Runtown’s 2016 monster hit, ‘Mad Over You’ has gained over 100 million views on Youtube.
The video featured a parade of supermodels covered in a classic display of colours and umbrellas all around, giving a retro view. Set at the picturesque and abandoned Ijora Thermal Station in Lagos constructed in 1923 overlooking the Lagos Marina. It enjoyed massive back to back play on radio and TV. Shooting the artist into instant international fame.
By the first quarter of the year, it became fan’s favourite and could be heard almost everywhere around the sub-region with increased airplay privately and at all kinds of events. In March 2017 it garnered over 2 million streams on Spotify.
Real name Douglas Jack Agu, his ‘Mad Over You’ is the highlife ballad blend with R&B and Afro-fusion, Its smooth and bouncy rhythms on the loop accompanied by the guitar, percussion and flute. Making for a sound that rings on in the mind of the listener, even when not playing.
The lyrics of the song is based on the love for a Ghanaian girl and his appreciation of the popular Ghanaian food, waakye (a loved staple made from rice and beans, garnished with spaghetti, tomato stew or garri, and an assortment of proteins) and shitor (pepper sauce which tops the meal).
In October of 2019, ‘Mad Over You’ had 80 million views on Youtube and on 9 February 2020, the milestone of 100 million views and still counting were achieved, showing a surge of about 20 million views in three months. A feat only achieved by two other Nigerian artists; Yemi Alade’s ‘Johnny’, currently over 110 million views and Davido for his track ‘Fall’ 157 million views.
‘Mad Over You’ brings Ghana and Nigeria together in that perfect rhythm deeply rooted in their shared history for great music and appreciation for culture and lifestyle.
Bolaji Alonge is an artist, photographer and actor from Lagos, Nigeria with more than a decade of experience in documenting history, looking for beauty where it is least expected. In May 2017, Bolaji organized his “Eyes of a Lagos Boy” photo exhibition at Freedom Park in Lagos.
His second solo exhibition “Urban Culture – Historical Continuity” was held at One Draw Gallery, Ikoyi, Lagos in November 2018. In February 2019, Bolaji showcased his work at Baza Studio in New York. A third solo exhibition, “Black & White” was hosted at Quintessence, Lagos in July 2019.
In October 2019, he held the Afrobeat – The Legacy photo exhibition on Femi Kuti during Felabration.
Alonge is a regular at the Shrine, a grove of deep rhythms for those addicted to freedom. He has been documenting Femi for years and is a dedicated “shrine rat” himself. He is currently editor, West Africa, for Musicinafrica.net, Africa’s largest digital music platform.
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