African Magic – Harteez, Picazo & Hamidat’s streetwise gratitude anthem

By Wale Oloworekende

In African Magic, Harteez distils a lifetime of hustle into just over two minutes of music, pairing his own story with those of fellow travellers Picazo, the former YBNL signee and indigenous singer-producer Hamidat. The title nods to the iconic Africa Magic TV channel, a fixture of Nigerian living rooms and a shorthand for the melodrama of everyday life. Here, it becomes a metaphor for transformation: how reality can sometimes play out like the plot of a Nollywood film.

Harteez’s and Picazo’s origins in Lagos and Sango-Ota mirror Hamidat’s own grassroots beginnings. It’s this shared background that makes the collaboration feel less like a studio convenience and more like a reunion of kindred spirits. They are united by the same central arc, coming from nothing, building something visible, and giving thanks along the way.

Hamidat’s production begins with a sparse, warm chord progression. Over it, Harteez’s rallying call “Attention everybody!”, breaks the stillness, ushering in the track’s central motif. Hamidat claims the first hook: “Look at me, had to come up with nothing”. Her delivery is unhurried yet weighted with experience, grounding the track in lived truth rather than generic bravado.

Mid-song, she flips the beat entirely, moving from a slow, soulful loop to a brisk, boom-bap pulse that would be at home in early J. Cole or OJ da Juiceman’s discography. The switch is a jolt of momentum, giving Harteez’s rap verse space to unfold. In just 25 seconds, he sketches a portrait of progress: the grind, the shift, and the gratitude.

Picazo steps in for the second verse, exchanging bars with Harteez in a back-and-forth cadence. While the energy is high, the decision to have him share the space rather than command his own full verse feels like a missed chance to expand the song’s perspective. At just past the two-minute mark, the track ends before its narrative has fully matured, a structural limitation that slightly undercuts its emotional payoff.

If Harteez’s and Picazo’s verses supply grit, Hamidat’s background vocals add the warmth. She threads harmonies beneath the rap lines, softening the edges and amplifying the sentiment. The outro collapses the distance between artist and audience: a candid studio moment where Hamidat laughs and declares, “This is what they call vibeee”. It’s a behind-the-curtain detail that reminds us that creative milestones are forged not just in ambition, but in community.

Afican Magic’s biggest strength is its thematic clarity. It’s a rare Nigerian rap cut that celebrates progress without glossing over the work it takes to get there. The chemistry between the three collaborators feels organic, not label-assembled. Hamidat’s dual role as producer and vocalist gives the track a singular identity on Harteez’s EP.

Still, its brevity leaves some ideas underdeveloped. The hook, while memorable, is leaned on a little too heavily. Replacing one chorus with an added verse could have deepened the song’s emotional and narrative range. Similarly, the beat switch — arguably the track’s most dynamic moment — could have lingered longer, allowing for greater sonic and lyrical exploration.

In the context of Harteez’s EP, African Magic stands out as both a highlight and a blueprint for what his collaborations can achieve. It’s heartfelt, tightly woven, and rich in cultural metaphor. With more structural room to breathe, it could have been a definitive street anthem. As it stands, it’s a potent snapshot of three artists at different points in their journeys, united by a shared history and an unshakable gratitude.