Odumodublvck’s new single, “Wage War”, has officially landed. The song is accompanied by a music video, and both challenge the boundaries of what Afro-drill can be. With a sonic landscape that blends gritty grime elements, pulsating drill beats, and high-life influences, “Wage War” is an aggressive anthem of dominance, resistance, and identity. It’s not just a track, but a battle cry.
Lyrically, Odumodublvck puts on his warrior mode armour. He cruises on the beat with commanding cadence and makes switches between English and Nigerian Pidgin, serving lines that are a reflection of struggle, legacy, and fearlessness. The production is raw and cinematic. Heavy basslines, sharp percussions, and eerie melodies are employed to create a sound that feels like a soundtrack to a revolution.
Odumodublvck | SUPPLIED
Set in a futuristic city dubbed Neo Lagos 2099, the music video elevates the song to a new dimension as the visuals bring to life the song’s militant energy. Odumodublvck dresses as a rebel leader in a stylised, Afro-futurist world filled with cybernetic grit and cultural symbolism. The video is directed with a detailed eye for contrast and mood, and employs striking visuals that are bold in style to reflect themes of power, oppression, and survival. The aesthetic choices, neon lighting, futuristic fashion, and militaristic iconography, are a mirror of the urgency and intensity of the track.
“Wage War” is set apart by how Odumodublvck balances raw aggression with artistic depth. He does not rap just for the sake of rapping, but he does so to provoke and to awaken. The song dissects a broader narrative about reclaiming space, history, and voice in a system that silences them. There’s a deliberate anger here, but it’s channelled through refined artistry and cultural commentary. It is this blend of substance and style that gives the track its staying power.
On the song, Odumodublvck opens with a declaration of defiance, “Dem no born them well to try us”, a line that establishes the song’s combative tone and serves as a warning to adversaries, both literal and systemic. The use of war metaphors and battlefield imagery isn’t
just noise; it’s an allegory for navigating life as a Black youth in Nigeria, facing societal pressures, economic disparities, and institutional neglect. He positions himself as both a target and a general, always alert, always at war.
Odumodublvck | SUPPLIED
The second verse shifts from external threats to internal fortitude. Quotable lines like “I no dey smile for camera, I dey plan revolution” hint at a deeper, almost clandestine ambition.
Odumodublvck weaves between historical references and street code, highlighting the duality of his reality, intellectual and street-savvy, poetic yet violent. His wordplay is heavy, not just in content but in delivery as well. It’s phrasing and repetition mimic the rhythm of a protest chant, a calculated performance that’s explosive.
On “Wage War”, Odumodublvck signals his growing ambition to craft experiences, not just songs. For fans of experimental rap, “Wage War” is more than just a highlight of the year, it’s a declaration.
Words by Zimiso Nyamande
