Despite the claims that female Nigerian artists aren’t thriving in the industry, the reigning queens of today beg to differ—there’s Ayra Starr, there’s Tems, there’s Tiwa Savage, there’s Fave, and then there’s Qing Madi.
There’s no complexity whatsoever to Qing Madi’s music—for the young female star, her music is rhythmic and heavily leans on romanticism, an angle this writer considers both her weakness and her strength.
Humor pause—it’s often amusing how Qing Madi has the most to say about love when she’s what? Barely 20 years old. She has more to say about love than an average 30-year-old, and here’s what we think about that—the creativity of her mind is what doesn’t limit her ability to sing and divulge profound emotions and thoughts through her lyrics.
Qing Madi made a big break in 2023 when her song Ole, featuring Nigerian big shot BNXN, shook the entirety of Nigeria and beyond. This song didn’t just top charts—it became a viral sensation. For nearly a year, there wasn’t a single soul who didn’t know Ole.
You know how easy it is to tell when an artist’s entire era is tied to their breakout song? And the potential for them to ‘fall off’ seems closer once that song fades out (a name probably popped up in your head—swallow it). But Qing Madi was built differently. The drop of Ole revealed something: longevity. Because what’s stopping her from staying rooted in the industry?
First, the artist has built a brand for herself as a young, talented star, and that sells heavily. Check the records of Rema, Ayra Starr, Wizkid, and even Davido. What do you have to say about their dominance in the industry? Much like these predecessors, Qing Madi is well-positioned to follow the same path—and so far, she’s walking it well.
Following an excellent run of singles and one EP, Qing Madi assumes the position of a star ready to establish herself fully in the Nigerian music industry and announces her debut album, I Am The Blueprint. And by core understanding, this album sets out to declare her as a leading star in her own journey—as well as a pacesetter for what we believe to be an unprecedented rise.
She releases Akanchawa and Feeling Alright as the leading singles for the album. The former has a good run, offering listeners a peek at what’s to come. But what Qing Madi doesn’t prepare us for is the underwhelming execution of her creativity in her debut album.
With no reference to her predecessors, debut albums carry significant weight for artists who intend to thrive in the game. This is why some artists take their time before dropping one, while others rush to release theirs—to milk and establish their dominance while feeding off the spotlight shining on them.
For Qing Madi, we’re unsure of the intention. But what becomes apparent is that she fails to establish herself as the intended blueprint she claims to be. This is said with due respect to her attempt at curating what can be defined as the perfect love-themed project—ideal for lovers during this Valentine’s season.
This writer insists that perhaps if she had labeled the project as something reflective of its core theme—love and romance—expectations wouldn’t be so high for an album meant to cement her status as the blueprint.
The truth is, to call yourself a blueprint, you must set a high standard for yourself—one that only you can surpass.
However underwhelming the album may be, one must acknowledge her vocal talent, songwriting skills, and ability to craft meaningful lyrics—something many artists have lost by prioritizing rhythm and beats over substance. Qing Madi certainly delivers in this regard. All thirteen tracks on the album showcase intentional penmanship, with none containing overused or watered-down lyrics.
So what exactly makes the project underwhelming? Stick with this writer.
Qing Madi’s album kicks off to a good start with Bucket List—a track that opens with vibrant instrumentals and standout percussions. She recounts her aspirations, dreams, and desires—one being the ambition to win a Grammy. This is typical of Nigerian artists, who often begin their albums with something aspirational, summarizing their struggles and goals before delving into whatever theme follows.
Qing Madi follows this formula, soon immersing listeners in her world of romanticism and longing for love lost and sought after. This she does with Ali Bomaye.
Akanchawa makes it tolerable to keep going through the album. On the first listen, it creates a sense of progression, and this particular track re-energizes the listener. The song’s title is an allusion to gospel singer Princess Njideka Okoye’s Akanchawa—and for every Eastern child, if you grew up in an Igbo household, that name should ring a bell.
Damn It All brings a different twist to her romantic themes. Channeling her inner Stefflon Don, it becomes hard to tell whether she’s being her usual lover girl self or expressing her true feelings about the often exhausting concept of relationships.
Then comes It’s A Game, making it clear that I Am The Blueprint isn’t just an album for lovers of her music—it’s a deeply personal project, a piece of her own emotions and experiences.
So yes, though young in age, Qing Madi’s choice to explore the concept of romance is her being Chimamanda—her true self.
Pressure reveals yet another layer of her vulnerability, this time stemming from faith and life experiences. At this point, it’s amusing to realize that she does, after all, care about things beyond love—there’s the ‘God factor’ and the desire to stay afloat amidst life’s chaos.
An interesting choice in I Am The Blueprint is Qing Madi rolling out a project with no features whatsoever. In truth, this might contribute to the album’s underwhelming nature—the lack of variation, the absence of an external twist that could have elevated it. But despite this, the album still offers something unique—the Qing Madi effect splattered throughout, as if to say, “You go hear my voice tire.”
Her journey through romanticism and stellar vocals continues beyond Pressure, spilling into Gimme Your Love, Garden, Goosebumps, One Day, and Favorite Psycho. And therein lies the album’s greatest flaw—the overused theme. The same issue is revisited repeatedly, failing to clearly establish what makes her the blueprint.
Qing Madi’s choice of Right Here as the closing song has a resemblance to something Koffee would do—showcasing her introspective and creative style. The album ends on a reflective note, with rhythm, lyrics, and vocals tying it all together. But it still doesn’t shake off the long stretch of redundancy that plagues much of the album.
For an artist boldly declaring herself as the blueprint, a debut album that serves as a Valentine’s soundtrack is a massive reach.
What keeps this writer going through the album is the familiarity of certain tracks—like Goosebumps, which acts as an ‘energy drink,’ pushing you to keep searching for a thrill in the project.
Qing Madi’s I Am The Blueprint passes the vibe check for proper curation, romanticism with genuine appeal, and songwriting that doesn’t feel overwhelming. But it doesn’t pass the one thing it needed to the most—replay value. It lacks that wow factor that makes an album unforgettable.
An amazing project? Maybe. But special? Blueprint material? Spectacular? Exceptional? Most definitely not.
Qing Madi is a talented artist with time ahead to refine the ‘mistakes’ of her first steps. But one thing remains certain—her ability to create songs that are scintillatingly romantic and lovable is undeniable. She has a gift for making love-themed music that not only speaks to the heart but also moves the feet to its rhythm.
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