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Kida Kudz returns with smooth, lyrically potent new single ‘Animalistic’

The Nigerian rapper, singer and songwriter hailing from London via Lagos and back Kida Kudz returns with his powerful first solo release of 2021 ‘Animalistic’ - a masterful blend of melodic Afrobeat and ‘AFRO JIGGY’ sensibilities with personal and pertinent subject matter. Written on the day one of his family members was taken away, ‘Animalistic’…

The Nigerian rapper, singer and songwriter hailing from London via Lagos and back Kida Kudz returns with his powerful first solo release of 2021 ‘Animalistic’ – a masterful blend of melodic Afrobeat and ‘AFRO JIGGY’ sensibilities with personal and pertinent subject matter. Written on the day one of his family members was taken away, ‘Animalistic’ explores the topic of incarceration and the discomfort and cultural issues around it.

Dropping today alongside an iO Filmworks directed video, the symbolic and conceptual visual sees Kida perform inside a burning bus of faceless prisoners, in front of a emblematic tree full of hanging lanterns and finally around a fire alongside his people – providing the perfect visual texture to explore these themes whilst simultaneously exuding the irresistibly body moving vibes of the track.

Speaking on the single, Kida says:

Writing Animalistic was a spiritual process for me. I woke up early one morning, grabbed my pen and paper… started jotting down to the instrumental and tapped into the forces I needed; the lyrics just flowed from me. I was painting a perfect picture of an African boy speaking to his people, trying to preach to them in a kind of way.

You can vibe to the song but at the same time it is sending a message across to young people to stay up and stay woke! “Gangsterism got us locked in prison” was a real life story of a family member that had been taken away that same morning when I wrote the verse. These are real things that I put in my song, things that are happening around me and that other people are experiencing in the world.

Born in ‘IB City’ Ibadan, Nigeria and raised by his serial entrepreneur mother, Kida Kudz always had an intense love for music counting the likes of Lil Wayne, Tupac, DMX, BBK, Fela Kuti, Haruno Ishola, Tuface and Ebenezer Obey as some of his most vital influences. After winning two high profile talent competitions in Nigeria as a young boy, Kida’s unrelenting work ethic and drive led him to move to London, UK, when he was 14 to take his craft more seriously studying Music Technology, Audio Engineering, Music Business and Media Production at college and university. Thrust into a completely new environment and culture at such a decisive age, like many young African immigrants in the UK Kida battled with issues around acceptance and identity but found solace in music. The sound you hear today self-coined ‘AFRO JIGGY’ is the perfect manifestation Kida’s dual identity and artistic sensibilities blending the best the UK and Africa has to offer that’s lead him to collaborate with the likes of Ms Banks and Pa Salieu on Juls’ ‘Like Tu Danz’, Burna Boy on the ‘Issa Vibe Remix’ and Chip on his 2020 debut mixtape Nasty with the single ‘Red Flag’.

No stranger to the limelight, Kida Kudz’ authentic, intelligent and vibrant output has had incredible co-signs from Playboi Carti and A$AP Rocky as well as gaining fans in the likes of HYPEBEAST, RedBull, TRENCH, GRM Daily, Complex, Hunger, CLASH and more. He has graced festival stages from Oh My to Afronation and his distinguished personal style and keen eye for fashion has led to collaboration with Daily Paper, Tommy Hilfiger, Clarks and more.

Over the past couple years, Kida Kudz has been busy in the studio and at home working on an exciting new project which he’s let to shed light on. Stay tuned for more news and info soon.

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