The Nigerian hip-hop artist and businessman, Cross Idukomose David, popularly known by his stage name ‘Kwate’, is undoubtedly one of the most consistent artists in the music purview over the years. Kwate’s unrelenting releases over a decade have been astonishing and intriguing, as he keeps blowing his fans’ minds with beguiling Afro hip-hop sounds since the 2000s.
Despite being an IT professional and business mogul, Kwate still has no diversion from music; he has been able to balance his music career with other activities. His consistency has given him relevance and also driven him into prominence, and enabled him to make music with other superb Nigerian artists, such as Jaywon, Magnito, Side One, Black IQ, etc.
Kwate sees Fela Kuti, Victor Uwaifo, Felix Liberty, King Sunny Ade, 2Face, and a host of other Nigerian legendary musicians as his role models. These aforementioned great singers and musicians have influenced his career and melodious sounds. He has had several singles and an album to his name, which professionally indicates his commitment, dedication, and consistency in the music industry over the years.
Around 2007, he released a beautiful love song, ‘Sweet Gal’, which literally means ‘sweet girl’, featuring Soul T, Faya Bounta, and Skin. In this track, Kwate professes his undying love and hope to his admirer: ‘sweet girl, I know you will be the girl for me?’ He further went to extremes to assure his lover of his affection, saying ‘it is true that I can’t live without you’; this line seems hyperbolic, but we can’t doubt the fact that people go beyond ordinary love and tend to sacrifice anything for their lovers. The second verse was introduced with a soft rap by Soul T; Bounta also came in with an ethereal verse, while Skin gave a reggae-type verse. ‘Sweet Gal’ is a catchy love song that every advocate of love would cherish.
In 2009, Kwate released a song titled ‘Tamilorobo’, featuring Soul T and Skin. He seems to enjoy the combination of both featured artists, as he had previously featured them both on a track around 2007. ‘Tamilorobo’ is a club banger that glorifies lust and sensation. The sound is a mixture of hip-hop and dancehall rhythms. Kwate introduced the song by saying, ‘o de Jo na baby, je n wole sinu placenta e’; this line is explicit and possibly meant to convey his desire to make love to the woman in question. As expected, Soul T went hard on his rap verse, and Skin beautified the song with his rap mixed with a dancehall sound. Apart from its sensitive, lustful sound, ‘Tamilorobo’ is a great rhythm and a club party enticer.
In the year 2010, Kwate released a track, ‘Owo Lo Owo’, meaning ‘Money is Money’, which connotes the notion that any kind of money or wealth, no matter its source, is still money. Like every other artist, he portrayed his love for money and luxurious life: ‘owolowo, everybody likes am’, proving the fact that everyone in the world loves money. Kwate was able to keep his flow and rhythm in this song, even without featuring.
Still around 2010, he released another song titled ‘Nothing Do You’, featuring O’Black. In this song, Kwate dedicated the song to a woman: ‘for this gbedu nah you, everything nah you.’ He further backed his love for the woman by bragging about his money and how he would take good care of her: ‘I get money plenty, follow me, sissy.’ O’Black also beautified the song with his dancehall verse mixed with a touch of hip-hop melody.
With his smash hit ‘Party Dey Here’, featuring Side One, released in 2010, Kwate gained better recognition in the music industry. This song boomed well in clubs, parties, and several events in the country. The song explores party life and groove. Both artists preach their love for social life and the need to enjoy the moment, as it brings fun and fades off worries. The track is undoubtedly a successful one, with superb rhythm and flow. Every DJ must have this track on their disc and bless every party or club gathering with.
Though Kwate’s music releases have been sequential and consistent from 2007 till date, his music type might sound like the old style of hip-hop; yet, it resonates with the current music purview of the country today. He has his audience, who are core lovers of his sound till date. Kwate, on the other hand, is a great artist who has gained prominence with his talent and met famous musicians in the continent to create beautiful works of art.
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