‘Cause I and I alone know all the feelings that I feel inside, Bnxn sings on I Alone, the emotionally charged opener of his latest LP, Captain. The openhearted record captures Bnxn’s style in its entirety, displaying his articulate songwriting, flowing melodies and confident delivery.
The song offers a glimpse into his state of mind as Bnxn portrays himself as a survivor with an understanding of who he is. Singing with conviction, he delivers lyrics that reveal the weight of everything he’s endured, including empty pockets and abandonment. People love to talk about how lonely it is at the top, ignoring the fact that it’s lonelier on the way to the top. Bnxn reflects on those times with poignant lines like It’s for the times I called and you did not pick / It’s for the times I asked and you did not give, pointing to friends who ghosted him during the hard times.
Despite the vulnerability he displays in the song, he maintains a proud and defiant stance, firing shots at his detractors, rubbing his talent in their faces in typical Bnxn fashion while asserting that in due time, he’ll be shocking the world.
It’s a mature leap from Bad Man Wicked, off his 2022 EP Bad Since ‘97, where he sings. Thought I would come into the game and go that quick, indicating his fears about being a flash in the pan. On Captain, those fears are long gone. Bnxn knows he’s the shit. He’s not trying to convince you; he’s telling you. There’s no self-doubt or pressure to prove himself; now he cares less.
In his journey from being an unsigned act begging Zlatan for a feature on social media to becoming one of Afropop’s most in-demand voices whose style others now imitate, the 28-year-old has grown into an artist who is aware of his influence and confident in his abilities.
It is this awareness and confidence that shapes his sophomore album as he doubles down on his signature style and approach. His pen is as articulate as ever before as he bounces across a collection of mid-tempo Afropop and dreamy R&B fusion powered by log drums and Afrobeats elements.
All I really care about is my peace / Stacking my cheese / Owo mi Lon je kin demo he sings on Set Up, choosing to fix his focus on what he considers important. Alongside Seyi Vibez, he leans into his playful and cocky side on the bouncy log drum-driven mid-tempo Afropop instrumental. The triumphant title track Captain is a chest-thumping anthem where he embraces his identity as a spiritually chosen higher power. Over slick, minimalistic production, he displays melodic finesse, likening himself to a commodore steering his own ship with clarity and focus.
The tape’s most thrilling single, Jies, is a swaggering Afropop and hip-hop fusion that feels like a freestyle built on late-night vibes and lamba as he calls on city girls to let loose and shake it to the max (shout-out to Moliy). And the Fola-assisted Very Soon is a heartfelt R&B number with the bright glow of a late-night phone call to a lover. Ero bi mase para o je kin sun / Very very soon / I’ll do it better, and I promise you, ah, Fola sings, a hopeful declaration of future commitment. Bnxn adds his own spin to Cash Cobain’s sexy drill sound on the glossy Cutesy, where he reveals his hedonistic desires.
On his debut album, Bnxn leaned into introspection with records like My Life, Regret, Toxic and Pidgin and English. He attributes that to heartbreak and promises motion on Captain. It’s no surprise that he spends significant time bragging about his financial status while firing shots in the direction of his critics. Shit on my body genuinely. I have a taste for all the finest things in life, he sings on the upbeat Eleyi. They say imitation is flattery; for Bnxn, it’s annoying and ensures he gets it off his chest. He does not fit saying he does not know, oh no, barawo. Some people are stealing my flows, he sings. The braggadocio is almost let down by the familiarity of the downstated flow and dragged-out melodies, but the song is made listenable by its steady and infectious dancehall bounce.
The same can not be said for records like Yes Sir and 5 Hours Till Nairobi. Yes, Sir, it sounds like a variation of Captain. That’s a love song. 5 Hours Till Nairobi sounds like an attempt to recapture the magic of his verse on Minz’s Wo Wo, but in a longer song. His picturesque songwriting, especially on the second verse, is let down by a hook that falls well below Bnxn’s high standards.
Rema’s swaggering verse on the pre-released ‘Fi Kan We Kan’ jerks the listener back to life after a pretty flat four-song run, while the long-awaited ‘Totori’ fails to offer the excitement it offered when Bnxn initially previewed it as a snippet. He flips an old Twitter joke into a potent hook on Ashimolowo over a slow-tempo rhythm laced with sultry guitar chords. He’s uninterested in debates or distractions, with his focus fixed on the journey, drawing a straight line between his persistence and his success: ‘Cause I fought for this all my life / Dem no dash me, my guy. Cough Syrup stands out as a result of its mashup of beautiful and silky melodies from Bnxn and Victony. Over hazy production, the duo reflects on their come-up with warrior-like determination. There’s a measured intensity to Victony’s delivery, especially when he sings, You go first and buy cough syrup before you talk about my matter. The harmonious In Jesus Name closes the album.
Opinions about this album are bound to vary, and early reactions on social media suggest the album is going to be polarising. For core Bnxn fans, this album offers much of what they are already used to – which is enough for them. The album maintains a steady flow as Bnxn rehashes familiar themes and displays core elements of his artistry that his fans have come to love. Across 16 songs, Captain maintains a singular focus, never veering too far from the essence of what makes Bnxn compelling. The production is tailor-made to his signature style, and the album is curated almost to perfection, with no song feeling out of place. Even on weaker records like Yes Sir and 5 Hours Till Nairobi, Bnxn’s pen oozes class over pristine production as they seamlessly fit into a collection of songs all heading in the same direction.
For neutrals, this album may fall below expectations—not because it’s a bad album (it isn’t)—but because it’s not exciting enough to inspire repeat listens. It lacks diversity and range, maintaining a singular focus that never strays far from the essence of what makes Bnxn compelling. (Notice I used this phrase twice?) That’s because the album’s greatest strength may also be its biggest limitation. It offers more of the same—nothing remotely new or refreshing—and ultimately lands with a thud and whispers where it could roar.
Captain shines as a confident statement of artistic identity but fails to push any boundaries. It’s a solid album that plays things too safe, showcasing Bnxn’s undeniable talent while leaving you wishing for more ambition. The hallmark of great artists is their ability to thrive—and even excel—outside their comfort zones. Bnxn has proven he’s a good artist; now it’s time to show he’s a great one.
