CKay showcases his lover boy alter-ego in 'Boyfriend' through the delivery of sweet and sensual yet meaningful lyrics that aims to take us on a very romantic journey.
Ckay (Chukwuka Ekweani) is a Nigerian producer and artiste who moved from Kaduna to Lagos to pursue his career in the music industry. After relocating, he started working as a production intern in Chocolate City and then later got signed to the record label in 2015, fully kicking off his career as an artiste.
Chasing Dreams: Chocolate City
Under the Chocolate City record label, he released his debut project, a mixtape titled 'Who The F**k Is CKay' in 2017 with all 6 tracks produced by him and additional production support from Tempoe.
The mixtape came as a response to Osagie's audacious question to Chocolate City's Label head, M.I Abaga during their vocal tussle on the host's "Loose Talk podcast". This argument made rounds on social media, making CKay a trending topic for some days.
Video Credit: Pulse TV Nigeria
In 2019, CKay dropped his second studio project, an EP titled 'CKay the First'. This project was released while he was still signed as an artiste under Chocolate City.
This 8-track project shot CKay higher into the limelight but was still heavily slept on. CKay highlighted his range and vocal prowess on this EP brimming with so many top-tier jams. Love Nwantiti and Way were the top songs to get massive airplay and streams from the public while the other 6 songs kind of faded into the background.
"Oh We Global Now": Warner Music Group
On the 27th of November 2020, global record label, Warner Music Group (South African arm) announced the signing of CKay. This also meant that the artiste's four-year run with Chocolate City had run its course and it was time to move on to bigger things.
Warner announced that CKay was currently working on his sophomore album which was also going to be his debut album set to drop in 2021 under his new record label. The said album will be a follow up on his first two EPs'.
This announcement came at a perfect time because 2020 was a solid year for CKay with Love Nwantiti (remix) gaining massive airplay and transcending into international airwaves. At the end of 2020, Ckay dropped 'Felony' as his first official single since his signing to Warner and it was well received by the public.
CKay: Boyfriend The EP
No matter what part of the world you were located in, 2020 hit everyone with lockdowns, closed borders, and strict curfews. While everyone was either quarantined with their lover(s), lonely, exploring their options for casual coitus, getting into situationships out of boredom, or just having daily mental breakdowns; CKay took this opportunity to explore his production, singing, and songwriting talents and create magic that resulted in 'Boyfriend' (maybe he was engaging in one or two of the aforementioned activities 👀 but I'll give him the benefit of doubt 🤪). The 7-track project fully showcases his vulnerability through songs overlapping themselves with pleasant and romantic lyrics that draw the perfect picture for certain situations we have all been in before.
The songs on the EP were recorded during the lockdown and we get to see the romantic side of the rising star, as he covers strong relational topics.
I wasn't expecting anything less from Ckay. He knew what he was going for, and that was exactly what he delivered. Love songs have become his strong point and he uses this theme as a focal point in 'Boyfriend'.
CKay knows how to grab your attention through the union of his vocal dexterity, rhythms, & melodies. This is evident through his previous jams, DTF & Love Nwantiti. The production on this EP was heavenly with every instrumental all meshing perfectly together. We can thank CKay himself, Type A, Auxxie, BMH, and IILeri for this.
The EP also had very solid features with fellow New School artistes in the industry that are making names for themselves. I absolutely love how no blown artiste took the limelight. This allowed fans to anticipate the delivery of these artistes on the project. Amaarae, Bianca Costa, Oxlade, and Kidi said "hold my cup", came through & each did their thing. The melodies, vocals, beats, instruments, and lyrics all came together to form an intimate and meaningful project that you can listen to continuously without tiring out.
Shout out to Seye Kehinde for the amazing cover photography and Abxtractxtyling for the creative direction and styling behind the scenes for the project's cover.
My Top 5 Songs
5. Skoin Skoin featuring Bianca Costa (Prod by CKay)
Ckay features the only international act on the project in Skoin Skoin. This is the first song that introduces me to Bianca Costa, the Brazilian and French musician and she sounds hella promising! CKay remains very humble and modest by not overdoing himself on this track. He treads slowly, allowing for Bianca to shine and do her thing as she runs her harmonies and showcases her voice using her local language.
"Your love is pain but inject it in my veins"
Skoin Skoin (roughly meaning crazy) paints a picture of one of them ones whereby the person you've caught feelings for starts to show you their true colour but you've fallen too deep in love to actually leave or do anything. You even start concluding that last last, all of us dey ment (are crazy) so you might as well stay put with the devil you know. Don't worry it happens to the best of us and CKay can relate.
4. Mezebu featuring Oxlade & KiDi (Prod by IILERI)
CKay teams up with fellow Nigerian artiste, Oxlade and Ghanaian artiste KiDi on Mezebu (roughly translated to intoxicated) which tells a known tale of blame it on the alcohol. Another outstanding love song on the EP. The three singers known for their distinct vocals bounce off of each other in their verses. Mezebu is the longest song on the EP but this goes unnoticed because the vocals, harmonies, and soulful lyrics just suck you right in.
"Doing crazy things cause I drank too much"
These three grown-ass men are intoxicated because they're drinking their pain away. The alchy fully gets to them which makes them vulnerable enough to deep how much they personally messed up or how much a babe ran them streets in a relationship. They consider reaching out to confess their feelings.
You can actually feel the hurt from this song. You might end up putting your own pain aside and kinda start feeling sorry for them.
3. Kiss Me Like You Miss Me (Prod by CKay)
Although it has very few lyrics, this is honestly such a sweet song. CKay rode the amapiano wave so well that it almost sounds like a different genre entirely because, unlike others, the amapiano beat does not overpower the song too much. You can hear every instrument coming into play which makes the production stand out.
I love that CKay thought it wise to run this song with just one very catchy hook. Kiss Me Like You Miss Me is 90% its beat which was a very smart move by CKay to showcase his prowess in production.
2. Show My Side featuring Amaarae (Prod by Auxxie)
First of all, this song was way too short for my liking. Show my side being the second song on the EP introduces us to the first feature and Ghana's sweetheart Amaarae does not disappoint. CKay and Amaarae complement each other with their angelic melodies on a song suitable for the bedroom. The song sets the perfect seductive tone for the EP. The short duration of this song is a trap to make you keep reloading it.
"Come make I chop your occupation"
Show My Side is literally what the title says it is. In this 'soro soke' era, CKay and Amaarae are not sending any hidden messages or playing around regarding being vocal about exactly what they want. They want their person to pull up to the crib and put it down on them. Amaarae takes it up a notch by being a tad bit more explicit with the details of what is going to go down when her person finally comes through.
1. Jeje De Whine (Prod by CKay)
Can we see a pattern? Here we are again with yet another CKay production. Talent OPOR, the boy is too good.
This is the best song on the EP in my opinion. It's actually a crazy tune because you won't even know when your body starts moving to the beat. CKay starts it off on a very slow and calm note so it kind of sounds "meh" at that point but the use and flow of the instruments (especially the electric guitar) piques your curiosity to want to know how the song is going to live up to the beat. Once the first "jeje de whineeee" in the hook comes up it hits you with shock and you end up feeling the tune like:
The Spanish guitar chords gives me Santana's 'Maria Maria' and DJ Khaled's 'Wild Thoughts' vibes. Jeje De Whine takes the seductive tone of the EP to another level with CKay asking Folake to stay longer with him, arching her back, and slowly whine her waist for him.
e-Rated's Rating and Final Thoughts
4 years later after Osagie's bold but rude question, I guess we can conclude that everyone with an interest in the Nigerian music industry now knows who the f**k Ckay is.
CKay surpassed expectations and has quickly transcended into becoming a household name in the industry. He clearly has an upper hand above his counterparts because of his production capabilities to make beats for himself that suit his unique style, as well as his singing and songwriting talents.
The growth has been impeccable and this is obvious in this EP. He has worked on growing his skills and uses them to his advantage.
Boyfriend the EP is very commendable because CKay took a well thought out risk in an industry that is primarily known to keep things safe. It's very easy to miss with new sounds in Nigeria because a large portion of the audience love to stick to what they are already used to.
The EP takes you on an entire relationship/situationship journey and a natural love cycle that we are all familiar with. Starting from the peak of the cycle - the moment you catch feelings, either fall in lust or love, and enter into the honeymoon phase. Ending at the painful and most difficult stages of the cycle - the awareness of toxic traits, decision to end things, and the loneliness that makes you miss them.
CKay did amazing stuff on this EP. It is truly timeless because one or two songs will always trigger a sweet/bitter memory but he shows us that you're not alone in that journey!
