Liberia: J Slught is the King of the Jungle

Born Joseph Wessah Tah III, J Slught shot to fame with his 2018 single ‘Sweet Love’ released on BeeVonne Recordz label. Years later, the musician has become the source of sleek vocals and lingering Afropop, hip hop and R&B melodies. Speaking to Music in Africa last year, J Slught described his sonic approach as a “unique” style that “speaks to individuals in different ways. It's a fusion sound which blends Afrobeats, R&B, soul, gbema, highlife, solo and rap all in one to bring out the best and to show the diversity.”

J Slught says that by conforming to the EP format, he is merely catering to current listening trends on social media and across DSPs and following the modern breakthrough route for artists. Last year, Home & Beyond accrued nearly a million streams, sweeping all awards in the album or compilation category, which made it the best album to come out of Liberia.

With King of the Jungle, which symbolises attributes such as uniqueness, superiority and fearlessness, the ‘Lorpu’ man has his sights on ears beyond the shores of Liberia.

“After the successful journey with Home & Beyond, my team and I thought it wise to make a follow-up with something bigger and more international,” the rapper said. “So, we had to put heads together, pick and drop some songs and rework already recorded songs to achieve the sound we were looking for.”

J Slught admits that putting the new project together came with pressure, but not the kind that attends the need to top a vastly successful predecessor. Rather, it emerged from the selection process. There were so many good songs to choose from, and it was difficult to settle on the final selection. Otherwise, everything else went smooth: “I always record lots of songs and keep for times like this.”

In his home country, J Slught is the king of love songs, so yes, that theme will be heavily treated on the project, notably on ‘Body’, which he self-produced and recorded in one night.

“I did the beat during the day, left it to refresh my mind and I came back to work on it in the evening,” he said. “I started listening and writing and I knew that there was no other path I could take with the beat but that of love and romantic vibes. I had to spend the entire night recording the song and get things straight. And we came up with a great song that night.”

By himself, the musician has issued multiple commercially successful records. This project, too, is strictly J Slught. To industry watchers, however, collaboration is among the surest ways to cross over into other markets. Despite what his recent releases may suggest, collaboration is something that aligns with J Slught’s plans, and at this stage in his career, the likes of Omah Lay, Wizkid, Davido, Fireboy DML, Oxlade and Laycon are among fellow West African pop stars who are on J Slught’s mind.

The whole world, especially the creative sector is still adjusting to COVID-19. J Slught’s method to remaining relevant and productive in these trying times have been “staying glued to my internet to promote my songs via IG Live sessions, being a studio rat and shooting videos”. If the pandemic has taught J Slught anything, it is the ability to readjust when times change. And so, the challenges notwithstanding, the singer is keen on “building my brand and taking it to another level.”

Stream King of the Jungle here.