Harteez shows off sonic dexterity with “Attention the EP”

More budding Yoruba rappers continue to embrace their originality by belting words in the Yoruba language. The days of English rapping seem to have taken a back seat. From the pioneers like AY, Lord of Ajasa, Dagrin, and later Olamide. The list continues to swell. Since 2019, I have been following up on the budding journey of Harteez, a Lagos State singer, songwriter, and rapper.

His real name, Oluwafisayomi Samson, continues to channel his emotion into crafting songs that poignantly paint the pictures of what Ghetto life looks like, although he is young, his level of craftiness shows his maturity, from the lyrics to the syntactic format of his songs, one is bound to be excited for what the future holds for the graduate of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

On November 13, 2020, the artiste released his debut extended play “Attention the EP,” a sassy tribute to his well-known signature (Attention Everybody) across his freestyle videos which are scattered on the Internet. Attention is a way of courting a response or an action, by titling this EP this name, Harteez smartly called everyone to order. For the first time, he tells whoever cared to listen, I am the new guy you have all been waiting for.

The piano-driven “Industry,” finds the singer crooning about his battles in the industry. The sound inflexions in the song might have made the topic less threatening, nevertheless, the track is a lofty way of starting the EP. For the first-timer, they all get a picture of what life has been like for the rapper. The old fans, get a picture of what Harteez prophecies for his future. The last verse delves more into prayer and gratitude amidst the half-threatening and prayer-filled chorus.

Harteez takes the mid-tempo route on “Jora Won,” the prayer-filled, hope-themed type of song is heavily laid on drums. The rhythmic pattern becomes the fuel to Harteez’s raps. Deliberately, he doesn’t bore the listeners with his life talks, he lets the dance fuel tempo effortlessly flow.

Harteez can also be a lover boy when he chooses to be. The romantic side of him shone more on the percussion-based “Let You Go,” while he promised to love the girl, he is quick to warn her to behave herself. One time, he is endearing, the next second, he is menacing with words. A man of both worlds, you would say.

“Danyamo,” sounds like a rip of Olamide and his then-YBNL cohort song of the same name. This EP would have been better off without it.

The only collaboration on this EP features Marlian Records signed artiste, Zinoleesky. The chorus and the lyrics failed to connect, perhaps one of the artists was not delivering his A-game, who could that be? Zinoleesky of course.

With just a few weeks before the year 2021 kicks off, it’s glaring that Harteez sounds like one of the next-rated artists of the year. If there is any doubt about such a claim, a walk through this EP would obliterate such a thought.

For someone who just released a debut EP, the lapses in some of the tracks would be rectified in subsequent projects. Right now, Harteez just made his mark, would the industry pay attention? only time will tell.