In the last few years, Kid Konnect has been going about putting a face, and a voice, to the highly-respected name. But we’ve already made our peace with producers like him taking more people-facing roles, so it’s not only normal, it’s now expected.
As far as production goes though, Konnect is the kind of producer that you’d appreciate better when he handles entire projects as opposed to just one or two songs. His newest, Small Chops, is the first in an EP series that’s tied to a monthly podcast/curated playlist and features one of Nigeria’s most critically-acclaimed hip-hop groups Show Dem Camp.
Small Chops (Vol. 1) is made up 4 songs, only SDC’s Ghost was given 1 to himself – “Bushido”. The song samples “Remember the Rain” by Chicago soul band 21st Century, which was originally released in 1974, but credit would have to go to Frank Ocean and Mario for reusing it recently and reminding the world about just how dope and timeless the record was. Konnect starts “Bushido” with a clip from the DZRPT Breakfast Club, a show he co-hosted. On there, he somehow went from talking about being courageous to talking about how his scrotum hangs loosely. Madness. It’s moments like these that make you thankful that Konnect took the plunge and emerged from behind the boards to show us his quirky, humorous side.
On the song proper, Ghost is in rare form – rapping like he has a chip on his shoulder. There are deep references to samurai and ancient culture that are worth rewinding and doing your Googles on. It’s good to hear him like this, it’s good to hear him at all. In comparison to Tec, Ghost has taken a backseat in recent times but even in his self-admitted absence, the growly half of SDC wants you to know that his place in hip-hop is still intact.
Still they’re asking – who’s the illest in Africa?
Damned if I know the answer
But still I dare any challenger
Pick a date on the calendar
Ghost absolutely owns this project, if you ask me. Tec joins in on “Standard”, a record for SDC’s core audience who surely miss their I-don’t-give-a-f***-if-radio-plays-this sound. The topics are typical SDC – women, partying, drinking to a stupor and bragging about how good they are at rapping. There’s an ancient reference to Liverpool legend Kevin Keegan hidden in there that betrays the duo’s age and makes you wonder whether younger folks will be able to relate. Another football reference that might fly over younger heads is to ex-Super Eagle skipper Sunday Oliseh. Former Aristokrat Mojeed and the highly-rated Moti Cakes don’t add any more clever football references to “Oliseh” though, the song isn’t an ode to the great man but to balling everyday, even on Sundays – you don’t have to be 30 and older to get with it.
There’s a record on Small Chops that takes the other half of Oliseh’s name and talks about how we, as people, act holier than Pastor Adeboye on Sunday mornings – like Friday night’s debauchery didn’t happen or like Monday morning’s excuse, read lie, for coming late to work isn’t about to. Myst, Sir Dauda and SDC take turns to look in the mirror and chastise themselves on “Sunday” but perhaps the most heartfelt verse belonged to Pires, a man who interestingly named himself after yet another football legend. I was delighted to meet his acquaintance, the aim of this EP wasn’t only to get new SDC music out but to expose him and a number of Kid Konnect’s close associates to the world.
For members of the world who haven’t been initiated, “Small Chops” is Nigeria’s finger food. The mere fact that Konnect named his new project after puff-puff and samosas shows you the kind of character the world would have missed out on if he kept strictly to producing music. Konnect’s personality is all over this EP, this is the musical equivalent of making food “with love”.
Small chops are mainly eaten as appetizers and judging by how short this project is, it’s clear that this round was just to whet our appetite, let’s just hope Konnect is able to keep serving helpings of good music.