Oyedele’s “Dream Man” is a Brilliantly Executed Project

By Emmanuel Daraloye

Oyedele is an artist’s artist—a craftsman who treats his songs like sacred texts. His work is both edifying and exacting; when he commits to a project, he delivers. The first time I listened to his music was in the last quarter of 2024. His 2023 release “Irawo EP” was my passport to his music. After days of spinning, I also listened to his mixtape which was tagged “Dream Man.” It was just three minutes away from twenty minutes. It was released in August 2024.

When Oyedele raps, you hear a man that is well read. He understands his Yoruba history, culture and tradition. Thematically, “Dream Man,” is an interesting take on the question of what it means to dream a dream. Also, on this project, Oyedele tells the listeners about his aspirations. He smartly addresses some cogent issues on the opener “Enter Dream Man.” Sampling Chiyabonga Chizzy’s viral Amagwijo song, Loliwe, “Enter Dream Man” gives off an angelic stroke choristers driven song with the back up vocals providing the support for the singer as he reels out some of his displeasures, his aspirations and more. He basks in his greatness while asserting his sonic dexterity amongst doubt from naysayers.

The Jazzy “Midsummer Rap,” is a fine blend of rap and jazz. The singer’s voice is clear. It is still an assertion type of song with enough flexing around words. One constant thing about Dream Man is it experiments with a myriad of genres. It shows that Oyedele is not sound bound, he could flow on almost every genre. On the third track “The Devil Is A Lie,” Oyedele becomes a reggae singer as he bounces on a Reggae beat. Just like the title states, the devil is a lie. The song details the endless battle that man faces as he navigates the dungeon called life. The simple beat pattern of the song might have been an aid to Oyedele’s message. It is a call to action, with the devastated society we are, there is no doubt that the world needs a song like this.

It would seem Oyedele’s Dream Man is served as a 3-Act journey. He lays bare the issues he overcomes, then he reflects on his journey. The song, Midsummer Dusk is sampled from John Coltrane’s Christmas staple, My Favourite Things, Oyedele juxtaposes the realities of the haves and have nots in society, drawing similarities between them. The lyrics are fragmented, yet the intent is lucid. Statement, on the other hand is an assertion from the artiste himself on his purpose and journey, this track borrows Burna Boy’s voice, draping itself in highlife’s golden hues, the drums driving the narrative forward.

Oyedele’s spate of vulnerability are scattered on this mixtape, on a particular track, he bears it all, revealing his hassle with love and life. This is quite a route artiste rarely take yet he owns his weakness, how his love was not reciprocated by his better half. The beat is also moody, perhaps to help the lyricism. Just a drum, shakers and we have a production.

The artiste interpolate Kidominat and AKA’s “Fela in Versace,” on “Biggie Biggie,” a feel good type of song. A song like this is meant to brag. The artiste did just that on this song. “Sine Qua Non,” which means indispensable finds Oyedele rapping about the place of money. It is a braggadocious track with the alto saxophone doing the magic, it is so lovely to hear on this track, likewise the slow mo typed piano chord.

On the closer, “ Thought Experiment,” over Jay Kalo’s frenetic free jazz drum solo, Oyedele is explosive. His subject matter sprawls across various topics, but a point he seems to hammer on is that he is the chosen one. Dream Man is an exquisite and brilliantly executed project, beyond showing the sonic prowess of the singer, it is also a pointer to what to expect in years to come.