Teephlow: 6-feet and Reflections review – the boldest from Lukeman Baidoo just yet?

A few weeks ago, my friend Felix told me about a new song by my favourite rapper, Teephlow. I was already excited about it since I had seen the flyer for it earlier that week. I couldn’t wait to hear the latest masterpiece from the lyrical genius. ‘Reflections’ is a 4:33 track of pure excellence produced by WildMBeats. It showcases Teephlow’s amazing skills and creativity as a rapper.

The rap is fast-paced and full of Teephlow’s signature flow and witty wordplay that make him stand out. A lot of folks are attracted to Teephlow because of his impeccable wordplay. I also love how dexterous he is with words but there is a depth to the lyrics of Teephlow which I feel is rather underappreciated.

This record follows from ‘6-feet’, which the rapper released about a year ago. Both are deeply introspective records. Whilst I was expecting this record to be drenched in the background by the tragic loss of his father, I get the impression he is not over that grief, yet his battle readiness as depicted by his flow on this record shows a rapper still on top of his game.

The rapper speaks candidly about the Ghanaian music industry, debunking false narratives and stereotypes that are prevalent within it. He addresses issues such as lack of support, plagiarism, and the artistic mediocrity that hinder the growth and recognition of Ghanaian musicians.

When he dropped ‘6-feet’, that record made us reflect on his life and his pain, his loss and his gain. ‘Reflections’ follows the same trajectory, forcing the listener to pay attention to its core message. He challenges the norms, the standards and the forms of his industry. He reveals the secrets, he confronts the cheats,he defies the rules, he schools the fools. Here is a rapper with a vision and a message.

The song also reflects on Teephlow’s own journey as an artist and how he has overcome challenges and criticism to achieve his goals. He challenges himself and other artists to keep improving their craft and to make music that is original and meaningful. I’m sure the receipients of all the subtle shots have duly received the message.

Reflections is a song that resonates with me as a fan of Ghanaian rap music. I appreciate Teephlow’s honesty and courage in speaking his mind and exposing the flaws of the industry. I also admire his skill and talent in delivering a catchy and captivating rap song that makes me want to listen again and again without cheapening the listening experience through superfluous self-glorification.

Rap is a genre that has never shyed away from controversies. Commentators have been quick to point out lines in the song to show Teephlow throwing punches at some of his fellow rappers in the game. For even connaissers put off by some of these ‘beefing culture’, I can confidently you’d still this record. This is not your typical bugbear for street rap battles. It is rather a complex, nuanced examination of a artist at a crossword in his artistic journey. The sentimental cast over the past journey of this artist makes it such a compelling record to listen to.

Unvarnished and emotionally raw, this duo records elevates the craft of the master wordsmith above the rest of the cast.

The one pleasant thing I have come to realise from the last two records from this ‘new Teephlow’ is his acceptance of our current social psych. I see a rapper enjoying his art again without any inhibitions. He has figured we “glorify BS in Gh’. He is focusing on the big picture of his artistic journey. I think it is one of Teephlow’s best songs so far and I look forward to hearing more of such productions from him in the future.

I would rate the two songs four and half out of five stars for its production quality, lyrical content, and message.