Black Sherif – Iron Boy Album Review: Deeper Melancholy Strain

Black Sherif’s debut album, The Villain I Never Was established him as a unique voice in African music. A storyteller who employs dark, honest, and philosophical approaches to chronicle his journey from struggle to success using music as both a coping mechanism for pain and a path toward healing.

With his sophomore effort Iron Boy, Sherif doesn’t abandon this persona but rather reinforces it, digging deeper into his psyche while expanding his sonic palette. Where his debut explores the villain he never became, Iron Boy presents the hardened warrior forged through adversity, standing resilient despite the scars.

The album begins with The Victory Song, a moving song driven by bright chords as Sherif considers his path and newfound prominence. The project’s emotional tone is set by this classic Black Sherif moment, which can bring listeners to tears as he exclaims, “Victory, that’s my story.”

This victorious opening leads into One, where Sherif’s emphasised vocals lead the way as luscious guitar chords develop into a trap-influenced arrangement. While The Victory Song celebrates his hard work, One acknowledges the divine hand in his success, with Sherif proclaiming his unity with a higher power.

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On So It Goes, Black Sherif recruits Nigerian star Fireboy DML, showcasing his willingness to expand his collaborative circle. The song finds Sherif delivering a compelling verse to a lover about the sacrifices of his demanding lifestyle, with Fireboy complementing rather than overshadowing the narrative. Their distinctive styles create a harmonious blend that enriches the album’s emotional landscape.

Top of the Morning lays bare the mental weight of chasing success, with Sherif reflecting on decisions made in solitude. The introspective quality that defined his debut album continues in tracks like Soma Obi, a heartfelt cry for help against mental, emotional, and spiritual battles. The haunting vocalisations set a reflective tone before his plea: “I need some help”—simple yet powerful.

Sacrifice explores what it means to navigate fame, morality, and ambition in a world constantly demanding more. Rather than presenting himself as a hero, Sherif positions himself as a man navigating dreams, guilt, and survival—a theme that continues in Sin City, where his struggle isn’t just economic but moral, symbolising the distractions, shortcuts, and temptations pulling him from his path.

“Dreamer” stands as a defiant, introspective anthem about ambition and self-worth, while Rebel Musik sees Sherif embracing his outlaw energy in a gritty anthem of defiance and survival. On Where Dem Boyz, he aims fake personas and industry hypocrisy with precision, making it clear he sees through the noise with memorable lines calling out “counterfeiting boys” and wannabe’s.

The album’s titular track “Iron Boy” captures Sherif in a moment of reflection and vulnerability, navigating personal chaos while clinging to peace and sanity. The song floats on a mellow, introspective rhythm with his signature blend of street poetry, raw truth, and defiant self-awareness.

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Eye Open delivers a gritty anthem about survival in a world filled with doubt and danger, while Changes sees Sherif in full introspection mode, fusing street wisdom with emotional honesty over a laid-back but haunting beat. The album concludes with January 9th, a deeply personal and defiant anthem centred on survival, superstition, and self-assurance—the date symbolising not just his birthday but the weight he’s carried since.

Iron Boy represents a natural evolution from The Villain I Never Was. This album expands upon his emotional palette. The darkness and pain that defined his earlier work remain, but now they’re complemented by moments of triumph and spiritual growth.

Like his debut, this album is a diaristic chronicle of his journey, but with a more expansive sonic approach that incorporates elements of trap, Afrobeats, and even moments of spiritual reflection. Black Sherif remains unable to escape the lucid tendencies of his pain fully—his happiness never quite reaches euphoria, always tinged with melancholy—but this is precisely what makes him such a compelling artist.

Iron Boy confirms what The Villain I Never Was suggested: Black Sherif isn’t just another African pop star; he’s a philosopher whose music serves as both personal therapy and universal catharsis. The villain he never became has transformed into the iron boy who stands resilient, aware of his demons but no longer defined by them.