LADIPOE - Revival (Album) + 10 Questions

Nigerian rap trailblazer LADIPOE has announced his long awaited sophomore album, Revival, arriving on 17 July via Mavin Records.

Widely regarded as one of the leading voices in Nigeria's rap renaissance, LADIPOE has built a reputation for blending razor sharp lyricism with Afro fusion production, challenging expectations of what African hip hop can sound like on the global stage.

Described as his most personal and ambitious project yet, the 16 track Revival explores themes of identity, faith, self-discovery and African excellence. The album also boasts an impressive international guest list, featuring South Africa's Maglera Doe Boy, UK rapper Pa Salieu, Nigerian artist Taves and Houston neo-soul singer Jastin Martin.

Since breaking through with the chart topping hit "Feeling" alongside Buju, LADIPOE has become known for his intelligent wordplay, cultural commentary and technically accomplished delivery. His 2021 Providence EP, which featured collaborations with Rema, Fireboy DML and Amaarae, further cemented his status as one of Africa's most compelling rappers.

With Revival, LADIPOE looks set to push Nigerian rap into a bold new chapter, combining lyrical depth with an expansive, globally minded sound.

LADIPOE sat down with Wordplay Magazine to answer our infamous 10 Questions:

1. So tell me, how did it all begin? What sparked your love for music?

I've always believed that everyone is born with a love for music, it's just a matter of discovering where that love is directed.

I grew up surrounded by music. The era I was born into was dominated by rap, hip hop, and R&B, but my influences went far beyond that. In Nigeria, MTV exposed me to alternative rock, pop, and other Western sounds. At home, my parents introduced me to soul and gospel music, while my grandparents filled family gatherings with the music of their own generation. At the same time, contemporary Nigerian music was finding its identity, and that became part of my soundtrack through friends and everyday life.

Being exposed to so many different genres shaped the way I listen to and appreciate music. But the defining sound of my generation was undoubtedly rap and hip hop.

What I've always loved most is the way music makes you feel. Growing up, so many choices were made for you, what to wear, which school to attend, but music was one of the first things that truly felt like mine. I could choose the songs I loved, and in doing so, I was beginning to discover my own identity.

2. Who are some artists that influence you and that you want to work with in the future?

I think one of the things that differentiates me from a lot of my colleagues and peers is that I didn't really know I wanted to make music when I was younger. So, artists that influenced me didn't really kick in until I started to make music myself, and a lot of them were rap artists.

I had soaked in music, and I had started to discover that I had an ability to put words together. So naturally, the people that influenced me the most were people that were putting words together in a way that I found very interesting. Probably the number one rapper that influenced me was an artist called Phonte, from a group called Little Brother. It's no surprise that they're from North Carolina, which is also where I was in school for my university years.

They were heavy influences on my rap style, and a few other rappers as well. But Phonte was probably the biggest one. I saw him perform once, and it was just this focus on wit and wordplay. There were punchlines, but they felt like they weren't the main event; the punchlines felt like a part of that lyrical world in just a natural way, and every line was interesting. I really just fell in love with that type of expression.

The rest of my influences were mainly on the sound I was willing to adopt, which was beyond hip hop because I was listening to more than hip hop. People that I'd love to work with now, I'm really drawn to other artists that like words as much as I do, and have voices that maybe I don't have and can bring another complete sound. Rap wise, I'd love to work with Dave.

3. What projects do you have coming up and can you give us any info on them?

I have my second album coming up, which is titled REVIVAL. It's quite some time since I dropped a project, and this one feels overdue and very necessary. The REVIVAL is centered around identity, acceptance, and growth.

4. What's your proudest moment to date so far as an artist?

The proudest moment for me as an artist is simply the moment I was able to provide for my family while doing this thing that I love. And it continues to be my proudest moment, being able to just expand the horizons, opportunities, the stability, and safety of my family through doing what I love.

5. How would you describe your sound?

I usually struggle when people ask me what my sound is. Because my sound musically moves between genres, and I feel like that's what they want to know when they ask 'What's your sound? What's your genre?'

A lot of how I make my music is based more on how I express myself, on how I rap. I call that lifelines. I have this phrase: 'No punchlines, just lifelines. ' And what I really mean by that is, I tend to emphasise lines that I feel give this unique POV, and I say it in the most interesting way.

I prioritise that type of rapping over consistently putting down lines that are meant only to impress you with my skill of rap.

Lifelines are me finding the spaces within genres, within music, to say what exactly I want to say and, hopefully, leave you with something that moves you in your life.

So, while the genre changes, sometimes it's mixed together in unique ways, usually there's a consistency to the style. So my sound is based on my style. My style is lifelines.

6. Do you have any advice for our readers who may be trying to play the mad game of music?

The mad world of music is exactly that because it is uncertain. And it takes and doesn't easily give. The best advice I can give for anybody who wants to step a toe in that world is: you must be certain more than anything, in yourself. Not just in your ability, but in your actual willingness to consistently show up and show people that you want to do this thing. That consistency will get you further than how skillful you are at the thing you want to do.

7. Are there any artists on your radar right now that we should check out?

Artists you should check out, that changes on any given day that you might ask me this question because there are so many talented artists in Nigeria, in this part of Africa, and in Africa in general. So, I am just going to say to you, go and listen to all my previous releases in the last three years and you'll know who you need to focus on. But I can throw some names out just off the top of my head right now.

Definitely check out Ema Onigah, he's on my new song 'Many People'. You should check out Elestee, she is a phenomenal rap artist. She's a female rapper, however she, in my opinion, competes with a lot of the guys.

There are some artists on the come up that their names are not known yet, like this artist called Ray The Boffin. There's also EKENE, who just released a song recently, phenomenal voice.

Braye, whom I'm a big fan of. Sewa, Bkay EastGaad, a rap artist that I feel really could take things there lyrically, and he's very versatile. One thing I love about the rappers in this part of the world is that we're versatile and used to genre blending.

But there's many other artists. Outside of my country, I really like Dexter and the Newsagent. I love what she's doing. There's quite a few people that are on my radar in that way, but this is just what comes off my head right now in this moment.

8. What albums are on heavy rotation on your Spotify playlist currently?

There's no albums on heavy rotation except for Ice Man right now. I'm actually notorious when it comes to albums, I don't listen very quickly. When I settle on one, I take my time and sift through and listen through that album, and then I pick another one.

I make my own music, so a lot of times I don't tend to flood my mind with a lot of music at the same time. I tend to have one album I'm mainly listening to, another that is somewhere distantly in as a backup that I will get to eventually, and then that's about it. So right now, I'm listening to Ice Man. And as you know, there's two others that came with Ice Man, so I have my plate full at the moment.

But also, there's some EPs that have come out recently that I really love, but I'm also really looking forward to EKENE’s debut EP, which should be out soon.

9. What do you like to do when you're not making music?

This question has tortured me my entire career. Especially because to make music a career, it ends up being the only thing that you do. So I'm either making music or thinking about making music. Or coming up with ways to promote the music that I'm making. Or trying to grow capacity within myself and my team to be able to create a better situation for the music I'm making. But as most people know, I'm a father now, and so when I'm not making music, I'm usually doing that. And for those that know, that in itself is a whole new career and a whole new job description.

It’s also rainy season now, so my motorcycle has been sitting. But best believe that once it dries up, that motorcycle is coming out, and that's a lot of what I will be doing.

But truthfully, though, I love when I'm not making music, I love to find my way into other worlds, which usually involves reading, watching stuff, learning something I didn't know about. I do like to like push the horizons of my knowledge where I can.

10. Name Three things you can't live without when in the studio?

The three things I can't live without in the studio will usually be the things that I need to get the job done and the reason I'm in the studio in the first place. So my laptop, cause the music for the day I'm working on is usually on there. My phone, to write lyrics down. A lot of us are not really writing on paper anymore. And obviously my phone charger.

Studio is cold, so there'll probably be some kind of warm item of clothing. Once I have the things that I need to make the music, Like a hoodie on, Socks on my feet, Food in my tummy. Just leave me in the studio. I don't need nothing else. I'm good.