Growing up around music gave caleboniel an early education in sound before he had any idea he would eventually make it himself. Raised in a Christian home, his first encounters came through morning devotion, praise and worship, followed by the constant music of the neighbourhood around him. Almost every shop had speakers outside, meaning there was always something playing when he stepped out of the house. On Saturdays, he followed his siblings to choir practice ahead of Sunday services. “That’s where the exposure started from,” he says.

Some of Shorae Moore’s earliest memories of music are tied to a car ride to Mr Biggs in Kaduna, where his family listened to Panam Percy Paul, Ron Kenoly and other gospel voices. Music was present in his childhood, though it was not necessarily the centre of the family’s identity. His siblings, however, were deeply involved in it. His sister was the singer of the house, while his brother played bass, lead and drums. “Safe to say my siblings played a huge role in my development,” Moore says.

Growing up Nigerian meant art had to justify its own existence against the unyielding gravity of white collar security, the quiet pressure to choose a path with a title and a payslip attached to it. For Alexander Ebadan, also known

Mr Eazi and producer Dre Skull have announced their joint mixtape ‘Yard & Yanga', set for release later this year via Mixpak Records and emPawa Africa. The rollout begins today with “Lambo,” a dancehall banger featuring Vybz Kartel.