OneDa – ‘System OneDa’ overview: an energising debut

Manchester’s OneDa needs to show how versatile she is on debut album ‘System OneDa’. Hotly tipped as the following rising star from the 0161, OneDa (actual identify Onye Ezeh) has supported the likes of Heavenly labelmates Kneecap and Baxter Dury and stood on a number of the largest musical levels within the UK – Boomtown, The Nice Escape and Glastonbury to call just a few. Now, the British-Nigerian rapper-producer needs to indicate her price and eclecticism on ‘System OneDa’.

The report kicks off with ‘Let Me In’, which admittedly isn’t essentially the most interesting opening observe: over a repetitive saxophone-led instrumental produced by Fats Buddha, OneDa voices her frustration about gatekeepers permitting her skills to go unnoticed. Some bars are easy to a fault – a steady downside all through the report.

Fortunately, ‘System OneDa’ reveals a whole lot of promise. Different songs symbolize her sturdy storytelling higher as she seamlessly shifts between grime, dance, and hip-hop, delving into a wide selection of themes. The lofty synths and sing-songy refrains in ‘Main Pay’ make for an escapist tune, while autobiographical gem ‘Raised’ reveals the lady behind the music as she raps: “Raised on Church on Sunday / Teenage gunplay / Fuck the Lord, get cash”.

OneDa is a self-proclaimed “Pussy Energy Promoter”, as per the unapologetic 2023 EP ‘Pussy Energy’. That uncompromising manner carries over to ‘System OneDa’; on ‘The System’, she reminds ladies of their energy in an empowering interlude and bigs up all of the “impolite ladies” on ‘Set It Off’, encouraging them to “not edit the picture” and “simply be you and simply kill it”. You possibly can hear that fierce aforementioned self-advocacy all through these high-octane tracks, particularly on ‘Pull Up’ and ‘Typically’, two songs that present her relentlessness to achieve musical dominance.

‘Chief’ is the true spotlight of the album. OneDa produced it herself, crafting a enjoyable, arena-ready tune whereas sustaining her uplifting ethos. She declares: “I used to be born to be a nasty lady / I used to be born to be a frontrunner, you already know.” She additionally recites a number of the bars in a thick Nigerian accent over the jungle-inspired tune, which is a welcome addition.

OneDa reveals that her pussy energy is nothing to play with on ‘System OneDa’. The album is a enjoyable and empowering stepping stone that can preserve you energised for the remainder of the yr – hopefully it’s the catalyst to OneDa’s meteoric rise.

Particulars

• Launch date: October 4, 2024
• Report label: Heavenly Recordings