Being born and raised in America hasn’t been a barrier for Abdul Quam Tadese, aka AQT, to stay in touch with what’s going on miles away in his homeland Nigeria. Through his music so far, he has found a way to tell stories of hustle and ambition through the lens of a dreamer. In his 11-track debut album Olanrewaju, he continues this reflective journey.

The afrobeats project opens with a contribution from Leaf B (track 1) and My Time (track 2), both setting the tone with contemplative takes on life, ambition, and the drive to push forward.

On Fire (track 3) flips the energy as AQT bigs himself up here, leaning into self-belief and rising confidence. By Story of the Gods and AMERICANA (tracks 4 and 5), the project reaches an intersection. The themes don’t shift much, but the sound does: amapiano kicks in, moving the vibe into more party-ready territory.

Outside featuring Ichaba (track 6) carries that same energy, though with lyrics that trade reflection for indulgence, spending, flexing, and living outside. It’s also one of the pre-released singles, and while the mood stays upbeat, the outro grounds it with a heartfelt message from AQT about Afrobeats, his Nigerian roots, and how much his culture means to him.

Smoke (track 7) is AQT in full bravado mode, chanting lines like “tell them boys bring the smoke, I want the smoke,” with an almost unshakable conviction that “Oluwa don co-sign.” Dagger (track 8) then slides into a dancehall groove, powered by Leonardo Yukawa’s feature.

Things soften with Hold On (My Love) (track 9), a temporary return to tenderness before Many Inspirations (track 10) swerves back into braggadocio, with AQT listing his goals (including winning a Grammy) alongside some lofty boasts.

The closer, KING (track 11), circles back to where the project began: ambition, hope, and introspection. The line “there’s no Maserati yet but I trust my prayers” neatly captures his current reality, big dreams but patience in the process.

As a whole, Olanrewaju doesn’t reinvent the wheel. Some tracks lean on familiar formulas, and the balance between introspection and indulgence can feel uneven at times. But as a debut, it’s a clear statement of who AQT is and where he’s coming from: an artist reflecting on ambition while reaching for celebration.