How Solidstar built a career on Tiwa Savage collabos

These collaborations, borne out of a pressing need to secure wider audiences for his sound, are certainly more strategic than organic. But don’t punish him just yet. He has garnered evidence to keep him toeing this path. His first taste of mainstream success was with the remix to the single 'One in a Million', from his debut album of the same title. 2Baba spruced the single and more people began to pay attention to the dreadlocked singer.

For his latest album, the improbably titled W.E.E.D (Witness Everything Exceptionally Different) from 2016, Solidstar attracted the biggest contemporary male names to his cause. Flavour, Phyno, Timaya, Burna Boy, even Diamond Platinumz from Tanzania.

If there is any marquee name female act whom Solidstar enjoys a clear and present connection with, it is Tiwa Savage. Both acts first hooked up three years ago on the Masterkraft produced 'Baby Jollof', a charming but uneven love song that manages to successfully plant a social network friend request as metaphor for a budding romantic relationship. Solidstar then goes ahead to do the expected. He ties everything he is feeling to a sumptuous dish of jollof rice. The Nigerian kind, of course. All of this goes down in the chorus:

She no want to connect….connect
She say my love carry machete….machete
And she put me for pending oh…Janet
I go wait oh till you accept….accept
Baby jollof oh oh oh
To my love oh oh oh
You too sweet like jollof oh oh oh

Put out to ignite some spark just as the reception for Solidstar’s sophomore record Grace & Glory was beginning to taper off, 'Baby Jollof' is as unpretentious as it was useful back then. Arranged to a clatter of drums and packaged to a highlife feel, it goes about its business without drama. The clubs welcomed it, so did top 20 radio.

The video for 'Baby Jollof' opts for a friendly, wholesome vibe. Set in a resident neighbourhood with children playing football and rope-skipping merrily, most oblivious to the infatuated adults responding to their hormonal awakenings. The risqué-est thing going down here comes surprisingly not from Ms Savage—who is capable of raising the temperature of any set with barely a smouldering glance—but from a shirtless Solidstar making goo goo eyes at his love interest.

Solidstar must have been satisfied with Savage’s contribution (or maybe he was impressed with her unwavering hit making ability). He invited her back for another merry go round. This time, for the refix to 'Wait,' a previously released duet with Davido. Both versions appear on the W.E.E.D.

'Wait' does the odd thing for a pop song in advocating celibacy in romantic relationships. Produced by P. Banks who does the bulk of the work on W.E.E.D, the song leans towards the dancehall spectrum of pop. Patoranking, whose chemistry with Tiwa Savage produced 'Girlie O' remix, completes the lively threesome.

Of both Solidstar-Tiwa Savage collaborations, 'Wait refix' is the catchier one but the jury is out on which one makes better sense musically. A dance-ready confection that worms its way into ears and playlists from the very first notes, 'Wait refix' is quite busy, benefitting from drums, synth riffs and a melodious electric guitar.

There is a reason Solidstar’s biggest hits cast a shadow on him. It is the same reason he continues to make these duets with Savage, Flavour or whoever is hot at the moment. He has a famous name, a recognisable face but near zero artistry, and no serviceable backstory. His voice while adequate does not exactly stand out and he has no extra factor going on for him as an artist. Seven years after breaking out, his personality remains bland and there is really no compelling reason to get excited about his presence.

But these songs keep Solidstar's finger on the pulse of Nigerian pop. He follows trends carefully and is able to shapeshift convincingly to keep up with the times. These may not be ingredients for an enduring career but they make him a decent enough contemporary artist. One whose career can get by well enough on solo material. At least, until the next Tiwa Savage duet.