Spirtuality is no taboo topic in the world of Hip Hop, nor is religion. Yet, the vulnerablity that often precedes it is not afforded the same space. This rejection of emotional transparency, admist the socioeconomic pressures placed particularly on Black men is a topic of ongoing cultural discussion and one Black Sherif flips onto itself in his 2025 release, Iron Boy. 

The metaphor is in the name: a representation of “armor” and a form of self-presevation, prompted as most walk through life with just enough tools to survive. However, the rising artist formally known as Blacko quickly reveals the fragility in this theory. Iron Boy collectively serves as a cultural representation of resilience, and emotional resistance within West Africa, allowing songs, such as “Soma Obi” to stand out among the list as raw, honest, and symbolic of the true human experience. 

“Soma Obi” is one of those tracks that follows a formula unlike the remainder of the project. Placed in the center of the album, the heartfelt song adds a grounding element that balances the rest of its hard-hitting counterparts. Contrary to the rest, it is a song with no explosive beat drop or party-like tempo, but rather a gradual melodic sound that complements the honesty in both his voice and words. Not often in Hip Hop are we given a song that mirrors a spiritual plea, especially one centered on being seen and aided amidst one’s internal battles. But here, Hip Hop gives up its hardcore exterior and briefly trades it in for relatability.

Lyrically, this track drifts from tradition storytelling and moves into a journal-like confession. The repetition of “soma obi” (“send someone”) is structurally intentional, signaling that in the midst of his success, money, and fame, help remains distant and hope feels conditional. His words strip listeners from the experience of celebration, and pull them toward a more reflective state, rooted in a simplicity of words, yet a complexity of emotions. 

They say you should never listen to a project on shuffle on the first listen, and that sentiment rings true for Iron Boy. While each track has its own identity and is reflective of a artist navigating personal growth, “Soma Obi’s” role as an emotional anchor is solidified by both its placement and content. In an album that pays homage to high-life musician, Amakye Dede, Black Sherif proves that he, as a rising Ghanaian artist, is not only honoring those before him, but creating space for vulnerability and spirituality in a genre that promotes silence over truth.