Mykah Puts Midas Touch On Daring Afro-fusion, ‘Look What You Done To Me’

By Emmanuel Daraloye

Anyone who is a fan of Michael Jackson would appreciate this new song from rising Nigerian fusionist Mykah dubbed, ‘Look What You Done To Me’, for its seamless and innovative fusion of disco-pop with Amapiano.

The introductory lyrics, “Look what you done to me…” which also serve as the song’s chorus interpolate Jackson’s famed ‘Billie Jean’ melody in its harmonization. The 25-second intro sets the tone for a futuristic recording, also showcasing Mykah’s ingenious beat making skill as he combines Amapiano, Disco-pop and Afro-pop.

The first hallmark of this record is its code-switching from the Michael Jackson sample in the chorus to the Nigerian Pidgin in the song’s accompanying verse. The song illustrates a story of a love-smitten Nigerian man, as he sings: ‘My number 1 no be April fool/ If you are down below, this is my canoe/ Girl, I’mma travel out just like Kweku/ Bundle you from Mandilas/ Take you to Zanzibar.’ The use of the log-drum as transitional devices and the swift switch between both languages, especially in terms of accent-change, cadence, and pace, keep both portions of the song brimming with vibrance.

The song also thrives for its looping energetic feel, bursting with the right level of catharsis to keep it as a dance-floor therapy. With relatable lyricism and sonorous vocalisation, the record soars as a feel-good diet, further contributing to its strong replay value.

The song’s most obvious and, musically-treasonable offence, is its brevity. With just one accompanying verse, it brings to mind the sort of ‘playing-it-safe’ offence of other evergreen records like Lady Donli’s Never Ending, among others, which under-utilized rife opportunities to be longer, despite already achieving evergreen sonic compositions on such records.

Overall, the song’s attention-grabbing potential and mood-lifting feel keep it as a prime example of contemporary fusions pushing the boundaries of dance music within the Afrobeats space. Mykah’s delivery and creative direction on the song reflect stealthy intentionality that deserve applause, especially for the ripple effect of such sound-style as muses for emerging beatmakers, songwriters and vocalists.

Aramide Babalola, widely known by his stage name Mykah, is a renowned music producer who has made significant strides in the music industry.

He has collaborated with a diverse array of artists, including global superstars such as Ozuna, Davido, and Boyspyce. His impressive portfolio showcases his versatility and talent in producing top-tier music across different genres and styles.