Over five years since the release of his 2021 album “Love Is War”, rapper, singer and songwriter Prettyboy D-O is back with not one, but two new albums– “In the Fire” and “In Colour”–released within three weeks of each other. Undeniably one of the fan favourites from the nascent Nigerian alte era of the late 2010s, Prettyboy D-O has long been lauded for his radical, unapologetic artistry. D-O is no stranger to the groove, and these two projects assert the timelessness and range of the sound that has had everyone tuned in since “Everything Pretty” dropped in 2018.
The preceding record “In The Fire” begins on a rousing note, with the intro track “SORRY NOT SORRY” featuring a snippet from South African politician and activist Julius Malema’s viral parliament speech–“No-one is going to tell me what to do at what time, I am in charge.”, after which Prettyboy D-O goes on a three minute spiel that would leave lesser MCs breathless. The lyricism here is rife with the militant imagery and blunt one liners he is notorious for, the most memorable of these being “I was selling kush when Ycee featured Maleek Berry”. This sets the tone for the rest of the project, on which D-O goes on a no holds barred campaign that is pleasantly reminiscent of his 2020 cult classic “Wildfire”.
Hard-hitting and animated, “In The Fire” explores motifs relating to the hustle and the underbelly of the streets, painting a vivid, sometimes torrid picture of what it takes to survive. Notable tracks include “RUSH HOUR”, produced by the renowned Higo, “WHICH ONE BE CANADA?” and “JOHN CENA”, a rugged tune which features a clever interpolation of Smur Lee’s verse on THE 2025 hit “JUJU”. The features themselves are a testament to D-O’s skin in the game, with Nigerian rap royalty–Erriga and Phyno–making appearances on tracks 2 and 10 respectively. D-O is, as always, a riveting auteur, effortlessly embodying the swashbuckling, larger-than-life persona of a bona fide gangster.
In contrast to the first album, “In Colour” showcases the softer, more romantic aspects of D-O’s work. The low-tempo tracks were clearly reserved for this record, which feels more digestible and cohesive than if they had all been released with “In The Fire”. “In Colour” is perhaps not as strong as its predecessor—there’s just something about a raging Prettyboy D-O that is ultimately better–but it still carries a certain charm. Soft drums, sultry RnB and atmospheric instrumentals reminiscent of the alte era are the order of the day, with tracks like “Esosa” and “Adanna” creating a more relaxing ambience. Overall, these two records are a testament to something we already knew, but perhaps needed reminding of; “African Rodman” Prettyboy D-O knows the game, and he plays it well.
