Dosh Lowkee – ‘Thanksgiving’ album review: an inspiration to the street

By Taiwo Okanlawon

You can’t scroll through Nigerian music these days without stumbling across Dosh Lowkee’s name, especially on tracks hyping up money, hustle, or street life. The guy’s even got a street slang named after him, inspiring a slew of hits. Now, he’s slapped “artist” onto his already packed résumé with his debut EP, Thanks Giving. But seriously, who is Dosh Lowkee? Artist, producer, entrepreneur, forex trader, label boss? His jack-of-all-trades vibe leaves you wondering if he’s got a clear focus or if he’s just dabbling in music for clout.

Looking at his last three releases, Dosh, a Nigerian businessman and social media influencer, has been trying to morph from hustle king to Afrobeats star. His 2023 track Many Things brought a slick, street-smart Afrobeat vibe, and Grateful leaned harder into global pop, pulling from dancehall and hustle anthems. His latest, Thanksgiving, wants to keep that energy going with a feel-good Afrobeats record about gratitude and success. But honestly, it feels like he’s playing it too safe, recycling familiar sounds instead of carving out something fresh.

The EP kicks off with Many Things, which seems like it’s going for a deep, reflective vibe. The lively drums and melodies pull you in, making you think you’re about to hear his real story. Then the beat slows, and he drops lines like, “So Many Many Things, But I still dey my guy / But my mind no fit rest till I get the pay.” It’s catchy, sure, but it’s also kind of shallow—more like a generic hustle mantra than a peek into his soul. For someone who’s only been in the music game a short while, Dosh leans hard on Afrobeats clichés, which makes you question how much he’s really bringing to the table.

The dance tracks, like Hustle and Hustle 2.0 (aka Thanks Giving), crank up the energy with poppy beats and thumping hand drums that practically force you to move. They’re fun, no doubt, but they sound like they could’ve been plucked from any Afrobeats playlist. There’s nothing here that screams “Dosh Lowkee.”
The hip-hop-tinged Hustle tries to get emotional, with soft pianos and strings backing lyrics about grinding and losing his mom. It’s a heavy topic, but the delivery feels too polished, like he’s more focused on keeping the vibe upbeat than letting the pain hit. Lines about pushing forward are meant to inspire, but they come off as predictable, missing the rawness that could’ve made them land.

Thanksgiving isn’t a bad debut, but it’s not exactly a game-changer either. It’s got the Afrobeats joy and dancefloor energy, but it’s all so… expected. For a guy with Dosh’s hustle and influence, you’d hope for something bolder, something that screams him. Instead, this feels like a side project that checks the boxes without taking risks. If Dosh wants to be taken seriously as an artist, he’s got to dig deeper and find a sound that’s unmistakably his own. Right now, Thanksgiving is just okay—and in a scene this stacked, okay doesn’t cut it.