By Ibrahim S. Bangura
In a move that will surely send shockwaves through the music world, Aziz M. Kamara – better known as Slezzy – has released his latest solo single, “Cam See.” The track, which seemingly signifies a departure from his beloved X-Project days, has raised eyebrows across the music industry and left fans asking the burning question: Is this the end of X-Project, or is Slezzy just going through a musical phase?
Slezzy, who once graced the world stage as part of the Sierra Leone-Nigeria music supergroup X-Project, is now pursuing a solo career from Chicago – a place as far removed from the African music scene as you can get, if we’re being honest. “Cam See” has already made its way onto major streaming platforms like Audiomack, YouTube, Spotify, and iTunes.
Despite being a member of X-Project, “Tumba Dance” like it was going out of style, his latest release is gaining traction – slowly but surely. Radio airplay is growing, which, let’s face it, might just be due to a lack of competition in the Sierra Leonean music scene at the moment. Still, “Cam See” is positioning Slezzy for something… or perhaps nothing… we’ll have to wait and see.
X-Project – the musical “supergroup” that brought together Sierra Leone’s Slezzy, Nigeria’s Majeed, and Salieu Umaru Sindi (aka Saal), was formed back in 2000, possibly after a group chat among three guys who had a bit too much to drink and decided they could change the face of music. With their debut album Tumba Dance (released in 2004), they convinced us that Afro, R&B, Hip Hop, and Dancehall could somehow coexist without triggering an international incident. And for a brief moment, it worked! In fact, their hit single “Tumba Dance” was so popular that it earned them a Presidential Award at the All Works of Life (AWOL) Awards in 2004. This song, which we’re sure is still on some DJ playlists from 2004, was recognized as the “best of the year”—though that honor could’ve been because there was literally nothing else to compare it to at the time.
But wait, there’s more: X-Project also gave us their sophomore album Dance for Me (released in 2005), complete with hits like “Ayemi,” a love song that became a major radio hit. “Tumba Dance Remix” (Yoruba Version) was also a favorite among the clubbing elite. Let’s not forget that their song “Lorile” earned them a KORA Award nomination. Ah yes, Lorile—truly a song for the ages, as long as those ages only cover the 2000s.
Still, after a brief stint of fame across Africa, from Gambia to Senegal and even the United States, it seems the glory days of X-Project might have fizzled out faster than their hit songs could make it to the dance floor.
As Slezzy steps into the limelight with “Cam See,” the million-dollar question is: Does the world need another solo artist with a vaguely familiar sound? Perhaps we’ll see him becoming a chart-topping sensation, or maybe he’ll forever be remembered as the guy who tried to go it alone after X-Project’s spectacular run. His latest track is being hailed as an evolution of Sierra Leonean sound, blending Milo Jazz influences with whatever else he’s been listening to while on a long, reflective walk in Chicago.
Only time will tell if Slezzy’s solo career will live up to the hype. Will “Cam See” be the start of a solo empire, or will it join the ranks of forgotten 2000s hits that make us wonder: What were we thinking back then?
In any case, we wish him the best as he tries to figure out if he’s really better off on his own or if he’ll be secretly plotting a reunion with Majeed and Saal for that sweet, sweet nostalgia. Either way, the world will be watching—and streaming.