5 Songs I Love w/ ZeXzy

Following the release of his 28-track debut album 'Every Sound', Flex caught up with Nigerian-born, US-based artist ZeXzy to find out what influences his eclectic sound that ranges from Afrobeats to Latin, soft rock to jazz, Caribbean rhythms to U.S. hip-hop and everything in between. If you enjoy ZeXzy's picks, be sure to check out 'Every Sound' at the end of the article.

1. Michael Jackson - Billie Jean

Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean is one of pop’s most defining hits and was very popular on radio and television. So as a kid, I heard the song over and over again and it had a major imprint on my psyche as a musician. As an adult, I’ve come to realize how much this sound has shaped the way I see and write music.

2. ⁠Bob Marley - One Love

Bob Marley’s “One Love” is a reggae song that really galvanised my love for reggae music as a boy. In a world that is broken in silos and every group is trying to outwit one another, this song says in very simple, unequivocal terms how much “One Love” is needed for us to coexist as a human race. Till today, it’s a song I remember and just search and play because it brings me in touch with my humanity. 

3. ⁠Bryan Adams - Summer of 69

Bryan Adam’s “Summer Of 69” is a breathtaking rock song that rocks my soul every time I hear it. While he talks about his life as a young man, it brings a flood of nostalgia to me and just takes me to my own good times/friends of the past. The guitar intro and the first line “I got my first real six string” throws my mind into a euphoric mood too much to explain.

4. ⁠Fela - Water No Get Enemy

Fela’s “Water no get enemy” is an Afrobeat song by the great Fela Anikulapo kuti. This is a song that has such beautiful instrumentation that you can’t help but be filled with so much emotions when you hear it. I love the arrangement of this particular piece, which makes it a classic song I can play on repeat. This jam and many more of Fela’s songs has had a huge impact on how I arrange my music today, especially my Afrobeat songs.

5. ⁠Tupac - Until The End Of Time

Tupac’s “Until the end of time” is a very unique song, majorly because of the blend between Tupac’s lyrics on how tough life can be and RL’s soulful rendition of the chorus. It was an epic blend that led to the classic as we now know it. I seriously learnt a lot of rhyming from this song and other of Tupac’s songs, thus helping me become a better rapper. In fact, myself and my friends used to copy out the lyrics and learned everything word for word. Today I can write rhymes effortlessly because of these rap songs I used to play and rap to during my formative years as a writer.

Listen to ZeXzy 'Every Sound'