There is this colloquial phrase that has been popularised online by the younger generation for when an artist releases a good album which fans have enjoyed - "the rent was due". The phrase essentially paints a picture of the artist working hard and delivering under pressure because they desperately need money to pay their overdue landlord.
That’s what I thought upon my very first listen of the latest EP by British-Nigerian singer and songwriter, Odeal.
His EP, “For A Good Time…”, consists of seven songs and takes you on a 22-minute long journey of genre-blending music.
I spent hours taking it all in because of its impressive replay value and its duration which did not feel overwhelming. By the time I was done, I knew which song was the one I would choose to play the next time I would be handed the aux cable while with hanging out with friends.
Odeal is one of those artists that let their art do the talking, and I enjoyed listening to the art talk. Yes, it is contemporary R&B but not the “in your feelings” kind. One thing that is guaranteed is that you will move to some Afrobeats, a bit of a subtle log drum here and there, and the bass guitar will have you making the face of approval (stank face).
The EP starts off easy with “Rush”, while “Get Down” and “Bluey Vitton” will transport you to a club on an island somewhere. He loops in British singer Jorja Smith on “Coming Home”.
There are a lot of house music elements too, with “After The Club” quite literally being one of those songs you could play when you get back home from the club. There is also something nostalgic and 2000s R&B about it.
By the time I got to “Love n Hate”, I understood that this is R&B which is influenced by so many sounds that it could be a R&B sub-genre on its own.
The last song, “Trying Things”, sealed it all for me when it comes to solidifying how I feel about the entirety of the project. His vocals are immaculate and the violin solo at the end almost had me tearing up.
It also makes sense when you look at some of the music that influenced him growing up. In an interview with XXL Magazine, Odeal named 50 Cent, Ja Rule, The Notorious B.I.G.(aka Biggie), Tupac, Kendrick Lamar and Drake as some of his favourite rappers.
He spoke about loving Biggie’s wordplay and the way he expressed himself, while Tupac’s rawness and impact also stood out to him.
“Whatever Biggie was talking about felt real and it felt rich. It was rich in that feeling, the way he spoke about different things. The way he played on words. And ’Pac, the things that he spoke about as well, I really loved his impact, the way he was really raw in the things he said,” Odeal said.
With Ja Rule, it was the integration of R&B into his rap that he enjoyed. I think that tells you a lot about Odeal’s music now. Even though he is not making hip-hop, you can hear that he comes from someone who has listened to a lot more than just R&B and Afrobeats.
He has tapped into rap before, amapiano, house music and Afrobeats, then somehow found a way to merge all of that with his own take on R&B.
So when you listen to “For A Good Time…”, the genre-blending tells you that he has always been trying things until he found what works for him.
And, I do not think he is done trying yet.
In this modern music era, people do not luxuriate within the album's world anymore.
It is all fan-war culture, defined by a rush to share one's dislike for a song on any particular day, only to find yourself loving it five days later. I think Odeal's 22-minute brevity is intentional, serving as a response to the shifting attention spans.
It’s much easier to keep seven songs on loop than twenty-four.
Odeal has come a long way with his artistry, his discography dates back to 2017 where at the time his sound was focusing mostly on Afrobeats. His EP, “Pragma”, also sees him tap into rap, a whole different sound to what he makes now.
By 2024, when he released “Lustropolis”, he was hit with the Brent Faiyaz comparisons, while the two artists may sound slightly similar, they are completely different in a sense that Odeal is stronger when it comes to versatility.
He has tapped into amapiano, house music and Afrobeats while merging it with his take of R&B.
When it comes to his work preceding the EP, I would say he maintained the same theme. This is especially evident when comparing it to his 2025 project, “The Summer That Saved Me”.
It sounds like a continuation of the same dance vibe, except “For A Good Time…” is strictly about dancing and having a good time, and the production is much more intentional and intense.
If you enjoyed “The Summer That Saved Me”, you’ll love “For A Good Time…”.
“For A Good Time…” was released in July, dubbed as the perfect summer project by many who reside in Europe or Northern Europe. Locally, it has been a different story for South Africans who were still experiencing lower temperatures at the time.
However, now that the days are getting a little warmer and the season will soon transition to spring, it is a perfect time to either revisit the project or listen to it for the first time. It’s perfect for the warmer weather vibes.
nomathamsanqa.sithathu@nationalmg.co.za