Adekunle Gold’s third album, Afro Pop, Vol. 1, released in 2020, marked a significant evolution in his sound, moving from his folk-influenced highlife roots to a more slick, pop-oriented direction. This 10-track album showed a mix of Afrobeats, highlife, pop, and R&B sounds.
The album explores a variety of modern relationship dynamics, from the flirtatious declaration on the opening track “AG Baby” to the complex, non-monogamous arrangement depicted in “Exclusive” with Olayinka Ehi. Adekunle also delivers upbeat party anthems like “Firewood” and collaborations with artists like Tekno and Patoranking, while still retaining his introspective side with songs like “My Ex,” a track filled with regret and self-reflection. With polished production by producers like Pheelz and TMXO, Afro Pop, Vol. 1 solidified Adekunle Gold’s status as a dynamic and innovative artist capable of transcending genres.
