On 'Kaizen', Bhadboi OML turns vulnerability into strength. The Rising Afrobeats artist has already started to find confidence in his fluid blend of Afrofusion, R&B and street lyricism; he approaches his sophomore EP as both a reflection and a reset. The title, drawn from the Japanese
philosophy meaning "continuous improvement", — feels like a mission statement for an artist determined to evolve in both sound and spirit.
Across the six tracks, 'Kaizen's Intro', 'Child's Play', 'Bag of Vibes', 'Jah', 'Oversability' and 'Sergio Ramos' — Bhadboi OML crafts a story of resilience, ambition and gratitude. His melodies glide between mellow and defiant, his delivery marked by that familiar mix of grit and grace that is quickly becoming his signature. Where earlier work leaned heavily into street‑hop urgency, 'Kaizen' trades bravado for balance; the growth is audible and intentional.
The project opens with 'Kaizen's Intro', a meditative entry that sets the tone with quiet determination. The sparse instrumentation allows space for voice and thought, and it works as a deliberate pause before the body of the EP. 'Child's Play' follows up with breezy confidence, underlining Bhadboi OML's ease with melody and tempo. Warm percussion and open chords make the track an immediate earworm without sounding overproduced.
On 'Jah', faith and intuition take centre stage. He sings with unfiltered emotion: "Jah e be you, e be you, e be you 24/7". The lyric sits comfortably alongside a minimalist beat, proof that sometimes restraint creates the most resonance. 'Oversability' continues the reflective mood, serving as the project's spiritual midpoint. This production utilises subtle reverb and low‑end warmth, fostering contemplation to support the lyricism within.
Contrast arrives with 'Sergio Ramos', a track that fuses street bravado with poetic resolve. Named with a wink to the famed defender, it is as much about protecting one's space in life as it is about defending an artistic identity. The verses snap with intensity while the chorus lets the emotion breathe — a smart arrangement that highlights Bhadboi OML's range.
Production across 'Kaizen' leans warm and textured, taking from Afrobeats, trap, and R&B influences without losing cohesion. The beats are uncluttered, leaving room for the vocals to sit naturally in the mix. Where some peers chase maximalist production, Bhadboi opts for clarity: each instrument has purpose, each silence speaks.
Lyrically, the EP is less about boasting and more about progression. There is an honesty to his phrasing: small confessions and observations that invite empathy rather than awe. Lines about perseverance and the everyday grind surface without a heavy hand, which makes the moments of uplift land harder when they arrive.
If there's a criticism, it's that the EP at times plays it too safe; a couple of tracks could've benefited from a riskier arrangement or a surprising feature to break the uniformity. Yet that restraint also feels like a statement: this is an artist polishing his craft, focusing on nuance instead of pyrotechnics.
Ultimately, 'Kaizen' reads like a quiet manifesto. It is not a simple collection of songs but a document of process, a self‑aware pursuit of better. With this EP, Bhadboi OML cements his place among a new generation of Nigerian artists unafraid to introspect out loud. In a musical landscape often obsessed with speed and spectacle, he offers stillness, and that might be his greatest strength yet.
