Reekado Banks and Tiwa Savage deliver on Like

A superb single, it sees the young man cleverly namecheck pop acts of his generation. The technique recalls the derivative inventiveness of MI Abaga’s 'Safe'. The latter famously went through lines from popular songs. Reekado Banks goes through catchphrases from popular artists:

See like Wizzy baby I manya o manya o, manya o
Like Davido you get fire o fire o, fire o
Tiwa baby, malo ma lo, ma lo
She say Reeky jeje o jeje o, jeje o

It is a song for the moment as all of the songs referenced—Wizkid’s 'Manya', Davido’s 'FIA', Tiwa Savage’s 'Ma Lo' and Banks's own 'Jeje'—had their videos released in the last quarter of 2017. (The hook—"go, go, go shorty"—recalls Tekno's 'Go', but as Tekno took it from 50 Cent, it's perhaps best his name doesn't show up.)

The use of lines from these older songs ties a part of 'Like' 's destiny to those song's own popularity, so that some of the new single's charm will all but disappear when those other songs fade from memory.

What remains should be enough. Consider Davido’s 'FIA', which takes a line—"if you no get money hide your face"—from Small Doctor and turns it into something different: it goes from being a taunt in Small Doctor's song to a lament in Davido's. Small Doctor’s ‘Penalty’ has had its day and gone, but 'FIA' retains its power because of the singer’s passion.

‘Like’ should survive on its own because it is clever and the producer works a cool and yet danceable beat around Reekado Banks. Tiwa Savage, who tries and fails to channel Beyonce's 'Dance for You' move in the video, does enough and the label-mates do better here than on 'Go Down' from Savage's RED album. The pop guitarist Fiokee earns his starring credit providing some delicate licks of his instrument. These parts work to make a delightful whole.

It is early days yet, but if ‘Like’ is a sign, Reekado Banks would have a good year.

Artist: Reekado Banks ft. Tiwa Savage and Fiokee
Song: Like
Label, Year: MAVINS, 2016