There are artists who follow the trend. Then there are those who gently swerve off-trends, carving out a lane that sounds like nothing but their truth. Paraboy Nephi is the latter, a rising Afrobeat sensation who doesn’t just drop music, he offers you pages of his emotions and state of mind.
With his latest body of work, “The Otherside”, Paraboy Nephi isn’t here to flex, he’s here to make you feel and he does it in a way that’s both unexpected and irresistible. He may not come off as your typical lover boy, but the tenderness woven into this project proves that there’s depth in his penmanship.
This EP is a soulful masterpiece, 6 tracks of vulnerability, faith, longing, and love. The kind of “other side” we rarely get to see from young Nigerian artists. especially one with such a strong sonic identity.
Now, let’s walk through it track by track:
My Role
The opener, “My Role”, is introspective in the most beautiful way. With a mid-tempo bounce and reflective lyrics, Paraboy sets the tone for the journey ahead. He sings about life, purpose, and the need to put God first, not in a preachy way, but in a way that mirrors what it’s like to be young, flawed, hopeful, and real. You can call this a soft boy anthem or a reminder of what truly matters.
If
This one hits differently. From the moment the highlife-infused beats kicks in, you already know it’s about to be sweet. And Paraboy Nephi does not disappoint. “If the boy no dey fresh… if sapa bin dey hold me down…”. He doesn’t shy away from painting the reality of love beyond luxury. This is the kind of track you send to someone when you want to ask, “Will you love me through it all?”
It’s warm, catchy, and deeply Nigerian. A serious contender for song-of-the-year award. This song is like Davido’s “If”, but with more heart and less ego.
Rara
With this track, it’s not hard to spot how emotional and thought-provoking Paraboy Nephi wanted the listening experience to be.
For everyone who is striving to become something in life this is a song you might need when you’re going through the rough patches, when life beats you down and you need to rise up again and fight for your place. “Rara” seems to be a perfect groovy song that will help you keep going when life throws the hardest punch. Delivered on a groovy beat with motivational undertone. Fantastic!
Loose You
Now this is where the emotions peak. “Loose You” is tender, raw, and completely unguarded. It captures that silent panic of possibly losing the one person who makes everything make sense. With lyrics like “I don’t wanna see you with nobody else but me…”, Paraboy speaks the language of everyone who’s ever fallen too deep. It’s giving voice to the softests, giving voice to the ones who could lose their heads after abandonment. And somehow, it still grooves.
This track doesn’t just tug at your heart, it wraps around it.
Hallelujah
Just when you think you’ve been fully pulled into romance, Paraboy Nephi switches it up and it works. “Hallelujah” is the affirmation anthem every hustler needs on repeat. No forced motivation, no overhyped grind culture. Just gratitude, resilience, and belief. It’s somewhat equivalent to that text from your friend that says: “Don’t worry, everything go align.”
Jor Jor:
“Jor Jor” is the kind of track you didn’t know you needed until it’s halfway through and you’ve already hit replay. Effortless R&B energy, buttery vocals, and penmanship that deserves its own award. It’s sensual without being loud, intentional without trying too hard. This is Paraboy at his lyrical best.
Conclusion
“The Otherside” is more than an EP, it’s a beautifully produced, emotionally intelligent body of work that reminds us that no one is too hard to love, and no artist is too “street” to feel. Paraboy Nephi attempts to explore his softer spaces and it comes out excellent.
This is a body of work you want to play with the lights low or during a solo drive. Or with someone who makes your heart feel a little less heavy. However you choose to experience it, just know that you will feel it.
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