Darkoo is a Nigerian-Born British rapper, who has been further cementing herself in the industry and further spreading the culture all at once. Born in Lagos, the rapper moved to the UK at the age of 7 and was raised in South London, an area that has also raised stars such as Stormzy and Dave. Darkoo began her career doing drill, but her recent work with her track titled “Shayo” featuring Tion Wayne showcases her connection to her roots through her music.

The song titled “Shayo” is a feel good track that incorporates classic identifiers of African music such as the choral vocals in the chorus, and the melodic beat that usually identifies with afrobeats music. Not only this, but she has Tion Wayne, a respected UK rapper also with Nigerian background on the track, and further emphasizes the ode to the rich culture that precedes them. 

In African music, a common piece that makes it what it is, is the choral aspects that exist within chorus’. It is throughout this song, and creates a type of richness and comfort that allows the audience to really just vibe. The use of Nigerian pidgin is also a very important aspect of the song, as it truly gives a feeling of being connected to her roots, no matter the beginnings and no matter the come up. 

The beat is also very identifiable with the culture. If someone were to listen to the song, they would easily be able to recognize that this was made by an African artist. The drums in the song are a great signifier of West African culture, and have made the song a nice feel good song for the vibes while still keeping the integrity of African culture. This collaboration was a great one, and I’m looking forward to see what else Darkoo does in the future with her music.