Song Review - Young Wabo - Zaza Baby!
REVIEW BY: HARRY HARTNEY
Produced by George Johnson, 'Zaza Baby!’ is the latest release from Virginia rapper Young Wabo. Wabo, born Lawal Oyedemi, has had a huge year with the release of his latest album, 42nd & Somewhere II. As well as this, Wabo’s biggest hit, ‘Swords’, has just notched over 500,000 streams on Spotify. ‘Zaza Baby!’ opened as one of Young Wabo’s most anticipated releases, with the rapper teasing the track on his instagram (@young_wabo) two weeks prior.
An ode to marijuana and making it, the new release begins with a chopped-up trumpeting soul sample, curated by mixedbysteeZy, that perfectly compliments Wabo’s vocals.
A real highlight of the single is the contrast between the song’s relaxed production and Wabo’s aggressive flow, which keep the track moving forward. You can feel Wabo’s complete control over mixedbysteeZy’s beat, which acts almost as the perfect accessory to his vocals.
Another standout from ‘Zaza Baby!’ is the lyricism, dealing with a multitude of issues including the struggles of finding yourself in success: ’I was lost in my mind trying to find where that rose grows’.
The mixing on the vocals really adds another dimension, bringing in psychedelic influences, particularly at the track’s opening, where the rapper fades in-and-out, becoming one with the song’s sample.
Young Wabo’s jazz-rap influences are evident on this single, calling to acts such as Mac Miller in his ‘Faces’ era, or even MIKE and his most recent release ‘Disco!’. Interestingly, an alternative ending to the track is available on Bandcamp, as part of the ‘Zaza Baby! Pack’, a version not available on other streaming platforms.
The release is one of Wabo’s fastest growing songs, already amassing over 20,000 streams, making it the third highest for Oyedemi on Spotify, despite only recently being released. A definitive step in the right direction, ‘Zaza Baby!’ staples Young Wabo as one of the most exciting and fast-growing rappers in music right now. The track is now available to stream on all platforms
