Miami-based Nigerian rapper SGaWD first debuted in 2021 and has continued to captivate audiences with her brand of no-holds-barred, unapologetic rap bolstered by genre-bending sounds and unbridled energy. Tapping into her Nigerian roots and a love for multiple genres, SGaWD has always pushed the bar on every release to chart her lane effortlessly.
Her latest release Tha Gawd – Side A, serves as her sophomore EP and a solid follow-up to her debut project Savage Bitch Juice. With only seven tracks, the project showcases her versatility as SGaWD fuses rap, house, electronica, and Afropop stylings into an intoxicating mix filled with edgy bars and envelope-pushing sounds.
From the hypnotic “Money Prayer“, where she blends sultry melodic runs with aspirational raps about her journey through the cesspool of life and the music industry as a whole, to the UK future-house-inspired vibes of “Dump All Your Worries On The Dance Floor” SGaWD sets the tone on different planes.
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These are followed by the dancehall-infused “BoyToy” and the atmospheric- vibes of the Afropop “Juicebox” featuring Ghanaian singer Moliy. The former is an exploration of her sensuality and what makes her tick, while the latter continues in the same vein, albeit on a sultry level. The fun continues with the future R&B-flavoured “Cool” which displays soul-stirring melodic runs laced over surreal textures and pounding drums followed by the amapiano sounds on “Talking Too Much”. The project closes out with the playful “Fav Gurl” rich in alté and mara aesthetics with a contemporary R&B touch.
In the end, Tha Gawd – Side A is a blissful exploration of sounds and a showcase of the growth of SGaWD’s artistry. One moment, she is kicking bars, and the next, she’s enthralling fans with her captivating melodies. She effortlessly merges the sounds of her Nigerian roots with Western sensibilities and a touch of experimental elements and gets the job done.
Photo Credit: Wuraola Ajeigbe
