With Afrobeats reaching astronomical heights and success, it is a no-brainer that some of the best music to come out of Africa right now is from the genre. Lioness’ Dance & Dance EP is a quintessential Afrobeats release, and the rapper, singer-songwriter, and producer let all her talents shine through in it. She approached it with intention and exuded undeniable feminine energy and overall badassery. With all the right ingredients to be a party starter and dance-floor filler, the five-track project gets straight to the point.
The EP opener, “Bring Em Ova”, makes this energy apparent, bringing it to the forefront and instantly commanding you to do as the album title says: dance and dance. On this track, the Namibian emPawa signee wears her rapper hat and talks her talk while painting a vivid picture of a hot and sexy night in the club with her bestie she refers to as also being her hype man. The opening strings instinctively transported me to the first time I heard WizKid’s “Joro”, oozing confidence and sex appeal and creating an air of mystery. Doubling up as an anthem for all the ladies doing it for themselves, Zimbabwean vocalist Tamy Moyo glides in the second verse, reminding the ladies that they’re the baddest in the world.
Ghanaian artist J.Derobie starts off track two, “Risky”, with a dancehall melody that sort of does a back and forth with the beat, almost as if it’s a game of tennis, which is absolutely pleasing sonically. His silky smooth voice and charming lyrics set the tone for an intimate sensual evening with a lover, which Lioness expands on in her verse more directly. “Hennessey, anything goes. Can’t feel my face no more,” she croons about the infamous brown liquor that tends to be the culprit in many drunken nights that end in sensual bliss. A risk that she welcomes with open arms.
“Linyenga” enlists the help of Nigerian rapper Falz to express appreciation toward the female form. The phrase “nice shape” is scattered throughout Falz’s opening verse, while Lioness administers instructions like “Dip it low, bring it right back” and “Hands on the knees / Wiggle that thing, take your hands to ya feet.” This one is definitely for the girls who aren’t afraid to whip their hair and shake their derrière.
Lioness flexes her vocals throughout the project, but the standout performance is on “Danisa (Dance)”. She exhibits her soft yet riveting voice as she chants the chorus, “Danisa dana dana / dana dana”.
She ends the project with a word of “Gratitude”. In her Apple Music synopsis, she mentioned how, during the pandemic, her music career hung in the balance for a while to a point where she thought she’d have to quit. “I’m grateful that I’m finally crowned, got a plaque,” she raps. She displays how she has since moved from a place of uncertainty in her artistry to getting recognition, praise, and achievements. This is the perfect closer for such an album. While it gets you to dance, there’s substance behind the message, a message we should all take in and practice daily: showing gratitude for the gift of life.
