Dolu is an Afro-Canadian rapper and producer born in Nigeria whose signature sound beautifully blends the beats of the Afro-influenced tunes with the gritty and honest truth of introspective hip-hop. Once known as Uno Denie, he has always used his talent to delve into matters of identity, the essence of experience, and self-discovery through music. His transformation into the artist Dolu is a symbolic and powerful shedding of skins; a move that represents a strong connection between him and his music. In celebration of this rebirth, on the 1st of May, Dolu released his three-track EP called *Late Bloomer*. Let’s strip away the layers and get into the essence of this EP.
“Superpowers” starts with an abrupt metal clang of a gate being closed, after which comes a series of layers of low-frequency oscillations that give the impression of a faraway engine running in the cold, massive void. With the build-up of intensity, there comes a burst of a rhythmic keyboard melody that is sharp and staccato, giving a feel of military drumming. This song is a brutal dissection of the “superhero” image, moving beyond the comic book fantasy of invincibility into the harsh reality of perseverance. The character in the song can’t fly or shoot lasers from his eyes, but he will never say never until the bones are rotting, and he will never give up. This song showcases the resiliency of the human spirit and our tendency to pick ourselves up no matter what we encounter. The vocal performance of Dolu is crisp and percussive. In his song, he takes his lyrics with meticulous medical accuracy to analyze the relationship between having the capacity to survive the trauma as the essence of the gift. The musicality of this song features this conflict between the icy synthesizer background music and the warm urgency in the lyrical part, thus generating a song that feels vulnerable but also impenetrable at the same time. From the point of view of the listener, the effect that comes out of this is an unexpected awakening.
It is a marked departure from anything else for the opening bars of “God is Love” to include the crack of a match along with an organ note that holds its own against the reverberating echo; it’s the type of melody you typically hear in church, and it’s very nostalgic. It almost comes across as an intentional act of intimacy where one gets transported into a place of contemplation, where the sounds of a room. The theme now enters into a more philosophical area of how God is Love, which can be a form of discipline rather than an emotion. The character in the song tells us that God is Love, and the minute we channel that love and let it flow through us, that’s all we will ever need. Let’s get real, no one can see God, we can only hear or feel him, so, as the good book says, “love your neighbor as yourself”, because we cannot see God, so loving others as he loves us is the ultimate goal for us all. As for Dolu, he performs with an approach to his vocals that is closer to a soulful and melodious rhythm, devoid of the boldness seen in his earlier songs, such that the singer is heard poetically at times, owing to the seriousness that he carries in the song. There is the use of minimalistic beats and a haunting bass line that never seems to find peace or resolve in its wanderings. It becomes a very realistic setting that prompts one to consider compassion as a radical act.
The final track on this album, “Late Bloomer”, begins with the distinct synth sounds, which are Self-Conscious, Self-Conscious, Self-Conscious, Self-Conscious, followed by the sound of wild animals, which is a very refreshing choice. After that, a light, syncopated drum pattern comes in gradually, getting more complicated until it finds itself at a steady, groove-able pace that is both retro and current. This song is a no-nonsense declaration of the unusual chronology, a counter to the heavy weight of keeping up, declaring what it means to be a Late Bloomer in a speedy world. The song encourages us to keep going because every day is a new beginning, and if we keep going, slowly but surely, we will get there. It marks the high point of Dolu’s musicianship as he works with long, flowing vocal phrases that snake their way around holes in the beat. The production is lush and rich, featuring shimmering ambient synthesizers that contribute to the feeling of lightness in the main theme of the song. When the song ends with a massive outro, what remains with the listener is an overwhelming feeling of release; it affirms the fact that development isn’t a contest; it’s about unfolding slowly and intentionally, allowing you to feel peace in your own tempo.
“Late Bloomer” is an impeccable piece of sonic vulnerability – a project that goes beyond being an EP to become a much-needed dialogue with a fellow soul. Right from the get-go, “Late Bloomer” has a production that will envelop you with its warmth and familiarity, providing a great canvas for lyrics that do not merely scratch the surface of things but dig into the intricacies of human life. Dolu finds himself exploring the relationship between the notions of resilience, spirituality, and personal evolution in a manner that is both mature and surprisingly insightful. It is unusual to come across a musician who combines such a deep and thought-provoking theme with such a smooth flow. I must confess, from the very first note, the EP had me completely captivated, with my foot tapping automatically, and by the time the last song was over, I was literally beaming with delight. There is no doubt about the presence of some kind of honesty in the record, a substance-oriented approach to hip hop that makes you realize what initially drew you to the music genre. It is like finding a hidden gem among other artists who seem to populate the industry at the moment, and judging from this record, it becomes evident that we are watching the birth of a superstar. It isn’t simply the case when a musician releases something interesting; it is Dolu’s future that seems to lie before him.
Stream the “Late Bloomer” EP on Spotify
Follow Dolu here and his socials: YouTube
