EP REVIEW: QING MADI’S SELF-TITLED EP
“Qing Madi’s success didn’t happen overnight, she spent her whole life preparing for this.”
Chimamanda Pearl Chukwuma, popularly known as Qing Madi, has come a long way from her early days taking center stage in her local church in Benin. It was within these sacred walls that she diligently honed her skills and meticulously refined her craft as a singer.
This pivotal chapter in her musical journey laid the foundation for what would later become this distinctive and flourishing career trajectory we’re witnessing.
Benin has proven to be a breeding ground for stars like Rema and Shallipopi who have successfully propelled the city onto the Afrobeats map, both on international and local scales. Qing Madi is the next prodigy in line from Benin heritage to storm into the music industry with hopes to add her her own flavour into the mix.
QING MADI EP – UNWRAPPING THE GOODS
Following the success of her 2022 single, “See Finish,” recorded at the age of 16, Qing Madi escalated her momentum in 2023 with the viral hit single, “Ole,” featuring Bnxn (formerly known as Buju). The track has garnered remarkable traction, accumulating over 10 million streams on Spotify and surpassing 6 million views on YouTube as of the time of writing this review.
On her debut EP, Qing Madi aims to establish her presence in discussions surrounding the emerging stars of the new Afrobeats era. In a scene where talents like Taves, Yarden, Kold AF, YKB, Yinka Bernie, Mikun, and many others are all gaining traction, Qing Madi seeks to carve her niche alongside these artists to assert her unique presence.
The project opens with the Ktizo-produced R&B number “Madi’s Medley,” where Qing Madi soulfully delves into her ambitions and dreams while remaining aware of her detractors. She assuredly sings about preparing herself for challenges that may come her way, painting a vivid picture of her mindset regarding her career.
Her breakout single, “Ole,” arguably the most important song of the project, takes its place on track two. The Bnxn-assisted number blends seamlessly with the other songs, setting the tone for the EP.
She displays more soulful singing on the third track, “Vision,” as she laments about her love interest and getting her priorities messed up. This particular record features some of the best songwriting on the project, showcasing a concise pen-to-image approach.
Qing Madi, whose music fuses Afrobeats, pop, soul, and R&B, continues in this fine tradition on her debut project. The three-track run from tracks four to six—American Love, Chargie, and Why—leans heavily toward the Afrobeats space, providing room for her to blend her vocal prowess and melodies with the vibe that comes with Afrobeats sonics, before closing out the project with her 2022 viral single, See Finish.
VERDICT
Qing Madi‘s success didn’t happen overnight, she spent her whole life preparing for this. From her early days singing in church choirs as a child, to later joining the ranks of renowned Nigerian artists such as Wavy The Creator, Rema, Burna Boy, Mr. Eazi, and Tems to be named on Apple Music’s Up Next, a prestigious artist development program launched in 2017 for spotlighting and supporting emerging talents.
EDITOR’S NOTE
Qing Madi’s debut project not only marks her emergence as a teen sensation, but also showcases the immense potential for her evolution into a mature stalwart in the music industry.
