T’Bellz Returns With Soulful Street-Pop EP Back on Track

“Bad boy from Africa!!”, the opening line of T’Bellz’s latest extended play, Back on Track, instantly reaffirms the artistic identity he has steadily built since his debut in 2017.

Born Opeyemi Bello, the Afro-pop singer continues to position himself at the intersection of ancestral Apala traditions and contemporary Nigerian pop. His sound is marked by gritty tonal textures, Yoruba poetry, and streetwise narratives that feel deeply personal and familiar.

On Back on Track, T’Bellz demonstrates clear artistic growth, embracing more refined multicultural fusions while remaining rooted in street-pop sensibilities. The project opens boldly with Jo, a slow-burning introduction driven by chant-like, almost spoken vocals. This delivery, reminiscent of Sprechgesang, creates a hypnotic pull that has worked for street-pop acts like Seyi Vibez and TML Vibez, but here feels uniquely tailored to T’Bellz’s style.

Rendezvous follows seamlessly, retaining the same vocal cadence while layering slow percussion, airy guitar lines, and pop-inflected rhythms that reinforce the EP’s fusion-heavy identity.

By the third track, I’ll Wait, the project reaches its emotional core, leaning fully into soulful street-pop and Afro-pop textures. T’Bellz’s songwriting takes centre stage as he moves from affectionate bravado on Rendezvous to declarations of loyalty on I’ll Wait, before shifting into celebratory moods on Ginger and Cheers 2 Life.

His fluid use of Yoruba, Pidgin, and English, laced with street slang and relaxed flows, stands out particularly on Jo and Cheers 2 Life, enhancing both the groove and relatability of the songs.

Beyond lyricism, Back on Track excels in composition. Blending sultry, emo Afro-pop melodies with Apala-influenced vocal inflections requires careful balance, and T’Bellz delivers with confidence. His attention to pacing and clear enunciation allows each track to breathe while preserving the project’s overall cohesion.

The EP closes with Cheers 2 Life, a vibrant finale rich with tropical horns, backing vocals, and an uplifting groove that neatly completes the project’s thematic journey.

Overall, Back on Track feels like pages torn from a street OG’s diary, intimate, reflective, and celebratory. With its cultural depth, emotional resonance, and strong replay value, the EP stands as a noteworthy addition to Nigeria’s evolving street-pop fusion soundscape, best enjoyed on a calm afternoon, pulsing with heritage, originality, and infectious melodies.