Combining mellow piano-led production with elements of romance folded into slick bars, Nigerian rapper Asriel returns with ‘i know that girl’.

What began as a beat crafted in front of fans on Instagram Live evolved into a cheeky “status update to my listeners,” says Asriel. With lines like, “Her name’s heaven, she want me to shoot my shot like Kobe in Game 7? OK” and executed with Kanye West’s ‘Late Registration’ in mind, the artist continues to draw on the greats, developing his own unique sound.

Since showing off range and lyrical precision on ‘THE SEVEN DEATHS’ EP last year — a project co-signed by Kojey Radical, Asriel pens yet another catchy hook on ‘i know that girl’. With this first single of the year, Asriel is knocking even harder on the doors of the alternative hip-hop scene. On this occasion, with his effortless flow, playful lyricism and sprinkle of Nigerian references, he’s not asking for attention, he is demanding it. Asriel’s talent simply can’t go unnoticed.