CKay Makes a Promise on 'forever'

When I first heard 'forever,' I wasn't expecting it to stick with me the way it did. CKay's been making music for a while now, but this feels how can I say more grounded, honest, personal and sure about what he actually wants.

The track comes from his CKay The Second EP, which dropped earlier this month. Six tracks, features from Sabrina Claudio and Bella Shmurda. The usual outlets covered it. Billboard, GRAMMY.com, OkayAfrica.

It starts with Spanish guitars and conga drums. The violin enters a little moment later. The production feels considered, like every element has a reason for being there. That's not always the case with love songs.

Lyrically, CKay's talking about letting go of ego to build something real. "I'll free my ego to marry you," he sings. It's a specific kind of vulnerability. Not just about loving someone, but about what you're willing to sacrifice for that love.

He mentions making memories from Santorini to Lagos for Detty December. These aren't generic romantic destinations. They're places that matter to him, to his story. That specificity makes the song feel so much more personal and in real time.

The video sees CKay and his partner during what looks like an actual summer getaway. Not a set, not a concept. Just two people in love, documented. It builds to a proposal at the end, and you believe it because everything leading up to it felt genuine.

This comes at an interesting time for CKay. Afrobeats is having a global moment, and he's been part of that conversation for a while. But instead of chasing the biggest sound or the most obvious collaborations, he's going deeper into what makes his music distinctly his.

TIME wrote about how he's "turning Afrobeats into a global phenomenon - his way."

That phrase, "his way," is important. In a genre that's exploding internationally, it would be easy to follow what's working for everyone else. CKay seems more interested in figuring out what works for him.

The production choices on 'forever' reflect that. Spanish guitars could fit in a Latin pop song. The violin adds classical elements. The conga drums keep it rhythmic and rooted. It's global music, but not in a calculated way. More like he's drawing from influences that actually matter to him.

I think about artists like CKay who are navigating this balance between staying true to their roots and reaching new audiences. Some lose themselves in the process. Others find a way to get more specific about who they are, trusting that sharing themselves without a mask will translate. CKay seems to be in the second camp.

'forever' suggests CKay understands that. He's making music for the long term, building something that might actually last. In a genre full of quick hits and viral moments, that feels like its own kind of revolution.

CKay The Second EP Tracklist

1. tey.tey

2. forever

3. permit me

4. again (ft. Sabrina Claudio)

5. say no more