Wtf is a ‘Cyk’ and why are they bouncing a “lil”
By now you must have definitely seen these series of videos and tiktok’s showing a guy (bouncing) dressed like, honestly what is he dressed like — we had to ask some spectators…
“Ibadan’s first opium signee?” — 19 year old wearing Osbatt and Rick Owens, wears all black in 30 degrees & already smoking cigs
“Uzi clone, don’t we have enough of those?” — 26 year old J. Cole fan, 2nd mid-life crisis, 1 more year from starting a podcast
“This one wan be alte oh, him papa get too much money or him dey do drugs” — 33 year old Lagosian still mourning the demolition of Landmark beach
People who actually hang around Luwa would say — Yes, while he does look like Alucard if he grew up in Nigeria, he prefers the term “Cyklone” or “Werewolf”— if the futuristic matrix glasses and furry boots didn’t give it away already. However, the monikers seem less about appearance, and more about his chameleonic tendency to change aesthetics, sounds and identities on a whim at the speed of the internet.
“Cyber Youth Kin, you know? like that’s my Cyk same way that’s your slime or whatever ecosystem you rep or are supported by. Cyber Youth because the sound & aesthetic draws from the diaspora…”
A brief scan through his discography reveals a blend of sounds, jumping from Afrobeats to Amapiano, sugar-sweet Drain-Gang-inspired hyperpop, and trap- and EDM-infused loops that span from Stockholm to Atlanta — even though he’s famous in Toronto
Cyk Swing officially dropped on DSPs on the 15th of July, 2024 (also Luwa’s birthday) but heavily teased on Tik Tok for 3 months prior, and has had everyone from your local keke driver in Ibadan, to 61-year-old Sarah from Camden, even the mums are bouncing and maybe that’s due to the “Omo Wo Pe” prompt in the hook of the song.
Speed run of hell or slow burn?
“While most of my music out now is hyperpop or trap, coming home made me appreciate the importance of community & being homegrown. I want to infuse elements of Afrobeats to give my hometown a familiar feel, warming them up to my Western antics — there’s another story in that.”
Luwa has since dropped ‘DEMURE’ and ‘Mp4 Base’ on DSPs and as expected, met with a reception of “generational run” and “GOAT” shouts from core supporters, folllowimg from the ongoing craze of Cyk Swing. Believers and non-believers are curious to see just how this Cyk stuff really develops. Afro-Pop? You ask — Producer 3CB has tagged the genre-bending yet futuristic sound — “Ci-Fi.” Past and future are merely suggestions here…
Boasting a cohort of eclectic producers (and an artist-prod) including Topsy, ANDI, A-D, and Jeremy Cartier — the ‘Cyks’ are shaping a new sub-genre transcending Alte music— a style that dominated the Nigerian music scene in the late 2020s but was often seen as undocumented and lacking direction.
“What we’re creating isn’t exactly Alte, but they were the first to diverge from the mainstream, we’ll naturally be categorized that way but real listeners can see we’re on some other sh*t, shoutout the Cyks”
— Luwa says on a facetime call with the team a few hours before he takes stage at Ibadan’s Music Festival.
As Luwa shifts gears, he’s not just tapping into the Afrobeats playbook — he’s rewriting it (and with western flair too). Listening to Cykswing, it’s clear his sound is catching on as much as it’s making waves. If you’re not moved by now you may need to check your pulse. No reason am, just bounce a lil.
