By Mr Benjamins | This Is Hip Hop HQ | October 2025
There’s a new noise shaking through Nigeria’s underground — loud enough to rattle the polished tables of the privileged and echo into London’s dance halls. It’s called “Your Papa”, and its creator, Cruise Lord, isn’t here to play nice.
Released on October 1, 2025, the single has already started a conversation far beyond music circles. Equal parts Afrobeat fire, hip-hop grit, and social rebellion, “Your Papa” isn’t just a song. It’s a confrontation.
The Message — No More Bowing to Power
The phrase “your papa” is Nigerian street slang — sometimes dismissive, often daring, always sharp. In Cruise Lord’s hands, it becomes a weapon. The record takes aim at a familiar class in Nigerian life: the entitled, the inherited, the untouchable.
“It’s not a diss track. It’s a mirror,” Cruise Lord said in a studio conversation last week. “Too many people walk around with borrowed crowns. I just want to remind them — respect is earned, not inherited.”
That sentiment runs through every bar. He doesn’t name names, but the target is clear: the children of corrupt elites, bullies in designer sneakers, anyone who treats privilege like personality.
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Yet beneath the fury lies universality. “Your Papa” speaks to anyone who’s been overlooked, silenced, or underestimated. Whether you’re a Lagos dreamer or a Brixton hustler, you’ll hear your own frustration in his cadence.
The Sound — When Protest Hits the Dancefloor
Musically, “Your Papa” is engineered chaos: Afro percussion meets London grit, protest meets party.
The beat, produced under his creative imprint Cruise Side, thumps with traditional talking drums layered against crisp hip-hop kicks. The bassline growls low — a pulse meant for car speakers and club floors alike.
And Cruise Lord’s delivery? Controlled, surgical. He spits like he’s balancing fire in his mouth — measured enough to keep it steady, fierce enough to burn through complacency.
It’s a throwback to the golden age of Nigerian hip-hop — Mode 9, M.I Abaga, Terry Tha Rapman, even Space Man — but with a modern Afro-fusion twist. The simplicity of the hook (“Your Papa, no be God!”) keeps it accessible; the verses carry the weight.
The Man Behind the Mic — From Lagos Roots to London Stages
Cruise Lord’s journey reads like a bridge between continents. Born in Nigeria, now based in the UK, he’s a product of two worlds — Lagos’ raw energy and London’s creative infrastructure.
He grew up on a diet of Michael Jackson, Fela Kuti, and 2Pac, but his artistry matured in the crucible of global sounds. His discography shows constant evolution — from early electronic influences to his current fusion of Afrobeats, hip-hop, house, and dance.
He’s not just making records; he’s building a movement. His newly-launched creative hub, Cruise Side (opened Sept 12, 2025), aims to nurture emerging African creators in music, fashion, and visual art — a future-minded space where art meets business.
As he puts it:
“Cruise Side isn’t a label. It’s a lab. We experiment, we fail, we build. Africa doesn’t just export talent — we export innovation.”
Legal and Business Backbone — The Smart Rebel
Don’t be fooled by the street confidence. Cruise Lord runs his operation like a strategist.
- Rights and Credits – His team reportedly handles all publishing and master rights through independent channels, ensuring ownership stays with the artist.
- Distribution – With a global rollout through digital platforms, he’s positioned to access royalties from multiple territories (Nigeria, UK, EU, US).
- Collaborations – “Your Papa” features Deco, a London-based artist known for sleek vocal textures, giving the record an international tone.
- Cruise Side as Entity – Legally registered as a creative hub and digital incubator, Cruise Side’s model follows the blueprint of modern artist collectives like Dreamville and Native Records.
It’s that mix of artistry and administration that makes Cruise Lord dangerous — not just loud, but lasting.
The Rollout — Building Toward Songs of Solomon
“Your Papa” isn’t a standalone jab. It’s the opening swing in a calculated rollout:
- Nov 7, 2025 — “We Go Go” (anticipated as a more uptempo Afro-house banger).
- Dec 5, 2025 — “Mount Killy” (expected to explore inner conflict and ambition).
- Jan 11, 2026 — Songs of Solomon EP — his debut Afro-House project, described as “a spiritual dance experience that celebrates struggle and survival.”
Each release widens the soundscape — from protest to praise, from confrontation to celebration. It’s a three-act story told through rhythm.
Hip-Hop’s Return to Substance
What Cruise Lord represents isn’t nostalgia; it’s renewal. Nigeria’s mainstream has spent years dominated by party anthems — and rightly so, given Afrobeats’ global rise. But every movement needs its counter-voice, the reminder that rhythm can carry truth.
“Your Papa” re-ignites the tradition of politically conscious rap — think Eedris Abdulkareem’s ‘Jaga Jaga’ reborn in a streaming era. It shows that you can drop bars about corruption and still make bodies move.
“Hip-hop started as protest,” says Mr Benjamins of This Is Hip Hop HQ. “Cruise Lord is reminding a new generation that the mic isn’t just for melody — it’s for message.”
Business Takeaway for Independent Artists
Cruise Lord’s approach is a case study in how to own your message and your masters:
- Stay independent, stay structured. Register your publishing and PROs early — Nigeria (COSON), UK (PRS), US (ASCAP/BMI).
- Build a hub, not just a brand. Like Cruise Side, create infrastructure that outlives a single single.
- Fuse message with market. “Your Papa” proves protest can sell if packaged smartly.
- Control the narrative. Artists must speak for themselves — through lyrics, visuals, and legal clarity.
The Future — Global Afro-Hip-Hop Renaissance
The global scene is shifting. As Afrobeats continues to dominate, the hybrid strain of Afro-Hip-Hop — socially aware, musically infectious — is rising. Artists like Cruise Lord, Psycho YP, and Odumodublvck are reshaping what “rap” means on the continent.
“Your Papa” might just be the matchstick for a larger flame — a new class of African artists who aren’t afraid to confront systems, speak in pidgin, and still chart internationally.
Final Take
Cruise Lord’s “Your Papa” is a middle finger wrapped in rhythm. It’s angry but articulate, rebellious yet refined. In an industry that too often rewards silence over substance, he’s chosen defiance.
And defiance, when it’s well-produced, properly managed, and legally sound, is hard to ignore.
So, when you hit play and that beat drops, remember — you’re not just hearing a song. You’re hearing a generation clear its throat.
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