By Joey Akan
Kizz Daniel, the Nigerian hitmaker who’s been bending the Afrobeats curve since his 2014 debut “Woju,” has always had a knack for bottling life’s fleeting joys and aches into earworm anthems. His latest EP, Uncle K: Lemon Chase, a seven-track prelude to his forthcoming album Uncle K, is no exception. Released in late May 2025, this project is a compact yet sprawling meditation on life’s dualities—sweet highs, sour lows, and the messy in-betweens. With a star-studded cast of collaborators and producers, Kizz Daniel delivers a work that’s as introspective as it is infectious, cementing his place as Afrobeats’ restless storyteller.
The EP opens with “Black Girl Magic,” a love letter to Black women that’s equal parts reverence and cheek. Kizz Daniel’s signature wit shines through in lines like “Make I be your Joseph knack you like carpenter,” a quippy, playful nod to his knack for turning the mundane into the mythic. The track, co-produced by Reward Beatz, Bando, and Blaise Beatz, is a warm, melodic embrace, its lush instrumentation cradling Kizz’s vocals like a sunlit Lagos afternoon. It’s a bold opener, setting the tone for an EP that refuses to shy away from big emotions or bigger hooks.
What makes Uncle K: Lemon Chase stand out is its emotional range. Kizz Daniel has always been a master of balance, weaving party-ready bangers with moments of quiet introspection. On “Eyo,” produced by Reward Beatz, he channels the effervescent spirit of Lagos, blending nostalgia with pop rhythms that feel both timeless and urgent. The track is a love letter to the city’s pulse, its horns and percussion evoking the chaos and charm of a Friday night in Yaba. Yet, it’s followed by the Zlatan-assisted “Secure,” a bass-heavy ode to the hustle where cash reigns supreme. Here, Kizz trades his romantic croon for a streetwise swagger, proving he can hang with the new school while staying true to his roots.
The EP’s heart lies in its quieter moments. “Al-Jannah,” featuring Bella Shmurda and Odumodublvck, is a raw meditation on grief and loss, a stark departure from the EP’s more celebratory tracks. Bella’s soulful rasp and Odumodublvck’s gritty delivery add layers of texture, while Ayzed’s production keeps things sparse, letting the lyrics breathe. It’s a gut-punch of a song, one that showcases Kizz Daniel’s willingness to lean into discomfort—a rarity in a genre often obsessed with escapism. Similarly, “Peace I Chose,” with Runtown, is a tender reflection on finding calm amidst chaos, its gentle guitars and Kizz’s understated delivery making it a standout.
The closer, “Police,” is where Kizz Daniel pulls out all the stops. Featuring Mavin Records’ Johnny Drille and five-time Grammy winner Angélique Kidjo, the track is a romantic, whimsical flourish that feels like a victory lap. Kidjo’s ethereal harmonies and Drille’s soulful croon elevate Kizz’s performance, creating a soundscape that’s both cinematic and intimate. It’s a bold move, pairing Afrobeats with global music royalty, and it pays off, offering a glimpse of Kizz Daniel’s ambition to transcend borders.
Behind the boards, the production team—Reward Beatz, Blaise Beatz, Magic Sticks, Bando, and Ayzed—crafts a sonic world that’s as diverse as Kizz’s emotional palette. From the pulsating beats of “Titi” (featuring Fola) to the soulful grooves of “Oshe” (with Sauti Sol), the EP is a masterclass in Afrobeats’ versatility, blending dancehall, R&B, and indigenous rhythms with a polish that never feels overdone. Each track is meticulously crafted, yet there’s a rawness that keeps things human, a nod to Kizz’s insistence on authenticity.
If there’s a critique, it’s that Uncle K: Lemon Chase can feel like a teaser rather than a complete statement. At just over 17 minutes, the EP is a fleeting taste of what’s to come on Uncle K, leaving listeners hungry for more. Some tracks, like “Titi,” while infectious, don’t quite reach the emotional depth of “Al-Jannah” or “Police.” But this is a minor quibble in a project that’s so deliberately compact, designed to whet the appetite rather than satiate it.
Kizz Daniel has always been a storyteller, but Uncle K: Lemon Chase sees him peeling back more layers than ever. Reflecting on the EP, he said, “When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade out of it. I wanted this project to feel like real life—sweet, sour, confusing, beautiful.” That ethos permeates every track, from the playful to the profound. It’s a testament to his growth, not just as a hitmaker but as an artist unafraid to bare his soul.
In a year where Afrobeats continues to dominate global charts, Kizz Daniel remains a step ahead, not chasing trends but setting them. Uncle K: Lemon Chase is a reminder of why he’s endured for over a decade: his ability to make music that’s both universal and deeply personal. It’s a journey, one that invites you to dance, reflect, and feel the weight of life’s lemons turned into sonic gold.