Ghetto Girl is the 5th studio album released on the 2nd of December by back-to-back hitmaker Dyana Cods following Rong Manners (2024). She worked with producer Ares66, whose Big Beats Afriq record label is known for producing some of Wakadinali’s greatest hits such as Sikutambui. The two met by chance when Dyana was in high school. After a producer showed interest in her work, she attempted to make her way to his studio but got lost and was guided to Ares66’s studio. Inside, she met Khaligraph Jones, who introduced them and advised her to work with him. She revealed this in the Ado Veli Podcast in 2023.
In late 2018, she had her debut feature on Wakadinali’s Gimmie Your Love, where fans spotted her talent. In May 2019, she released her first official single Atoti. In September Dyana, Scar, and Dyana featured on Homeboyz Radio Trap Lab’s Freestyle, which amassed 1.7+ million views on YouTube. During the pandemic, she featured on Morio Anzenza which became a hit song with 4.5+ million views.
In 2024 kept her momentum with Riswa 4 ft. Sewersydaa (1.7 million views) and breakout hit Set It ft. Ajay (17 million views) from Ghetto Girl. These made her a force to be reckoned with in the music industry. She hasn’t slowed down this year either, with the 2nd music video from the album Get Busy ft. Toxic Lyrikali attaining 5.1 million views on YouTube.
Track by Track Analysis
Ghetto Girl boasts 16 tracks with features from industry heavyweights Mejja, Scar Mkadinali, Sewersydaa, Fathermoh, Breeder LW, Shekkinah Karen, Toxic Lyrikali, Munga, Ajay, Naiboi and Silverstone Bars. Ghetto Girl is a riddim anthem where Dyana begins the album by reassuring all ladies of their worth: “Ghetto girl, welcome to my universe, Am say ghetto girl, the whole world a yuh deserve, now yuh haffi know that / What you gonna do know? What you gonna? X2″ Rastafarian colours green, gold and red on the album cover show the inspiration for the sound used throughout the album.
18 and Over is an explicit club banger produced by Vic West. Its plot implies the protagonist met a man while she was a teenager, and now that she’s a little bit older, they can reconnect. The song is bold, a style which separates Cods from other artists. My Type takes a romantic turn where Dyana describes her ‘type’ in a partner. It’s soothing R&B beat switches up the vibes from the previous song and shows Dyana’s versatility and capacity for introspection.
Set It ft. Ajay was the first music video released to promote the album on August 22, 2024. It is the most popular song she has ever released, with over 17.5 million views on YouTube and more than 4.4 million streams on Spotify. The track’s catchy chorus focuses on dancing through a simple but effective beat. It gained national recognition through Ajay’s verse, which went viral on TikTok, bringing Dyana’s music to audiences who hadn’t heard of her before.
Pass By includes another reggae-inspired beat where the protagonist declares that ‘Mr. Lover’ always wants her to come over: “Anadai nipass by ataka ni one day, ataka ni Sunday X2.” The song invokes a feeling of a love so strong that it can’t be ignored. In Hold Me, Dyana’s vocals shine in the chorus where she passionately pleads: “So won’t you come hold me? Come hold me, come hold me.” She seems puzzled by the man’s reluctance.
Only One ft. Mejja‘s narrative has Dyana questioning her man’s options, doubting that his faithfulness to her: “How many options do you have? I must not be the only one / How many options from your past? I must not be the only one.” Mejja takes up the role of the antagonist, answering her question by naming different locations where he has different women.
Get Busy ft. Toxic Lyrikali was the 2nd music video released to promote the album on 2nd May. It was a brilliant strategic move by Dyana and her team; it subsequently became the second most popular in her catalogue, racking up over 5.1 million views. First teased on her Instagram in April, the seductive song featured Toxic, who has had a successful year. It painted a picture of a good time, with the creative music video showing them roleplaying as a policewoman and a convict, propelling it on the charts.
Produced by Quincy, Tricky ft. Fathermoh tells a story of being broke on a Friday and how it’ll be ‘tricky’ for anyone interested as the protagonist is a trick or treat: “Ati ni Friday na sina doh, nataka high grade na sina doh / Ni tricky tricky tricky tricky kama unanidai, trick or treat? Trick it and treat.” Fathermoh’s catchy flow during his verse completed the song perfectly.
Calipso ft. Scar Mkadinali introduces a new dance style, Calipso, where the beat features Amapiano-like 808s plus an eerie synthesizer in the background perfect for dancing. It is currently the most popular song off the album with 26K+ views on YouTube. In Right Now ft. Breeder LW, Dyana conveys an urgent need for companionship, while Breeder uses sharp lyricism to portray the antagonist, completing the song.
Mtu Wa Shughli ft. Domani Munga includes a “four-two pulse” piano note that gives the song a certain bounce against the slightly distorted gengeton-like 808s. Domani opens the chorus with a very catchy flow: “Oh love! Si we ata unaona ana inisist? Anafanya mpaka ninacheat / Nagwaya marriage, kukosa bundles na battery low. (X2)” The narrative is a conversation between secret lovers, with her claiming he was “fitting for the job” as they subtly shade his partner, agreeing he couldn’t resist her charm. The song was highly successful, currently #67 on the Top 100 Music Videos Kenya List and the fourth most streamed song on her Spotify.
Gone Bad ft Shekina Karen‘s narrative is about a good girl gone bad. It is one of the few songs where she raps quickly, increasing her tempo in the first verse about robbing someone: “Ati cheki dem, cheki dem, cheki dem, me hukuanga chizi, wakisleki ni kweli, they cheki bling, swipe clean / Sissy dem, sissy dem, sissy dem, hukuwanga piknis.” Shekina’s verse was on point with her flow and hilarious punchlines.
A good time at a party is the message felt in Zimenice ft. Naiboi. In the first verse, Dyana mixes a bit of her native Luo, making it different from all other songs. Naiboi matches the good vibes, describing a good time with his lady. Policeman ft Silvertone Barz sees Dyana wary of law enforcement who give her stress: “Driving past policeman, don’t disturb my peace man, you don’t know what I’ve been through.” Silvertone uses a Jamaican accent in her verse to also call out the police: “You are front, you are fake, lemme see your badge? Ngiri kama mbili inafanya unabudge.”
Riswa is a highly successful collaborative series between Dyana and Wakadinali’s Sewersydaa. Riswa 5 ft. Sewersydaa is the most recent music video released on Ghetto Girl. The music video features Sewersydaa as a pastor while Dyana is part of the congregation. In the chorus, she dismisses a man approaching her, questioning whether he’s thinking. The music video is currently #18 on the Kenya Trending Music Videos List.
Conclusion
Ghetto Girl was a highly successful project by Dyana Cods. With the breakout hit ‘Set It,’ she cemented her status as one of the most promising upcoming artists in the music industry. Dyana experimented with Reggae and R&B, showing her diversity and potential for longevity in the business. Her talent is undeniable, her delivery smooth, her choruses catchy, and her beat selection unique. She managed to top the charts more than twice after her first major hit, proving she is not a one-hit wonder. Her loyalty with Ares66 is admirable Ghetto Girl was an enjoyable listening experience and worth the wait. Hopefully, more music videos will be released. I rate the album 9.0/10.0. Read another article here.
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