A Pass still teaching in My Lover

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In light of what can only be referred to as a pretty impressive, successful concert, I think this might be a good time to look at an A Pass song. It has been a while since we looked him up, eh?

He hasn’t been as prolific as he used to be, which is somewhat surprising, because A Pass was famously prolific. However, as his weekend concert showed, you write him off at your own risk. He was biding his time. In fact, just before 2024 ended, he released a self-titled album – A Pass, a typically boss move, naming your album after yourself.

My Lover is taken off this album. It’s the one I want to have a look at because it had an interesting collaboration. My Lover features an artiste named Likkle Bangi, who has described herself as celebrated for her unique blend of Afro-fusion and Alté Cruise (whatever the hell that is), an artiste, a radio princess (rolls eyes), voice actor, music and pop culture enthusiast, and a conspiracy theorist. She is interesting, and I think she was a great choice for a collaboration – she refuses to limit herself to a specific genre.

The song itself is vintage A Pass: an immediately recognizable hook, with a sing-along quality to the song. It is a formula that has worked for him quite effectively – there is a reason they call him ‘the teacher’ – he seems to have figured out what works.

The biggest irony is that A Pass wasn’t always ‘the teacher’. He was this singer-songwriter who kept looking for a break. Before he blew up, A Pass was a kid looking for studio space and time and for anyone to give him an ear. He knew if they gave him that one chance, he would be in. And that’s what happened. I feel like A Pass’ break was intentional, well-timed. He made the market want him more, and probably need him more.

In his absence, a lot of nonsense mushroomed. More irony? Gloria Bugie, a perfect example of the nonsense that litters the music industry today, was a guest at his concert and part of the PR machine. The girl is actually up for an award of some sort for her single: Nyash. I am not permitted to use swear words, so when I say for goodness sakes, please understand that I mean it in the worst swear-wordy way possible.

Let’s talk about My Lover, eh? After all, it is the reason we started this. It’s a love song, and it is probably appropriate that since we are entering into the month of love, we take a close look at a love song. It’s a delicate little ditty, one built around a hook. The song is not A Pass’s best work; I have heard him work with stronger and memorable melodies. I have been reviewing A Pass’ music for a while and I cannot tell a lie, musically speaking. However, what works with this song is its simplicity, and the inclusion of Likkle Bangi.

 She is comfortable taking a back seat on the audio, and creatively, this approach to the collaboration worked out neatly. (The video of the song highlights the chemistry between the artistes and I am genuinely surprised A Pass’ PR people didn’t try to milk this).

The Zouk cloak that the song wears works perfectly, and it simultaneously gets itself into a space that is hard to define, which works perfectly for Ms. Likkle Bangi, who hates being put into a box in terms of defining genres. It’s a curious song, one you easily see being performed in a live setting. He obviously had one eye on the concert.

I am glad A Pass is still around, drawing in numbers, releasing albums – we might need ‘the teacher’ more than we know.