Manchester’s OneDa needs to show how versatile she is on debut album ‘Formulation OneDa’. Hotly tipped as the following rising star from the 0161, OneDa (actual title Onye Ezeh) has supported the likes of Heavenly labelmates Kneecap and Baxter Dury and stood on a number of the greatest musical phases within the UK – Boomtown, The Nice Escape and Glastonbury to call just a few. Now, the British-Nigerian rapper-producer needs to point out her value and eclecticism on ‘Formulation OneDa’.
The document kicks off with ‘Let Me In’, which admittedly isn’t probably the most interesting opening observe: over a repetitive saxophone-led instrumental produced by Fats Buddha, OneDa voices her frustration about gatekeepers permitting her abilities to go unnoticed. Some bars are easy to a fault – a steady drawback all through the document.
Fortunately, ‘Formulation OneDa’ exhibits a number of promise. Different songs characterize her robust storytelling higher as she seamlessly shifts between grime, dance, and hip-hop, delving into a wide selection of themes. The lofty synths and sing-songy refrains in ‘Main Pay’ make for an escapist tune, while autobiographical gem ‘Raised’ reveals the woman behind the music as she raps: “Raised on Church on Sunday / Teenage gunplay / Fuck the Lord, get cash”.
OneDa is a self-proclaimed “Pussy Energy Promoter”, as per the unapologetic 2023 EP ‘Pussy Energy’. That uncompromising manner carries over to ‘Formulation OneDa’; on ‘The Formulation’, she reminds ladies of their energy in an empowering interlude and bigs up all of the “impolite women” on ‘Set It Off’, encouraging them to “not edit the picture” and “simply be you and simply kill it”. You’ll be able to hear that fierce aforementioned self-advocacy all through these high-octane tracks, particularly on ‘Pull Up’ and ‘Generally’, two songs that present her relentlessness to achieve musical dominance.
‘Chief’ is the true spotlight of the album. OneDa produced it herself, crafting a enjoyable, arena-ready tune whereas sustaining her uplifting ethos. She declares: “I used to be born to be a foul woman / I used to be born to be a frontrunner, you understand.” She additionally recites a number of the bars in a thick Nigerian accent over the jungle-inspired tune, which is a welcome addition.
OneDa exhibits that her pussy energy is nothing to play with on ‘Formulation OneDa’. The album is a enjoyable and empowering stepping stone that may hold you energised for the remainder of the 12 months – hopefully it’s the catalyst to OneDa’s meteoric rise.
Particulars
- Launch date: October 4, 2024
- File label: Heavenly Recordings
