ARTIST OF THE WEEK

“Barrystar Vol. 1” – Barry Jhay Once Again Reminds The World That He Is Not A Prodigal Son! He is the son of the Late Fuji Legend, and a grandson to the legendary Juju artist, I.K Dairo. If you ask me, I’d tell you that he is a fine specimen of a bloodline destined for greatness. I’d tell you that it has happened, and as my saga would tell, you might be experiencing two and a half decades of refined preeminence. In 2018, we got a hint of history about to be made upon the release of “Aiye”, a blend of contemporary Afrobeats and refined Yoruba traditional tunes that portrayed life as a pendulum that it is. Hereby marking the beginning of a winning streak, as the song earned him the City People Music Award for Best New Act that same year, while 2019 came with him bagging The Headies’ Rookie of the Year award – but Oluwakayode Junior Balogun going with the stage name “Barry Jhay” wasn’t done. In 2020, the Late Sikiru Ayinde Barrister’s incarnate had his name engraved on the soapstone of the Nigerian music industry with his debut project, “Barry Back” embodying classic hits including “Ashe she”, “Ma So Pe” and “Only You” with the award-winning and international-thriving Nigerian artist “Davido” being the only featured artist on the album.  As expected of every promising creative, a sophomore EP christened “Son of God” came in 2022, but with respect to a cloudy and controversial 2021 which might easily pass as the young maestro’s most tragic year. Ranging from the toxic tussle that is prominent in the Nigerian music industry to the sudden demise of his boss, Kashy Godson in 2021, hereby resulting in a deliberate abstinence from the social and creative sphere, the world almost presumed his burning desire to make music quenched. However, it turns out Barry Jhay took his debut project’s title “Barry Back” to heart. Embodying a resounding remix of  “Ayewada” with Zlatan and sensational tracks including “Story”, “Whine my God”, and four other sensational tracks,  the Afro-Fuji Music god dedicates his sophomore EP to his late friend while sending a message of doggedness, hope and self-proclamation. Three years later, Barry Jhay stuns the world again with “Barry Back 2” to seal the EP era with hit singles including “My Father My Father” amongst other sensational sounds. However, while it is understandable that the propaganda that Barry Jhay’s streak of career success and street credibility may only owe to an inherited fanbase and the already established structure laid down by his familial predecessors, Barry Jhay has proven beyond reasonable doubt that he is more than capable of wielding the lineage’s creative baton, and this is evident in his freshly released debut album, “Barrystar Vol. 1”. For Barry Jhay, every project is a testament to greatness and his recently released debut album “Barrystar Vol. 1” is no different. Peaking at number 1 on the NG Apple Top Albums Chart just a few days after release, “Barrystar Vol. 1” is up there with every epic album the Nigerian music industry has produced. It’s safe to describe “Barrystar Vol. 1” as an amalgamation of the highly-revered Fuji, Juju and Afrobeats genres of music.  Opening the 11-song album with a track titled “The Lord’s Prayer” and closing it up with another titled “Eleduwa”, there’s no gainsaying that the themes of spirituality, gratitude, worship and belief in the supernatural have an heavy influence on the artist’s muse. Also, from the lineup of seasoned and Grammy-nominated producers including Dibs, TBM, Vstix, 4Tunez, Smart P, and Adebayo, Barry Jhay flaunts his versatile prowess as each track comes with a special but interwoven feel that makes you put the album on repeat without even realising it. It is however unforgiveable to go without noting the similarities between this debut album and his debut EP “Barry Back”. Just like “Barry Back” where Davido happens to be the only featured artist on the project, “Barrystar Vol. 1” is no different as the only featured artist on the album is “Blvk H3ro”. It’d however interest you to learn that both features make up Track 4 on both projects. Coincidental or purposeful? Now, that’s food for thought. What to expect? Honing from the album’s title, “Barrystar Vol. 1”, Barry Jhay might just be hinting that he is just getting started even though this is obviously not his first project. This is more evident in how he explicitly presents it as “Vol. 1”. With this, one needs no Prophet to preach that Barry Jhay is not done cooking! While the number of volumes fans are to expect is still a mystery, at least, we know at that a “Vol. 2” is probably already simmering somewhere in Barry Jhay’s kitchen of melody and harmonious creativity. @Alaro Basit