Smartzee ’s new album LEGACY doesn’t care if it fits your playlist algorithm. It’s not trying to be trendy, viral, or palatable. And that’s precisely why it matters.
With LEGACY, the Beninese artist who once rode high on French charts alongside Nâdiya returns—not for glory, but for honesty. This isn’t a comeback; it’s a confrontation with self. In an era where clout often outweighs content, Smartzee strips everything back to the essentials: beats, bars, and bare truth.
The album plays like a memoir written in rhyme. No filter, no fillers. “LEGACY was born from a moment of reflection,” he says in a recent interview. “Just the raw truth.” And that rawness bleeds through every track. From the opening moments to the final note, LEGACY is hip-hop for grown-ups—hip-hop that remembers its roots in storytelling, not stunts.
Smartzee isn’t new to this game. He’s had hits. He’s had spotlights. But what he’s after now is something more elusive: permanence. And that pursuit shapes the entire project. His mantra—no gimmicks, no chasing clout—is the album’s spine.
Collaborations on LEGACY are sparse but intentional. Blayne, Lorena Yanez, Lee Mous-Zounon, and Michelle Hansson don’t just lend their voices—they elevate the narrative. Smartzee isn’t looking for feature fodder; he wants heart. And each collaborator delivers just that.
The album’s visual future looks just as considered. “Uptown,” slated for a music video, promises big city dreams through the lens of street-smart ambition. “All of Me,” on the other hand, offers a tender, more intimate perspective—dedicated to his children and, according to Smartzee, a personal favorite. If the visuals match the emotional weight of the songs, these videos could offer some of the most honest moments we’ve seen from him yet.
There’s grit here too. “Back Down,” produced by Rujay, is pure propulsion—a survival anthem fueled by inner city memories and corporate battlefield metaphors. Smartzee draws a sharp line between growing up in hard neighborhoods and leading boardroom meetings, treating both arenas as high-stakes competitions. And then there’s “Walk This Way,” a track that unpacks the weight of outside expectations. The production by Anywaywell holds space for reflection, not just performance. It’s the sound of a man carving his own path, no matter who’s watching.
What’s striking about LEGACY is how unbothered it is by the current hip-hop climate. Smartzee doesn’t name-drop trends or chase sonic hype. Instead, he leans into the spirit of the greats—Tupac, Nas, DMX, Nipsey. Those who turned pain into poetry. LEGACY isn’t trying to replicate their sound, but it echoes their ethos: speak your truth, and don’t flinch.
Smartzee is juggling a lot—artist, father, soccer coach, corporate leader—but every role feeds the music. “I create from the streets, from the boardroom, from the football field, from the soul,” he says. That multiplicity adds layers to his lyrics. These aren’t just songs—they’re lifelines.
