When you’re on the lookout for hip hop that does things a little differently, it can be difficult to find – particularly among today’s ever-expanding world of music. The genre has exploded in recent years, which is great for the musical content but admittedly makes it harder to find those tracks or artists that do push the boundaries a little or pave their own way. Enter Smil3zz, with a single that quite literally pushes those boundaries and introduces his approach to expression and artistry in a bold way.

Bod3 7homas is an easy track to escape to, nothing overbearing comes into view – on the contrary, the single’s energy remains constant, allowing you to really get into the moment or carry on with whatever it is that you were doing but perhaps with a little more softness. At the same time, even with these humble characteristics, there’s a familiarity to the concept and to the overall sound – this Nigerian Afro Fusion  yet gravelly tone, and the hook – all of this makes it easy to recognise the song the second and third times around. The rhythm with which the vocal melody is presented has a definite air of personality and adds further to the entrancing quality of the entire piece.

The more you get into this, as it reappears in your playlist, there’s a personal touch to the song and a sense of truth that you come to appreciate more and more. The clever contemporary references are just a small part of it, there’s a sense of turmoil and emotional difficulty running throughout many of the details – showcasing another side to the artist; one that audiences are likely to connect with on a deeper and more lasting level. The soundscape that comes in during the latter half is another simple yet beautifully effective touch that enhances the general vibe in a wonderful way.Smil3zz’s leading voice on this single and indeed the way he crafts his long-form melodies. Not so much the bigger, mainstream hits but those hidden gems that would appear within the depths of an album. The lyrics and even the melody to an extent feel like unedited outpourings, an artist working out the world and letting you go along for the journey. As that heightened melodic moment hits once more, you get swept away in the passion of it, and with the ongoing, mellow beat running consistently in the backdrop – the contrast is quite fascinating. The upcoming album is one that intrigues, for sure. Well worth looking out for.