Brymo: Singer's Organized Chaos is proof that he was never meant for mainstream success

To most listeners, he is an acquired taste. But among a loyal few, Brymo has created enough timeless music to be mentioned in conversations about icons

Between all the false starts of 2010 and the contract wars of 2013, Ibrahim Olawale went from ‘next up' to ‘almost' in the eye of the average listener.

In that time, he had managed to impress considerably  -  stellar guest verses like "Oleku" and one of the more convincing efforts of 2012, "Son of a Kapenta" proved that he was no one-trick pony, no mere flash in the pan.

But label disputes over creativity and contractual terms slowly hit his cause in the groin, so much that by the end of 2013, he was burning calories over a legal battle with his former home Chocolate City over rights to his third effort "Merchants, Dealers, and Slaves".

It seemed like Brymo had gone head first down a path that hardly ever ends in glory on this side of the Atlantic.

playWhen the going was good, Brymo (far right) sits with then label-mates; Jesse Jagz, Ice Prince and M.I and the management of Chocolate City music. (happenings.com.ng)

Two albums have passed since then, the prosaic "Tabula Rasa" and "Klitoris", an album known more for its title than its contents.

It’s fair to say Ibrahim Olawale has fared better than we expected that he would.

The big question though is whether Brymo could have been more if he had swallowed his pride and creativity. The answer is a simple No.

Much can be said of the commercial success he might or could or probably should have achieved with Chocolate City’s resources and structure behind him; Ice Prince’s success by affiliation is perhaps the biggest proof of what Chocolate City could offer even the most generic ‘rapper’ at its peak.

But unlike artists like Ice Prince, Brymo has gone on to set landmarks where predecessors failed shamelessly and the precocious young upstarts continue to struggle in.

It’s hard to say what qualifies as an independent artist nowadays. On the one hand, there’s Frank Ocean and Chance the Rapper signing exclusive deals with Apple while Atlanta’s new and unproven trap lords ink million dollar distribution deals on the other hand (even though almost everyone is signed to Coach K). 

It's fair to say the line between support and sponsorship has gotten blurry as hell.

Brymo himself signed a distribution deal with the lesser known Tate Music Company for the release of his compilation, "Trance" in 2015.

Still, think about the fact that since 2013, he has had little more than the Bail Company and in more recent times, the Lagos State government to propagate his half-naked, chorus-driven gospel.

Granted, the early days of his emergence and his radio-friendly spin on indigenous folk music with songs like "Ara" and "Good Morning" earned a fan base that has matured with his subject matter and developed into a cult following.

playWith Brymo's sophomore effort "Son of a Kapenta", he won over a devoted fan-base that has largely stuck with him through his development into the artist he is today. (Chocolate City)

This is no mean feat, but it is certainly not enough to guarantee the success of two live shows, the classic status bestowed on "Tabula Rasa" and the critical acclaim that Brymo enjoys among a certain audience.

Even now, amidst a rebirth of consciousness in our sound that has inspired him and many others, he holds his place, a niche he has carved with acute storytelling and a persona that both Afrika Shrine and Bogobiri can relate to.

Yesterday, on the 1st of May 2017, a day set aside to celebrate the dignity of labor, hundreds of people gathered at Freedom Park, Lagos Island for the second year running to listen to this son of a carpenter whose raspy voice, however inciting, sounds too much like a lifetime of the many experiences he sings of.

It may be the function of any one of many factors, but as he proved on the night, Brymo’s stagecraft has improved in leaps and bounds since he went solo.

playBrymo, in the moment. (Pulse)

The same can be said of his overall development in the last two years. He has grown consistently with an intense sense of direction that labels like Choc City have never managed to insert in their formula for success.

That journey, from generic hook master to niche icon, has not come without its own sacrifices. Nowadays, Brymo's stories carry more meaning with each release - and as time and various short careers have shown us, substance can be hard for most people to digest.

The last edition of #OrganizedChaos was not everyone’s favorite concert, largely due to what these streets have termed too much wokeness — including an unnecessary abstract display involving two people and an empty crate of eggs

This year though, Brymo let the people have what they came for without needless side attractions.

It was music and nothing else and it was just about enough.

A wise, over-analytic, old man once said The most powerful instrument is the human voice.

Of course, it helps when you have a string of hits to pick from and fans who know them word for word, down to the adlibs and guitar chords.

The crowd at Freedom Park was a Brymo crowd if there ever was one. No one knew this more than the man himself.

Barely minutes after he took the stage, he was throwing greetings at acquaintances in the audience; old friends, superfans, internet evangelists, the odd twitter warrior.

playAmong the crowd, Brymo found old friends and devoted superfans. (Pulse)

Hours into his set, they spurred him on as he ran through fan favorites - "Prick No Get Shoulder", "Alajo Somolu" and "Eko". He appeared to tire at times but they didn’t care, he had asked them to come to Freedom Park, 2000 naira in hand to see him sing and that was exactly what they were going to see.

It is these intimate sessions that have made Brymo the artist that he is and will be remembered as. It is why his fans are more like zealots or crusaders, than anything else.

Where Brymo connects is on a personal level. His most successful songs are those that have channeled ambition and struggle; "Ara" speaks of the desire to do great things, "Prick No Get Shoulder" reminds one of the more asinine pleas men make in order to steal some box, "Alajo Somolu" is a song of diligence and service.

In an interview with OkayAfrica, he was quoted as saying, "Although my songs reflect many issues which are relevant in my society, I believe that human relations is the site where all issues emerge".

This is why, no matter how many lush layers and distinct elements make their way into the orgasmic sound of his band, the ‘Lagos Touts’, the most important instrument in a Brymo set is still his voice.

playA fan records Brymo's set on his smartphone; one special moment saved on a hard drive for as long as he wants. (Pulse)

It is the one thing that fluctuates between good vibes on "Happy Memories" and promises of diligence on "1986". It is what entrances his audience as he sings his version of every listeners’ most common fears and hopes, like a praise singer that has embraced the philosophical.

It is a little too easy to believe.

Artists like Brymo will never become mass market brands. There is nothing short of an unusual repeat of the Roswell incident that will give Brymo another nationwide hit. And that’s perfectly fine.

As two editions of Organized Chaos have proven, his genius, while under-appreciated, is not going unnoticed.

All Brymo needs are the people who will sing along like they did last night, swaying in the night breeze to his ballads and dancing when the beat permits them to.

playThe audience at Brymo's concert numbered in the hundreds, and their attention was his till he decided to let go. (Pulse)

They are the people who are always more than ready to buy his music, turn out at the concerts and leave their fingerprints on social media with every new release.

They may not be the biggest crowd, relative to the packed stadiums that many artists associate with success but ask any of them for their opinion and they will tell you that the man they saw on the stage last night is a young legend.

Years from now, when his vocal chords and passion for a story can no longer translate into beautiful bodies of work and enchanting performances, they will tell of how this unlikely hero stayed true to his gift and carved a path on his own.