The Game Needs Us: BNXN & Sarz Team Up on EP

Mogbonjubola Sadiku
2 hours ago
2 min read

‘Back Outside’ is the first song that both singer BNXN and producer Sarz dropped since the release of their individual albums in 2025. The single immediately became a hit, with its catchy chorus sung in Bambara, Mali’s lingua franca.

Accompanied by a music video, ‘Back Outside’ was shot predominantly in a stadium—the same place where the EP cover was photographed. This plausibly set an undertone for “The Game…” in the EP title. From ‘Outside’ to ‘Cold Outside’ to ‘Back Outside’, BNXN has kept his melodic rhythm inside his tracks. True to their claim, the duo is back outside and they brought a 5-track EP with them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAZ0eGMWhuM

The Game Needs Us is the result when two gurus in their respective fields team up on a sonic pitch. ‘Rum & Soda’ opens curtains on the project, likening a particular lady’s sweetness to that of rum and soda. Next in line is ‘Back Outside’.

“After ‘Gwagwalada’ and ‘Pidgin & English’, it’s only right we continue that chemistry,” Sarz says of their latest synergy. “Working on this record with him helped me explore some African and South American sonic themes”.

On ‘Already’, BNXN sings about being on his grind at all times and asks God for more money this year. As its name implies, ‘Emotional High’ stirs emotions. Moreover, a guest appears on the tune. Nasri, the lead vocalist of Toronto band Magic!, contributes vocally as he chants “nothing lasts forever” after the second verse.

According to BNXN; “The game needs us, just as the name implies. This project brings together two of Nigeria’s greatest forces to deliver a refreshing yet reflective experience. To show the dynamics in the African sound and to give a feel of where the future of the sound is headed”.

‘Frank Sinatra’ concludes the project, on which BNXN demands romance and expresses disappointment over his unrequited feelings. Surprisingly, the song isn’t exactly named after the legend, but rather a wordplay. “I’ll be real, I’ll be straight, I’ll be frank…Sinatra” is the pun intended.

The Game Needs Us blends BNXN’s melodic vocals and introspective writing seamlessly with Sarz’s textured, forward-facing production. Amplifying their chemistry, the project plays as a smooth, cohesive blend of Afrobeats, R&B, and pop.

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