Blaqbonez hit the ground running earlier this month when he made his runway debut for Vivienne Westwood at Paris Fashion Week 2025. Not only was it his first time on a runway, but he also broke a record as the first Nigerian artist to walk the runway for Vivienne Westwood. Two weeks later, the Nigerian rapper dropped, No Excuses, his album.
Accommodating other genres, No Excuses is a 16-track rap album filled with appearances from various singers and rappers alike. For every solo song, two tracks with features follow.
This is one of the ways, Blaqbonez merges different cultures, particularly through his works with the kings of street hop or ‘local rappers’, Olamide and Phyno. The former handles the hook on ‘Nati’, while Phyno holds a verse on ‘W For Wetego’ alongside Young Jonn.
The focus track ‘Aura 4 Aura’ spotlights Gambian-British musician, Pa Salieu. The phrase, and title for the song is a Nigerian slang term that rose to prominence on X (formerly known as Twitter) earlier in the year. The phrase basically means “matching each other’s energy”, and demonstrates the chemistry that the two musicians share.
‘Everlasting Taker’, the opening record of the project also served as the album-reveal single released in August. At the end of the song you hear a voiceover from fellow Nigerian musician Prettyboy D-O.
The accompanying visuals for it is directed by Blaqbonez himself, and is not the first time he has done so either with ‘Back In Uni’ and ‘LIKE ICE SPICE’—both self-directed and Headies-nominated.
FOLA makes an appearance with his sonorous voice and prominent love theme on ‘Despacito’. Accra’s rising star, Mellissa, also shows off her “Afro-Sexy” sound on the distinct tune ‘Good Time’.
Fans speculate that ‘ACL’ is a diss track dedicated to a particular Nigerian rapper and there seems to be elements of truth in this speculation, as there are not-so-subtle jabs thrown throughout the track. On the hook, Blaqbonez says “make them no tear their ACL ’cause they wan flow like Blaq”. For context, “tearing ACL” refers to “being unsuccessful at a task greater than one’s ability”.
Directed by English directing trio, DON PROD, the music video of ‘Consistency’ with AJ Tracey, dropped the day before the album release, explores fleeting themes; from coloured vision to fish eye views to black-and-white effects.
‘Bizzy Body’ is a dancehall song that follows an erotic theme, featuring Jamaican artist Valiant. Valiant basks in the glory of Jamaican Patois on the third verse, whilst emerging Nigerian twin-duo, The Kazez, also showcase their artistry on the dancehall tune.
Where, demonstrating creativity and innovation, Blaqbonez references the old but gold nursery rhyme, “Mary Had a Little Lamb”, in the lyrics of ‘Mary Mary’.
The Nigerian rapper refixed the nursery rhyme into a cheeky adult version. Blaqbonez’s Mary did not only have a little lamb, but she also had a big “bunda” that covered her expenses. British-Zimbabwean artist, LeoStayTrill, held the last verse to hail Mary’s unspeakable ways.
‘Prayers Up’ takes a trip down memory lane as it is laced by a beat sample of Drake’s epic ‘Headlines’, and spotlights appearances from African emerging rappers—including Wave$tar from Nigeria alongside KindlyNxsh and Brotherkupa, both from South Africa.
London-based Nigerian producer, Lekaa Beats, laid the beats for ‘Louder’. With vocal contributions from Ayo Maff and Bella Shmurda, ‘Louder’ is themed on being focused on the grind. Trailing the same path, the following and concluding track ‘Stacks $$$’ with Barry Jhay, proclaiming that money is his drive, brings No Excuses to a close.
With this body of work, Blaqbonez has attempted to blend African and Caribbean cultures with unpredictable features, and yet irresistible songs, reinstating that “Emeka must shine”, No Excuses allowed.
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