iNTRODUCING: mALEEK bERRY
words BY AMRIT KAMBO
After more than a decade of shaping the sound of contemporary Afrobeats from behind the boards and in front of the mic, Maleek Berry is finally stepping fully into the spotlight with the release of his long-awaited debut album, If Only Love Was Enough. We caught up with Maleek Berry to talk about the making of the album, the emotional weight behind it, and the evolution that brought him here — from Clapham to Lagos, from doubt to clarity, and from bedroom producer to global star.
How long has it been since you’ve heard ‘Berry Pon Dis?’
It’s been a minute, right?
Thankfully, our favourite Afro-RnB superstar is back on the scene with his stellar new album, “If Only Love Was Enough”. A smooth, heartfelt blend of Afrobeats, R&B and Reggae, the album is a bold statement from one of Afro-R&Bs true pioneers. Growing up in South London and inspired early on by pioneers like So Solid Crew, Berry started making music back in his school days; never imagining that his passion would one day help shape the sound of Afrobeats on a global scale.
Maleek Berry has long served as a bridge between African sounds and global audiences, playing a major role in Afrobeat’s rise beyond the continent. Moving effortlessly between Afrobeats, R&B, and Afroswing, his music has helped open doors for a new generation of artists to share their sound with the world.
As the first notes played, a quiet excitement filled the air. Some people swayed instinctively, others nodded, eyes closed, absorbing every beat. At times, the crowd burst into applause, amongst multiple shouts of ‘wheel up!’ - especially when Lagos Party and Biggie Man dropped; the tracks that made people dance without even trying. Tiwa Savage’s vocals lit up the room during My Body, and when Wizkid’s verse came in on Situation, we all turned to each other, eyes wide open, mouths agape, overcome with anticipation for the world to hear what we were hearing.
“When it comes to features, I tend not to have a lot. I have to be a super fan of the artist for me to collaborate with them. Wizkid, Tiwa, Ruger, Zlatan; I’m a super fan of them all.”
“The collaborations came so easy because all of us trust and respect each other, and you can hear that in the music.”
mALEEK BERRY:LISTENING session
At an intimate listening event, Maleek Berry reintroduced himself; not just as a hitmaker, but as an artist with something real to say. Everyone there knew they were witnessing something special: the return of a man who’s been silent for years, but never out of mind.
Pictures By: Yomi KADEJO
Between songs, Maleek opened up about the journey behind the project - his moments of doubt, the nights spent chasing melodies and creating countless iterations of beats and lyrics, and the clarity and passion that finally returned after years of creative fog.
The album brings together a carefully chosen cast of collaborators, and it shows. As well as standout features from Wizkid and Tiwa Savage, Ruger and Zlatan also make powerful appearances. The production is handled mostly by Maleek himself, with additional touches from longtime collaborators Legendury Beatz, the duo behind Wizkid’s Essence, who lend their signature bounce to four tracks.
That shared trust runs through the entire project. If Only Love Was Enough flows effortlessly between moods, from the vulnerability of The Pain to the sultry RnB pull of My Body with Tiwa Savage. Tracks like Mirror, Lagos Party, Who Be This One, and Biggie Man deliver party energy without sacrificing depth. It’s a very well-balanced project; one that reflects an artist who’s grown, but hasn’t lost his ear for a banger.
