Nigerian dancehall star Patoranking reunites with rap heavyweight Olamide on “Welcome To Lagos,” a lively collab celebrating their home city.
The record leans on C-tea Beat’s production, which builds the instrumental around rolling bass and energetic drums. The song runs for approximately three minutes and three seconds. That arrangement keeps the energy moving from start to finish.
Patoranking handles the opening with his familiar dancehall delivery. He sings about the city’s nightlife, expensive lifestyle and the people who come to Lagos looking for enjoyment. The chorus has a chant-like feel, so it is easy to imagine crowds singing along at parties.
Olamide takes over with a verse that brings the street perspective. He switches between Yoruba, Pidgin and English, touching on money, social status and the Lagos lifestyle. His reference to the city’s traditional praise name also gives “Welcome To Lagos” a distinctly Nigerian identity.
The song is the fourth single from Patoranking’s forthcoming fifth studio album. It follows “No Jonze,” “African Soldier” featuring Buju Banton and “Shake That” featuring Ruger. This release also arrives shortly before Olamide’s album Time & Space.
For longtime fans, the pairing carries extra weight. The two artists last appeared together on “Mama Aboyo,” from Patoranking’s 2016 album God Over Everything.
Has “Welcome To Lagos” made it onto your playlist yet? Drop your verdict in the comments below.
