First released in 2022, “Okiemute” found a wider audience in November 2023 when the late Nigerian street-pop singer Mohbad was recruited by the Nigerian musician Yungskid for its official remix.
The writing takes adversity and makes it inspiration, taking us back to how individuals would disappear when there was little money left before comparing that time period to the hope of advancement and money. This is, of course, the outlook Mohbad finds himself in, with phrases about persistent hustle, preserving his ambitions, and aiming higher.
Production is credited to Supatee (who also produced the original recording) and Lionmix for the remix. Clocking in at just over three minutes and fifteen seconds, the reworked version allows Mohbad a bit of space to put his stamp on it whilst preserving the repeating “Oya now” and “Okiemute” refrains throughout.
Looking back, the remix has added poignancy, coming after Mohbad’s death in September 2023 and maintaining another recorded performance by an artist whose music continued to connect powerfully with fans after he died.
Listen to “Okiemute (Remix)” on all major streaming platforms and drop your comments on the collaboration below.
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