{"id":22718,"date":"2019-03-21T17:30:34","date_gmt":"2019-03-21T15:30:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pan-african-music.com\/?p=22718"},"modified":"2020-04-27T03:35:58","modified_gmt":"2020-04-27T02:35:58","slug":"an-ode-to-lifelines-ladipoes-fascinating-rap-style","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pan-african-music.com\/en\/an-ode-to-lifelines-ladipoes-fascinating-rap-style\/","title":{"rendered":"An ode to lifelines, Ladipoe\u2019s fascinating rap style"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\u201cSavage,\u201d off Show Dem Camp\u2019s \u201cClone Wars 4.\u201d Who else could finish a song with such shattering finesse as Ladipoe? His trademark delivery which settles comfortably in the middle of conversational pace and laid back rapping comes to the fore. He ends his verse with a gauntlet thrown to the floor, anyone who dares pick it should deliver a better verse:\u00a0\u201cI\u2019m like Hov on the Blackout, what more can I say? I\u2019m a savage!\u201d<\/span><\/h6>\n

With the exception of his 2018 project\u00a0Talk About Poe<\/em>\u00a0(TAP), Ladipoe\u2019s catalogue of feature verses has become the domineering achievement of his career.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cVictoria Island of Broken Dreams,\u201d widely considered by many to be his \u201cmoment\u201d came last place, but only in order of the verses. In quality, Ladipoe is a strong contender alongside Tec for verse of the song. The drums and ominous keys which dominate the production is very much alive as a sparring partner for Poe\u2019s bars (\u201cmy mother used to say the gunshots are fireworks\u201d). His knack for wordplay is displayed in the bars \u201celected to speak the truth but the ballot box is missing\u201d and \u201cmy state loves corruption and the country plays the father.\u201d Overall, there\u2019s a fine mix of storytelling, grit, punchline and introspection, all of which are sharpened tools in Ladipoe\u2019s arsenal.<\/span><\/p>\n

He\u2019s cited Phonte, Lupe Fiasco, Elzhi and Nas as influences, all emcees known for their unknotting of complex ideas in their songs. \u201cChardonnay Music,\u201d off Falz<\/a>\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0Stories That Touch<\/em>\u00a0album features Chyn and Poe. The former delivers a verse which drips with so much class, peculiarly fitting as it plays to the suaveness of Chyn\u2019s demeanour. Ladipoe however, before telling of the oft hilarity of a relationship (\u201cand I gotta slow it down so my babe can do her makeup\u201d) paints Lagos with his opening bars, a masterclass on world building: \u201cHow far with Lagos on a Monday?\/Traffic is as bad as the news on the front page\/ And judging by my salary I might as well be unpaid\/ My boss has audacity to call me on a Sunday, be like say e chop craze\u2026\u201d His flow, calmly steered dips in and out of pockets in the Spax beat. His tonal accentuation varies with each bar. It\u2019s like a vehicle filled with tourists which slows down at designated spots so the passengers can pick details of the life outside and Ladipoe is the grey-haired driver with quips and an astounding knowledge of the city.<\/span><\/p>\n