The 15 Best Songs by CKay

With his early short projects—WTF Is CKay? and CKay The First — the artist was a keen listener of the stories around him, reaching for them and infusing his unique spin. Thematic maturity came on the Boyfriend EP, where, for the first time, he began tinkering with the dramatic potential of complicated relationships, set against the backdrop of contemporary Nigerian society.

Later this week, CKay will be releasing EMOTIONS, his second full-length project. Coming two years after Sad Romance, it’s expected that the musician has added more sounds to his repertoire, even as the title suggests that he’ll still be exploring the murky fields of one’s internal landscape.

In anticipation of this new album, we’ve made this list of the best CKay songs.

“DTF”

On CKay The First, the artist was experimenting with some of the sounds he’d later master: a mid-tempo sonic base and songwriting that explores the relationship terrain many CKay songs covet. In “DTF,” he’s essentially propositioning a lady about their to-be status, underscoring that a romantic affair isn’t needed when they can keep things physical.

“Beeni” feat. Barry Jhay

Pairing two distinct artistic sensibilities, the street philosophies of Barry Jhay are in perfect sync with the melodic embrace of CKay. It’s a song that reminds you how far the artist has come; the writing is aspirational, with metaphors that reach into the soil of Nigerian culture. Barry’s chorus is powered with great emotion, resulting in the hands-to-the-sky feeling one derives from listening to this record.

“oliver khan” feat. BOJ

Always a purposeful collaborator, CKay makes the perfect choice of BOJ for “oliver khan.” For one, the serene vibrance of the production is one the alte forerunner has made his over the years, and with an ascendant CKay working into the strength of his powers, a unique feeling is realized here. A slow burner, it, however, moves one to dance, through its bright percussion and groovy undertones.

“Felony”

When it comes to Afropop lovers' anthems, “Felony” resides in the highest echelon. A fine piece of sentimental writing charged with evocative melodies, it showcases the R&B side of CKay, with the necessary vibrance to make it a bop. The universal nature of love cannot be overstated, and coveting a chosen mood rather than the specificity of lyrics, it’s one of those rare songs that make you humbled in the face of such poignant affection.

“Jeje de Whine”

With a guitar on the cover of the Boyfriend EP, it was evident that CKay was exploring new sensibilities. One of those was finding the sweet spot that connects Afropop with Latin influences, and no doubt the guitar plays a prominent role in this relationship. “Jeje de Whine” is a slow tease, mirroring the languid motions of sensual dancing. Doubtless to say, it’s one of his most sonically accomplished records.

“Skoin Skoin” feat. Bianca Costa

“I love you, sometimes I don’t / You push my buttons like remote,” so begins this dramatic record. A perusal of the emotive scales within a relationship, CKay’s voice embodies all the weariness and subdued poetry of one who’s had enough of a toxic partner. On the other hand, Bianca Costa supplies the other side of the conversation, thrilling with her Portuguese-rendered verse.

“Kiss Me Like You Miss Me”

Just like “Felony,” there’s a breezy vibe carried in the movements of this record. It evokes the imagery of a man driving nowhere, with only their memories and desires sparking the flames of their thoughts. The title is quite self-explanatory, and its lyricism doesn’t veer much from the idea of ravishing communion; rather, it’s the brilliant production and underlying vocals that drive the emotive force.

“you”

At a period when listeners were getting somewhat filled with the typical amapiano sound, CKay took its distinct percussions and made something brilliant with it. Ambient and roving, “you” combines flute and drums, moving serenely in that beautiful middle ground between R&B and amapiano. Quite a fine achievement of sound, it showcases CKay’s background in production.

“leave me alone”

Continuing on the theme of toxic affairs, this pomp-infused record does just what the CKay persona on Sad Romance is all about. Here he goes all-in, seeking reprieve from what he’s gone through by a recognition of distance. It’s a popular phase in relationship issues, and CKay captures the mood perfectly through the sound: a burst of energy, our character finds strength in their own individuality.

“come close” feat. Ayra Starr

One of the best duos in Nigerian pop, Ayra Starr and CKay doubtless made magic on “Beggie Beggie,” one of the standouts from her debut album, 19 & Dangerous. Ayra repays the favor on “come close,” a smokey soul-infused record off CKay’s own debut. It’s a fine exchange of energies, carried by a mutual understanding of the song’s reconciliatory vision.

“WATAWI” feat. Davido, Focalistic & Abidoza

Instead of subverting amapiano as he does on “you,” here CKay leans fully into its vibrance. With co-production from South Africa’s Abidoza, it’s a bop that never ceases to excite. On their part, Focalistic and Davido showcase their collaborative synergy, both delivering stellar verses that amplify the haughty message of CKay’s record. “She say what are we?” he sings. “I tell her we are what we are / I say, baby, no reason am too far.”

“By Now”

Anyone who’s been strung out and left hanging, due to their desires of intimacy, understands the angst audible in this record. CKay’s depiction of troubled love continues through this song, a kind of other side to “DTF.” Its chorus holds great emotion and with the backing melodies to go with it, it’s a song that excites on several levels: sonically, of course, but also thematically.

“mmadu”

Meaning “human” in Igbo, the warmth behind this record owes a lot to the unhurried perspective of CKay. He’s like a man moving through a splendid house, and at each point, he stops to peruse the beauty of what he’s seeing. That’s the feeling one gets from hearing “mmadu”: it’s quite akin to a striptease, except this time it’s the proclamation of love that does the undressing of hearts.

“lose you” feat. Ronisia

One of the most emotionally complex records CKay has ever made, here he lets the facade of assurance fade away, admitting that he doesn’t want to lose the girl. Coming at the last movement of Sad Romance, it beautifully advances the turmoil across the project, and in this particular instance shows that there’s more than one side to love. It’s never an easy decision to make, and on her part, Ronisia does astounding in her vocal inflections, which match the longing of her host.

“HALLELUJAH” feat. Blaqbonez

Blaqbonez and CKay go way back. At some point, both acts were budding signees to Chocolate City, and along with Dice Ailes, recorded some of their first songs together. So it makes sense that after CKay scored that global hit, he would link up with his old friend to record an appreciative bop. Both acts are in stellar form, taking the upbeat production with great exuberance while keeping in tune with the grateful mien of the song. It’s quite the forever bop.