As we approach the end of the first quarter of 2022, we have seen announcements from artists such as Rema, Omah lay, Buju, and many others, stating that they’re all releasing their respective albums. One of the names that has generated interest from active listeners is CruelSantino (more popularly known as Santi). The singer is set to release his sophomore album Subaru Boys: Final Heaven, which features names like Maison2500, Koffee, Amaarae, Skepta, and more. The album will be reportedly released by Monster Boyz (Santi’s collective) - which signed a joint venture with Interscope Records in 2020.
According to Santi, “I’m going to make this Subaru world a universe so that when you hear it, when you enter it, you know you’re in Subaru.” When you look up the word ‘Subaru,’ you find out that it is a Japanese word which translates to a cluster of stars in the Taurus constellation. Asides that, Subaru is also the name of a vehicle brand. Santi has mastered the art of self-expressing through eccentric means, evolving with every new phase in his artistry.
Santi remains a ball of mystery to the general audience. Not in the sense that his identity is unknown, but in the sense that we are unable to figure him out. He’s a creative genius who is constantly seeking alien ways to express himself, bridging the thin line between genius and madness. His work has provoked a ton of reactions, some revealing awe while others find him pretentious and unusual. Many of his visuals have a controversial nature, based on his penchant for old Nollywood (horror) movies. He was once accused of promoting cultism in one of his music videos.
Since the days of Ozzy B, when he released songs like Queen Esteem, Lovers Riddim, and others, the young act has always had a flair for unconventional sounds (and visuals). Working with creatives who share(d) similar vision with him, the singer/rapper sparked the Alte scene with bright ideas, bringing forth melodies that differed from mainstream Afropop. After announcing his rebirth with the release of Birth of Santi in 2013, he declared a change of name from Ozzy B to Santi.
Santi released his first studio album, Mandy and The Jungle, in 2019 to critical acclaim. The album established Santi in the hall of fame of Alte artists. It received positive feedback from several listeners, with songs like Rapid Fire gaining a reputation for its spectacular dancehall rhythms. Before he made the announcement of his sophomore album late last year, the singer had been silent, shying away from social media and resurfacing every once in a while.
He was signed to LVRN (Love Renaissance), an Atlanta-based record label which has other acts like 6lack, Summer Walker, in 2019. Cruel Santino has been teasing the release of the album since 2020, but it would appear that his affliation with the label required a more strategic rollout before the album’s release, which the artist himself confirmed was the reason for the delay.
In anticipation of Subaru Boys: Final Heaven, I decided to do something I haven’t tried before on the newsletter: compile a list of songs. It’s something I used to do for a popular media company I worked at a few years back. So, yes, let us put together a list of Santi songs that we ought to revisit as we await the greatness that is about to be unleashed.
Steal A Dime
One of the standout singles on Suzie’s Funeral, Steal A Dime is a mellifluous dancehall tune that electrified dance floors. Santi waxes poetic in his songs which makes your listening experience grander.
Freaky (featuring Bridge L.O.S and Nonso Amadi)
Truly, Santi operates in a realm that’s different from ours. His versatility is particularly evident on this song, and if there’s one thing Santi does well, it’s writing songs. It’s second nature to him. With individual contributions from Bridge L.O.S and Nonso Amadi, Freaky is a fine blend of contemporary Afrobeats and laid-back dancehall.
Purple Juice
A hip-hop/reggaeton-themed song, Purple Juice was a slow-tempo song and one of the most underrated songs on Suzie’s Funeral. Santi flows unobstructed, delivering his lyrics one line at a time.
Dime in The Winter
When I tell you Santi spazzed on the Mandy & The Jungle, I mean he went haywire. Dime in The Winter is quite easily one of the grooviest dancehall tunes on the album.
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GangstaFear (featuring Odunsi The Engine)
Santi took dancehall, Afrobeats, and soft 90’s hip-hop production and threw them into a mix. The result? a sonically-different jam that went against all norms in Nigerian music. Odunsi The Engine played the role of a perfect collaboration, infusing the song with his distinct signature vocals.
Sparky
Produced by Odunsi and Le Mav, Sparky brought another dimension to the world of dancehall. Distorted piano chords, soft-hitting percussion, and Santi’s ethereal singing. The song was premiered on Apple Music’s OVO Sound Radio prior to his release. The visuals for the song generated attention from fans and critics alike.
Rapid Fire (featuring Shane Eagle, Amaarae & Tomi Agape)
Rapid Fire remains Santi’s most popular song. It was unlike any dancehall song as at the time that it was released. Featuring South African rapper Shane Eagle, Ghanaian singer Amaarae, and UK-based Afrobeats act, Tomi Agape, Santi scored a banger in Rapid Fire. Santi’s inimitable flows gave the song life, while the featured trio provided all the necessary support to keep the fire of life blazing.
How’s your weekend going? Have you listened to Asa’s new album? I have listened like two times and when I tell you, it sounds really good. I have a new song I think you should check out. It’s titled Yellow Fever, by an artist named 3rty. Are you looking forward to that new Omah Lay (which features Justin Bieber) too??
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7 Santi Songs to Listen to in Anticipation of 'Subaru Boys: Final Heaven'
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As we approach the end of the first quarter of 2022, we have seen announcements from artists such as Rema, Omah lay, Buju, and many others, stating that they’re all releasing their respective albums. One of the names that has generated interest from active listeners is Cruel Santino (more popularly known as Santi). The singer is set to release his sophomore album Subaru Boys: Final Heaven, which features names like Maison2500, Koffee, Amaarae, Skepta, and more. The album will be reportedly released by Monster Boyz (Santi’s collective) - which signed a joint venture with Interscope Records in 2020.
According to Santi, “I’m going to make this Subaru world a universe so that when you hear it, when you enter it, you know you’re in Subaru.” When you look up the word ‘Subaru,’ you find out that it is a Japanese word which translates to a cluster of stars in the Taurus constellation. Asides that, Subaru is also the name of a vehicle brand. Santi has mastered the art of self-expressing through eccentric means, evolving with every new phase in his artistry.
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Santi remains a ball of mystery to the general audience. Not in the sense that his identity is unknown, but in the sense that we are unable to figure him out. He’s a creative genius who is constantly seeking alien ways to express himself, bridging the thin line between genius and madness. His work has provoked a ton of reactions, some revealing awe while others find him pretentious and unusual. Many of his visuals have a controversial nature, based on his penchant for old Nollywood (horror) movies. He was once accused of promoting cultism in one of his music videos.
Since the days of Ozzy B, when he released songs like Queen Esteem, Lovers Riddim, and others, the young act has always had a flair for unconventional sounds (and visuals). Working with creatives who share(d) similar vision with him, the singer/rapper sparked the Alte scene with bright ideas, bringing forth melodies that differed from mainstream Afropop. After announcing his rebirth with the release of Birth of Santi in 2013, he declared a change of name from Ozzy B to Santi.
Santi released his first studio album, Mandy and The Jungle, in 2019 to critical acclaim. The album established Santi in the hall of fame of Alte artists. It received positive feedback from several listeners, with songs like Rapid Fire gaining a reputation for its spectacular dancehall rhythms. Before he made the announcement of his sophomore album late last year, the singer had been silent, shying away from social media and resurfacing every once in a while.
He was signed to LVRN (Love Renaissance), an Atlanta-based record label which has other acts like 6lack, Summer Walker, in 2019. Cruel Santino has been teasing the release of the album since 2020, but it would appear that his affliation with the label required a more strategic rollout before the album’s release, which the artist himself confirmed was the reason for the delay.
In anticipation of Subaru Boys: Final Heaven, I decided to do something I haven’t tried before on the newsletter: compile a list of songs. It’s something I used to do for a popular media company I worked at a few years back. So, yes, let us put together a list of Santi songs that we ought to revisit as we await the greatness that is about to be unleashed.
Steal A Dime
One of the standout singles on Suzie’s Funeral, Steal A Dime is a mellifluous dancehall tune that electrified dance floors. Santi waxes poetic in his songs which makes your listening experience grander.
Freaky (featuring Bridge L.O.S and Nonso Amadi)
Truly, Santi operates in a realm that’s different from ours. His versatility is particularly evident on this song, and if there’s one thing Santi does well, it’s writing songs. It’s second nature to him. With individual contributions from Bridge L.O.S and Nonso Amadi, Freaky is a fine blend of contemporary Afrobeats and laid-back dancehall.
Purple Juice
A hip-hop/reggaeton-themed song, Purple Juice was a slow-tempo song and one of the most underrated songs on Suzie’s Funeral. Santi flows unobstructed, delivering his lyrics one line at a time.
Dime in The Winter
When I tell you Santi spazzed on the Mandy & The Jungle, I mean he went haywire. Dime in The Winter is quite easily one of the grooviest dancehall tunes on the album.
Thanks for reading The Third Eye! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.
Gangsta Fear (featuring Odunsi The Engine)
Santi took dancehall, Afrobeats, and soft 90’s hip-hop production and threw them into a mix. The result? a sonically-different jam that went against all norms in Nigerian music. Odunsi The Engine played the role of a perfect collaboration, infusing the song with his distinct signature vocals.
Sparky
Produced by Odunsi and Le Mav, Sparky brought another dimension to the world of dancehall. Distorted piano chords, soft-hitting percussion, and Santi’s ethereal singing. The song was premiered on Apple Music’s OVO Sound Radio prior to his release. The visuals for the song generated attention from fans and critics alike.
Rapid Fire (featuring Shane Eagle, Amaarae & Tomi Agape)
Rapid Fire remains Santi’s most popular song. It was unlike any dancehall song as at the time that it was released. Featuring South African rapper Shane Eagle, Ghanaian singer Amaarae, and UK-based Afrobeats act, Tomi Agape, Santi scored a banger in Rapid Fire. Santi’s inimitable flows gave the song life, while the featured trio provided all the necessary support to keep the fire of life blazing.
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How’s your weekend going? Have you listened to Asa’s new album? I have listened like two times and when I tell you, it sounds really good. I have a new song I think you should check out. It’s titled Yellow Fever, by an artist named 3rty. Are you looking forward to that new Omah Lay (which features Justin Bieber) too??
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