Let me start off by saying, I think I’m obsessed with Shaybo. The self-described ‘Queen of the South’ has been steadily releasing tunes for a while now; I first caught her attention while watching the video for ‘Anger’ on GRM Daily, an absolutely insane drill track brimming with dark, seething rage. Her Daily Duppy, with half a million views on YouTube in only a few months, brings a similar sort of energy; one that leaves you sitting, stunned, long after the video screen fades to black. With bars in both English and Yoruba, it’s not the kind of song you’d forget easily. Meanwhile, her new single ‘Dobale’, meaning ‘to greet and show respect’ in Yoruba, has Shaybo giving a nod to her Nigerian heritage. This is key to her, the artist notes, especially during Black History Month––as well as the anniversary of Nigeria’s 60th year of independence. Within the song itself, the tone is unmistakably more mellow, which is a little jarring when you compare it with her other releases. But maybe it’s testament to Shaybo’s range, and her unwillingness to be put in a single genre box.

While ‘Dobale’ doesn’t necessarily have the same ferocious energy that, say, ‘Anger’ does, it’s an understated gem; on top of a lowkey instrumental, the “I was fighting with these bitches in stilettos” lyric hints at the temper simmering just underneath. Don’t be fooled into thinking this is tame––’Dobale’ is a song that belies Shaybo’s confidence, and her developing her own unique sound.