MC Galaxy, Swizz Beatz'Sekem' remix is a wasted opportunity from both acts

Everybody knows the ‘Sekem’ song by MC Galaxy. The single which is MC Galaxy’s one true claim to star status. Released in 2014, the song came wrapped with an accompanying catchy dance that swept through Nigeria like a wave, and made the singer’s star shine.



A year ago,, US producer and highly regarded figure, Swizz Beatz, found the song, danced to it, and drew MC Galaxy close. The Nigeria singer has kept on working intimately with Swizz, with social media updates involving a roll call of US music affiliates including Busta Rhymes, Alicia Keys and Michael Jackson’s alleged song, Brandon Howard. Several months later, the remix of ‘Sekem’ is the first product of their partnership.

‘Sekem’ remix sticks to its original formular, with the interplay of traditional African drumming, guitars and synths thrown together to form a platform for MC Galaxy to mouth off his incoherent vocals. But it has something a little different. The mixing of the track is clearer, with certain filler parts added to boost vacant spaces. There are also production twists involved, with a little extra percussion thrown in from Swizz’s console. Swizz also has a verse sandwiched in, where he joins MC Galaxy to urge Africans (and Americans) to do the ‘Sekem’ dance.

On the vocal angle, MC Galaxy keeps things almost unchanged, maintaining his incoherent verses to preserve the formula of the original. And Suka Sounds

Far from the subtle changes to the instrumentals and the original verses, the addition of Swizz Beatz offers more in hype, than substance. The song still relies heavily on its original Tspize-produced version, with nothing revolutionary thrown in to give it a fresh feel. There’s no new gimmick, no leftist inclusion, no music hack, or dance tip involved here. Just Swizz Beatz and Galaxy tampering with a Nigerian pop perfection. At some point, everything becomes labored, with Galaxy coasting on the beat to the finish line, before Suka Sounds, a Nigerian sound engineer drops his signature.

‘Sekem’ like many other songs has passed through time as a crazy pop song which Nigeria enjoyed and moved on. This project has neither the novel feel or star power required for Nigerians to revisit with the vigor it once enjoyed and commanded.

‘Sekem’ remix isn’t worth the trouble. It is too little, too late.