Four years ago, I wrote a long piece about Dave’s last album. It was an assignment from the iconic poet Dami Ajayi. A lot has happened since then: I moved from Ondo town to Ibadan, went back to university for my postgraduate studies, and even the artist has experienced life on different levels.
He moved between cities, learned how to play musical instruments, and his thought process shifted. He collapsed all of these experiences into “The Boy Who Played The Harp,” his third studio album, released last week. The features are still limited, Dave’s writing is still sharp, and he is more introspective.
This is therapy disguised as an album. Now aware of the downside of fame, Dave looks inward, questioning some of his decisions. “History,” the opener, is a diaristic track where the rapper refers to himself as a legend in the making, or maybe even a legend. He remains humble despite all the accolades and is aware of hubris. The mild piano chords help in his message delivery, and James Blake’s cool chorus soothes the listener into the album.
Dave kicks it off early; fans are aware of what he is up to from the first track, and this continues through the remaining nine songs. “175 Months” encapsulates what he has been through. It is a personal take where he begs God to protect his mum and also has words for his friends and brothers.
The title of this album is biblical. Dave understands the place of faith in his journey and how Christianity helps him. He is aware of the domino effect of fame. On “No Weapon,” he boasts, “No weapon against me shall prosper.” It takes a certain level of confidence to utter such a sentence. The United Kingdom’s legendary rapper, Kano, appears on the six-minute-plus “Chapter 16.” The rapper released his debut freestyle when he was just 16, and this track references that. The song is a duet between a mentor and mentee; Kano drops gems that are relevant for Dave and everyone listening, as they even share the same fears. Kano is the big brother, the uncle from whose well of wisdom you drink. The production is jazz and hip-hop centric. Dave leans into soul music for the Tems-assisted “Raindance,” a romance-drenched tune with the duo going back and forth on the complexities, ups, and downs of a relationship.
With the level of success he has achieved so far, how do you stop being selfish? This is a big question, or better still, when do you stop aspiring for more? On the album’s sixth track, Dave addresses some of these concerns.
“My 27th Birthday” is another biographical tale. It is more reflective, sad, and melancholy. The line, “Before I find love, I pray I find peace,” seeps in, and even Dave repeats it. He is disillusioned with the numbers game the music industry is mired in, and his inability to have a child and help his brothers gives him concern. “Marvelous” retells a story about a kid who almost got mixed up in street violence until music saved him.
On the coda, which is also the title track, Dave digs deep, sermonizing and traveling down memory lane about what he would have done, or not done. It is a message of hope and perseverance in the face of life’s complexities.
‘The Boy Who Played The Harp’ is another sonic statement from Dave. It is a great addition to his expanding discography, showing his clarity of purpose, maturity, and focus on legacy. This is what legends do.
Emmanuel Daraloye is a seasoned music journalist whose flair for the pen and music reflects a genuine love for preserving its value and culture. He prides himself as “Africa’s Most Prolific Freelance Music Critic”.
Copyright 2025 TheCable. All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from TheCable.
Follow us on twitter @Thecablestyle