Sometimes the lyrics of a song are so deep, so relatable, and so insightful that posting them on your story and sub-tweeting your ex with them is not enough-you have to get on your keyboard and write an entire article about them. The Mavin roster is full of musical wordsmiths and philosophers so of course there is no end to the nuggets of wisdom within their various discographies. Here are some Mavin lyrics that made us truly pause and reflect.
Ayra Starr – Cast (Gen Z Anthem)
“And when you die, they will cry but live like you weren’t alive”
This iconic intro track is full of sabi girl nuggets-and some from the great Eartha Kitt as well. While this particular line may sound morbid, in the context of the song it serves as an important reminder to live life to the fullest without caring too deeply about who is watching or what other people may have to say about it (as long as you’re not harming yourself or others). In summary, if I cast, I cast!
Rema -HOV
“I no fit really advise person for hot weather wey dey use snow”
HOV definitely has some of Rema’s most quotable lyrics to date, but this one takes the cake (Aristotle has been real quiet since he said that by the way. Coincidence? We think not!). The underlying message here is pretty straightforward-it’s a waste of time trying to talk sense into someone who insists on ignoring reality in favour of their delusions. Delulu is NOT the solulu (unless you’re a Nicolandria fan, in which case it absolutely is).
Crayon- Trench Kid ft. Oxlade
“I was a broken crayon, I still dey colour o”
This line is so simple and yet so profound. Crayon’s debut album “Trench to Triumph” is full of candid lyricism and honest conversations about his turbulent journey to stardom, and this particular line refers to his struggles with depression. Here, he offers a silver lining to those struggling with the same thing-broken crayons can still color, and broken people can still create beauty.
Ladipoe- Win Win
“Do I want to be another dot beside another dot inside a telescope?”
One thing LOTR excels at is introspection, and this lyric is a good place to start if you find yourself dreaming small. A dot beside another dot inside a telescope implies a level of anonymity that leans towards insignificance (which is okay if you don’t want to be known or remembered). For those that aspire to more, this is a good quote to repeat to yourself if you catch yourself settling for less.
Elestee- Air
“I got so many women underneath this skin, they all fighting to be seen”
Our first thought when we heard this line was “Welcome back, Whitney Houston!” (just kidding, just kidding). The possibility of having multiple women underneath your skin (figuratively, of course) is quite thrilling. This line speaks to the multifaceted nature of self, and a woman’s ability to be many things at once. What a concept!
Boy Spyce-Destiny
“Person work hard, you dey call am grace.”
This line in Boy Spyce’s “Destiny” is for everyone who thinks success is an accident of grace (or luck, or a secret third thing). Divine intervention and grace are very real, but people can be quick to dismiss the fact that oftentimes a person’s success comes because they also worked very hard to get to where they are. In reality the two are not mutually exclusive at all-they actually go hand in hand!
Johnny Drille- SISTER (feat. Kwitee, Lagos Community Gospel Choir & Cill)
“Don’t hide your pieces, light fixes the broken.”
Johnny Drille has no shortage of great lyrics, and this one is especially insightful. Sometimes our instinct is to hide our pain, but healing often comes faster when you share your hurts with people that love you and can support you through that process (if you are currently on the frontlines of a pointless IDGAF war, please consider this and save yourself the heartache!)
