotive RnB that dazzle with a distinct acoustic and Afro-swing feel. And in his latest song dubbed, “Jambazz”, he continues this riveting run, extending his relevance among the hallowed quarters of RnB mavericks in Nigeria.
Gabzy’s strengths soar most brilliantly within his delivery. Drifting masterfully across vocal ranges, the young musician creates mood music that essentially works as a feel-good pill.
While one might yearn for more representation of culture in his storytelling – especially for experimentation purposes – Gabzy’s current discography is a sufficient buffet of wholesome music that keeps Afrobeats buzzing with life. In fact, it’s laudable enough to be a bold introduction to Nigeria’s RnB community, especially to alien listeners.
Since Gabzy’s 2016 breakout, his ascent remains elating to watch. And while his challenges as an independent act continue to be a hassle, Gabzy deliberately dribbles his odds in the pursuit of his dearest goals.
Prior to his breakout, he always had his heart set on playing professional football. Yet, his studio booth doesn’t hold much difference from a netted goalpost as he keeps scoring with each vibrant release.
On the surface, Gabzy sounds like a fine blend of Chris Brown, Khalid and Usher, but deep beneath his vocal texture remains the true culprit.
And with his Victorian-era type of romance which he keeps preaching on all his records, it is easy to see why he’s an enduring voice among all lovers of love and good music, respectively.
With Afrobeats currently at the forefront of global music, musicians like Tems, Fireboy, Rema, and Gabzy, among others, are refreshing beacons of hope for the scene’s future. And if there’s even any sin to chastise Gabzy for is for not releasing music frequently.
However, with his current repertoire of melodies available out there, Gabzy is on a ripe countdown to superstardom.
