Last week, Lamp Mode recording artist Seun “S.O.” Otukpe was nearly in a fatal car accident. By the grace of God, he is here to enjoy his 26th birthday.
To celebrate the occasion, instead of soliciting gifts, he is giving them in the form of three brand new singles: “Cabin In Abuja (Manolo Remix),” “Let It Out” featuring J. Williams, and “Elder Road.”
“My 26th birthday is here. Thank the Lord for keeping me for this long. I could be dead,” said S.O. in a statement, expressing his gratitude for another year.
The Nigerian born, London-based Christian rapper, who gave his life to Christ in 2004—ten years ago—continued, “Not only has the Lord kept me, He has also saved me. He freely gifted me with salvation—the best gift one could receive. So what is it for me to gift my fans with new songs?”
Known for emo rap that digs into deeply emotional and personal experiences, each of S.O.’s newest offerings fit perfectly within that context.
He lyrically walks the listener through love and loss, violence and grief, as well as hopes and dreams, giving the impression that the under-30 lyricist has lived well beyond his years.
A preview of things to come, S.O. is gearing up to release a new album in 2015 and is scheduled for several trips to the U.S. in February, March, June and August of next year.
In the meantime, S.O.’s supporters can vibe out to his new music like it’s their birthday.
For S.O. fans who wish to decode the deeper meaning in each song, he has offered the following explanations:
ABUJA –
“Got a cabin in Abuja – but I don’t have one really. Trip Lee’s single “Manolo” is one of the biggest songs that came out this year in CHH. My first project was me rapping on other people’s beats, so I thought why not take it back one time? Abuja is just some fun. My friend Mike said I need to show my humorous side more so we shot an impromptu video of me ‘performing’ in the studio with a few of my friends.
ELDER ROAD –
Coming from London to America often allows me to hear many misconceptions about England. “Do you eat crumpets?” Or “Are there black people?” are some of things I hear often (yes even the black thing). “Elder Road” is a song dear to my heart. Not only is it the place that I go to every week to create music, it is also the place that captures some amazing aspects of British culture. It can also be a place of sadness. This is a song that is meant to paint a picture of what London is like.
LET IT OUT –
I remember sitting in my house one day reflecting on my ‘love life’. You would think that I have this thing down packed but that is far from the truth. “Let It Out” is me expressing that. Everything from past feelings for a woman I used to like who was then engaged (now married), to wondering whether my age is an indicator that I need to settle down (thankfully I do not have a mother who is pushing me for grand babies). No pressure for me, though, because I know that God provides my needs.
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