It’s been a very long time since we got some music from L-Tido. His last appearance on the scene was in 2018 when he dropped 16 under Universal, only to go back to a long hiatus!
Tido explained his absence as being caused by some contractual issues that hindered his music making. Alas, he has indicated that he is back in the studio working on an album. But while that still cooks, he dropped a four-track EP of throw-aways.
Never Be Me
Never Be Me is a reminder from L-Tido on the type of rapper he is, and more importantly, the type of man he is. He puts that in contrast with what he sees from his peers, which leaves a lot to be desired. The beat is a slow tempo blend of piano keys and a soft trumpet on the melodies. He flows slowly on tempo with the beat but at some points the flow compromises his delivery.
Telling Me Yes ft AKA
AKA takes the chorus and the first verse. He sings RnB type melodies to go with the sound of the song. His verse being good is something that’s become rare from him. He talks about the blessing of fame and the inconveniences that come with it. He flexes a bit with his financial position and spares a line or two to address the hostility he faces on Twitter.
L-Tido uses his verse to stretch his rap muscle on a range of topics. His starting two lines are weak and cringeworthy but he recovers with the rest of the verse to follow.
Mashaya
A bop. The content speaks in general about liars that claim to live different to how they actually live, and those that present a facade of what their beliefs are. L-Tido delivered his verse with a much appreciated switch in flow to go with the vibe of the song. It rocks a popular sample by Bobby Caldwell’s What You Won’t Do For Love beautifully sampled to give a pristine Kwaito vibe. It would be good if this joint made it to the album.
Ghetto ft Stogie T & Wunda
If any of the songs are to make it to the album, this should be one of them. Wunda opens with a great performance on the chorus with fitting melodies to compliment the jazzy sound of the song.
L-tido comes in with the first verse to give first hand experiences from a township experience. If you can make it from the township you can make it anywhere.
Stogie’s verse sounds pretty current. It speaks to the inefficiencies of the South African state that we’ve seen in recent weeks. He paints a picture of the dire experiences of the destitute, having to prioritise between needs while some take the back seat. He contrasts that with having made it to a point that garners recognition due to what he had to overcome in order to make it there. It’s a story of making it against any odds.
If this set of songs are a true reflection of what L-Tido is cooking up, then they don’t do great as a measure or even an appetiser to entice his audience to want more from him. He has to make a strong comeback while expanding his range beyond what came out on the EP. One thing for sure, there's a lot of Pressure.
Stream the EP here:
