Review: Black Sherif’s Take Care of Yourself Blacko

15 Aug 2023 - 16:46

Published under the Creative Commons Licence

Black Sherif’s splendid Take Care of Yourself Blacko – published amid the rising popularity of two-track packs and the weekly surge in digital releases – flows like a stream of consciousness, amplifying the artist’s introspective style and gift for finding the through-line between the bleak and beautiful.

Cover art of Black Sherif’s Take Care of Yourself Blacko single.

It is a distinctive space the singer, armed with cultural insight that positions him in the centre of a new chapter in the evolution of Ghanaian hip hop, carved for himself off the bat with his 2022 debut album The VIllain I Never Was, making him the go-to voice of a new generation. The new release deepens this perceived persona.

His convivial authenticity forms a relatable connection between his honesty and our own experiences. If he is completely true to himself through his music, the rest of us can strive to be better, too.

Even though they may be labelled hip hop , the spirit of ‘Simmer Down’ and ‘Yaya’ rings with folk while striking at the heart of reggae, betraying his hushed bond to those sounds. Indeed, ‘Simmer Down’, which confronts doubt and offers a mantra for keeping still in tough times, is a direct nod to The Wailers’ 1964 classic, which bears the same title.

The other track, whose title provides an update on Black Sherif’s various names, retains a similar focus, comparing the man’s mental fortitude to a diamond.

Together, the pair of stirring soliloquies form a durable dual exploration of guts and grit, complete with spiritual layers capturing universal sentiments of diligence and self-discovery. Actually, we needn’t even look past the project’s title to understand the origins of its depth. The phrase holds instruction and reaffirmation, stressing the value of self-love. No love holds greater importance than that. These days, very few hold up a mirror to themselves quite like Black Sherif.