AU-Pro’s “Somtin’ Different” Is a Sonic Statement That Deserves More Ears

By Emmanuel “Waziri” Okoro

There is a peculiar kind of courage and audacity that comes with releasing a debut LP in the middle of one of Nigeria’s competitive musical eras. The late 2010s saw the explosion of the ‘Afrobeats to the World’ movement, transporting our music and talents outward while global music markets began looking inward. It was only the sharpest voices that survived the noise. AU-Pro (real name Augustine Ebu) took advantage of that precise moment to release Somtin’ Different, a 10-track body of work that moves with the restless energy of an artiste primed for dominance.

What makes the album immediately compelling is how decisively it answers the central question any debut must: Does the execution match the vision? Noticeably, Somtin’ Different achieves this on two fronts. First, the production credits read like an Avengers-level rollcall; Micon Beatz, Kukbeatz, AZ Beatz, STG, and WEBEAT put in some of their best work. Secondly, AU-Pro teams up with some of the best voices of that era—some of which are still making a massive footprint today.

OFFICIAL  VIDEO AU-PRO FT BURNA BOY GHETTO LOVE

The album opens with “Critical”, featuring R&B maestro Praiz, and the pairing is, in hindsight, a quiet surprise. Praiz is widely seen as a lover-boy archetype, yet here he steps into the role of social commentator with uncommon conviction. AU-Pro anchors the song in the hustle gospel of the everyday Nigerian: “Life nor get part two / So, you need to box am well, you don’t need a round 2 / No food for gentle man / Step on your feet and show them your hustle”, and Praiz’s verse adds texture and weight, floating over the mid-tempo STG composition with a finesse that reframes what he is capable of.

Afrobeats drums and Highlife-inflected piano chords usher in “Kpariwo”, featuring Sean Tizzle and Henry Knight. The song’s title, which is a Yoruba slang for noise, sees all singers offering a ballad of praise for their love interests. AU-Pro is both playful and pointed, and the features make the track wholesome. “Kpariwo” works because it can be enjoyed at a party and in one headphone on a breezy Wednesday afternoon.

For the first time on Somtin’ Different, AU-Pro goes solo on the high-octane energy that is “KpoKor”. Here, over the bouncy production, he delivers an anthem to embracing indulgences and living life on the edge. He makes it believable because he fully embraces the persona of a carefree individual bustling through Lagos nightlife.

“Live 4” reanimates the themes explored in “Kpariwo”, but this time, AU-Pro taps the assistance of Teddy A and King Perry. “The girlie wey I like/ You be the person wey I dey live for (sing for)” he croons on the mid-tempo tune. While Teddy A and King Perry add some dynamism to the song, it is the energy of AU-Pro that it feeds on. Sean Tizzle makes another appearance on “No Joy”, a Dancehall-infused tune that is a standout on the album. While AU-Pro explores the socio-political realities of Nigeria with his constant chant of ‘fire on the mountain’, Sean Tizzle redirects the light to individual standpoints. It is conscious music, but good music regardless.

“U See” with Patoranking is where AU-Pro lowers his guard most visibly. The vulnerability is earned, not performed: “Baby, blame it on the whiskey / Be the reason why them dey diss me / We go lose am all if you leave me / Kukuma give them gun make them fire me”. Patoranking on the chorus is a delight, adding weight where another feature might have coasted. The chemistry between them is natural, proof that AU-Pro understands that great music is as much about collaboration as it is about craft.

Another standout track on Somtin’ Different is the Burna Boy-assisted “Ghetto Love”, another Dancehall-Galala-inflected tune. Burna Boy’s presence is not a mere cameo but a collision of two musicians who understand that love, survival, and the streets are not mutually exclusive in the African experience. More commendable is the fact that AU-Pro holds his own in a way that matters. When you share a song with Burna Boy, and you still carry the song, that says something significant about you.

“Burn It” is specially for the dancefloor with sweaty bodies bumping and grinding against each other. AU-Pro’s melodic sensibilities combined with Ycee’s flair create an easy-going, carefree tune that is in equal parts compelling and natural.

It is quite fitting that AU-Pro ends the album with solo efforts, “Money” and “Good Loving”. While he delivers an anthem to the influence of riches, “Good Loving” is another tune of devotion served to a muse. The decision to end this way feels intentional: a reminder that beneath the collaborations and the production credits, there is a singular voice that holds the project together.

Somtin’ Different really is something different; unique in its own right, honest, and ambitious. In the competitive framework of Nigerian music, it holds its own weight seamlessly. What lingers, ultimately, is AU-Pro himself. Across the tracks, he proves himself to be an artiste with a clear sense of identity. As such, the collaborations never overshadow him; if anything, they illuminate him.

Emmanuel “Waziri” Okoro is a content writer and journo with an insatiable knack for music and pop culture, with bylines on Afrocritik, PM News Nigeria, Tribune, The Sun, ThisDay Live, Vanguard, and The Guardian. When he’s not writing, you will find him arguing why Arsenal FC is the best football club in the multiverse. Connect with him on Twitter, Instagram, and Threads: @BughiLorde.