Many who are already familiar with US rapper A$AP Ferg’s 2013 hit Shabba
Ranks and its subsequent remixes will know this already, but like the former, Wizkid’s Shabba is also a tribute to Jamaican-born dancehall artist Rexton Rawlston Fernando Gordon popularly known as Shabba Ranks.
With Wizkid’s growing international appeal, Shabba comes as Wizkid’s crossover trump card. His affiliation with the UK grime scene by featuring Section Boyz and Hood Baby on a Chris Brown leaked version will keep him in rotation in the UK markets while this Mike Will produced official version will create an entry into American airwaves.
Besides coupled with its Carribean-influences and Wizkid’s shout-out to Jamaican dancehall riddim god, Shabba Ranks, Shabba may just have successfully opened the StarBoy’s transition doors into three major music markets. Because we were just as excited as you were for this release and the prospects it carries along with it, we pulled together a couple of friends with ears for good music to get first-listen reactions and reviews.
Shina: Wizkid is slowly making his music more accessible. I can see the reason he has restricted a lot of his mixing to foreign sound engineers in recent times. Now that we have a cleaner sound, hopefully, we can get cleaner lyrics too. But for now, this song is dope enough.
Tobi: I just have two questions; did anyone doubt this? and where can I find them to give a dirty slap? It’s the Weezy season man, everything is fire!
Tosin: Another Wizkid ‘international collabo’ without an actual Wizkid verse? I don’t think I have any actual reaction yet, I’m still laughing at the thought of all the jokes tweeters are already drafting.
Deborah: I am always down for Afropop, trap music and anything trip-hop. With the added bonus of Wizkid, this one hits just the
spot.
Debola: Great song for most of it. That French Montana verse is a bit iffy though, but boy, Trey Songz clearly did his research, his verse was pure Nigerian R&B inspired flames.
Malik: Wizkid could have done without a French verse, to be honest. Chris Brown and Trey Songz already smoothed over the first part of the song, Wizkid could have added a bridge and closed off with a chorus backed up by Breezy. French Montana’s heavy breathing on a long overdue Wizkid crossover song just feels like Elegushi beach sand subtly sprinkled in our collective garri(s).
Amarachi: It’s definitely not a bad song and yeah, I kind of get the idea behind it, but I don’t really see where they were going with this. Surprised French Montana stayed on the Afro-trappiness though, I honestly didn’t see that coming.
Linda: Is Wizkid on it? Yes. Can I dance to it? Another Yes. Willby be playing this in my car till all my friends know the lyrics by heart? I’ll say another solid yes to that. So, no further questions, please.
Derinola: Don’t think about it. Just throw ten gold rings on like Shabba! Do it now
