Kunmie has emerged as one of Nigeria’s most compelling Afro-soul voices since the release of “Arike.”
Raised in Agege, Lagos, the singer and songwriter has built a loyal audience through his soothing vocals,
heartfelt songwriting, and an ability to turn deeply personal experiences into music that feels universally
relatable. His 2025 project, “Before We Became Strangers,” saw him wear vulnerability as armour.
Now, with his debut album, “22,” Kunmie opens another chapter, exploring love, ambition, loneliness,
growth, and the emotional realities of becoming an adult.
“22” feels less like a collection of songs and more like a diary of a particular season in Kunmie’s life.
There is a song for the excitement of a first date, another for the uncertainty that follows when feelings
deepen, and several that sit with the emotional wreckage of love when things fall apart. If music can be a
parachute when you are free-falling in love, and an airbag when that love train crashes, Kunmie has made
a project for both moments.
The album moves through these emotional extremes with remarkable ease. “5 AM” captures the
uncertainty of a relationship caught between hope and doubt, while “Tonight” longs for another chance
at closeness, carried by Kunmie’s honeyed vocals. “Confession” finds him laying his feelings bare, while
“Gorgeous” turns admiration into a celebration of a woman who struggles to see what he sees in her.
The title track, “22,” shifts inward, reflecting on loneliness, growth, and the uncertainty of figuring out
who you are becoming. On “Unfiltered,” Kunmie confronts the pressure that comes with success and the
fear of losing everything he has worked to build. “Pressure,” featuring Zlatan, and “Laye Mi” extend
that conversation, touching on sacrifice, resilience, ambition, and the determination to keep moving even
when the journey becomes difficult.
The album’s final stretch returns to the complexities of love. “Answer Me” searches for reassurance,
while “Prisoner” captures the feeling of being completely consumed by someone. On “Solace II,”
featuring Joeboy, Kunmie questions whether love can survive when money, status, and ambition enter the
equation. “Abeg O” becomes a vulnerable plea to hold on through moments of doubt, before “Calvary”
closes the album with a search for peace amid emotional battles.
Across thirteen songs, Kunmie demonstrates the range of his songwriting and the warmth of his sound.
He moves effortlessly between romance, introspection, ambition, and vulnerability without losing the
intimacy that has become central to his music. More importantly, “22” feels honest. It is music made for
the moments when life feels beautiful, confusing, overwhelming, or uncertain.
“This is a reflection of where I am in life right now,” Kunmie says. “Every song comes from a real
emotion, whether it’s love, fear, hope, or the pressure of chasing a dream. I wanted this project to be
honest because I believe people connect most with music that tells the truth. I hope that listeners hear
parts of their own journey in these songs.”
Love, in all its forms, has always been at the centre of Kunmie’s music. On “22,” he expands that idea
into something bigger: a soundtrack for falling in love, losing yourself in it, finding your way back, and
learning who you are along the way.
Press play and let Kunmie be your parachute when you’re falling, and your airbag when you crash.
TRACKLISTING
1. 5 AM Feat. Phyno (Prod by Drilly, Kunmie, godOmarr)
2. Tonight (Prod by Drilly, Fez, FADE Venom)
3. Confession (Prod by Puffybeatz, FADE Venom, Drilly)
4. Gorgeous Feat. Lojay (Prod by Puffybeatz, Kunmie, Drilly)
5. 22 (Prod by Wondah, Shallythechampion)
6. Unfiltered feat. Wizard Chan (Prod by Drilly, FADE Venom)
7. Pressure feat. Zlatan (Prod by Shallythechampion)
8. Laye Mi (Prod by G4zi, Big Space)
9. Answer Me (Prod by Drilly, FADE Venom)
10. Prisoner (Prod by Drilly, The Kazez, Kunmie, Puffybeatz)
11. Solace II feat. Joeboy (Prod by Kunmie, FADE Venom)
12. Abeg O (Prod by Kunmie, Wondah)
13. Calvary (Prod by Shallythechampion, Kunmie)
“22” is now available on all streaming platforms via ONErpm.
