TOBi, today’s Music Discovery, doesn’t play around on his new EP, switching between hot bars, needed animation and lovey feelings– leaving fans with a ‘Hoodwinked’ experience. Each song is a distinct production and flow, all equally captivating– a testament to his versatility. Check out his latest release, the Hoodwinked EP, now!
Hoodwinked EP By TOBi
“Hoodwinked”
In a statement, he says that the song’s protagonist “has a general distrust for systems and adults. What happens when the veil is lifted? As he gets older he starts to see things for what they really are. He’s on a quest for truth—a very challenging quest.” Awkwardly pitched vocals, bouncy adlibs, and menacing bass all enhance the minimally-produced track basked in toxic home life. You are knee-deep in his animated recounting before ‘Hoodwinked!’ bulldozes through the chorus between exhausted breaths.
“She Loves Me”
TOBi’s voice quivers and croons on this 90s-spiced love track, laced with lucid bells and space operatic. It is an outer-body experience. Love can feel otherworldly, and this R&B slow-burner is as close as we get to a perfect vision of it. “I’m a rocket man running outta fuel / If I do, at least we making love on the moon / I’ma turn you out when we get in tune.”
“Flowers”
Then, TOBi describes “Flowers” as a “very important song” in a tweet. He delved into that more, saying in a statement, “This is one of my favorite songs I’ve done. The definition of unapologetic soul music. I wanted to tell a story of what it meant to be a man, growing and learning and dealing with my vices. Protecting my peace while navigating the challenges of life. This song is a turning point in my mental journey. Addressing fears, seeking therapy, paying homage to those who are living… it’s a lot to unpack in the verses, but at the end of the day, it feels so good to be alive and creating, and I’m grateful for every moment.”
Who Is TOBi?
Even more, the flavorful, unbridled singer-rapper hails from Canada via Nigeria, with his first EP, FYi, in 2016. Fun fact, as a teenager in Ontario, he once rap-battled with a pre-fame Tory Lanez.
With Afropunk, Tobi cited Gil Scott-Heron, Frank Ocean, Marvin Gaye, Eartha Kitt, Florence and the Machine, and Andre 3000 as some of his musical inspirations.
In fact, his breakthrough came with his third project, ELEMENTS Vol. 1 (2020). It saw a host of collaborators, with the newest hotshot Flo Milli even jumping the remixed single “Family Matters.” The album won the 2021 Juno Award for Rap Recording of the Year, with “Holiday” nominated for Contemporary R&B/Soul Recording of the Year.
What do you think about our Music Discovery, TOBi, and his new EP, Hoodwinked? Let us know in the comments!
