IKENGA by merenu

IKENGA

In the tradition of griot poets፣ distant kin to Safia Elhillo፥ IKENGA’s debut unfolds as a sovereign manuscript, steeped in ancestral pulse and sharpened by a modern, diasporic awareness. Inspired by the cadence of African sages, digital scholars like Ismatu & F.D Signifier፤ and the refined grit of Jay-Z braided with the surgical precision of Pusha T, this album speaks in tongues each bar layered thrice, each meaning folded within another, a tapestry of double and triple truths unraveling in rhythm’ the young author- only 16፣ writes with no pen, but with the knowing of old souls. He releases his work freely across BandLab, BandCamp, AudioMack, and YouTube፡ not for profit, but for permanence, ritual, and reclamation. For IKENGA, rap is both tradition and a game played with reverence: a vessel for memory, a rite of passage, and a sharpened tool of expression. Though still ascending in his craft, his work reveals a rare poetic maturity፣ he is learning, refining, becoming. The album serves not only as a debut but as a deliberate prophecy. He makes it clear: music is a path, but not the only one. His sights are set on futures marked by wealth, invention, athletics, and intellectual conquest. More is coming፤ this is only the beginning of a voice both ancient and just awakening።

-Written by Kebedech Tekleab

The Album draws breath from a wide ancestral choir Capital Steez’s fire, Jay-Z’s precision, KRS-One’s doctrine, Majek Fashek’s spirit, M.I Abaga’s structure, Little Simz’s defiance, Kendrick’s introspection, MC Solaar’s eloquence, and Earl Sweatshirt’s raw complexity. But it goes beyond rap lechoes of Paul Robeson’s thunder and Nina Simone’s resistance ring through it, all guided by the distant light of his forefather, Ramses III, from whom many sons of Africa unknowingly trace their line. This is not just an album it’s a prelude. A blueprint etched in rhythm and reverence. If you’ve heard the echoes, felt the weight between the bars, know this: the story is only beginning. Each listen unlocks more. Each track, a cipher for what’s to come. Stay tuned not out of habit, but because greatness rarely announces itself twice. Follow the links. Witness the rise in real time.

-Written by IKENGA

https://on.soundcloud.com/o7NqjCXj674hwqxUov https://ikenga88.bandcamp.com https://m.youtube.com/@usermaatreXII ALBUM & LP JULY 14th 2025

Tracklist

1.	SNOW WHITE ≈ PART 1 𓇽	5:40

2.	BRUNES 𓀯	2:17

3.	RAMSES 𓁝	3:11

4.	4 WASHIRIKA 𓀯𓀯𓀯𓀯	1:52

5.	HOLD TIGHT 𓂬	3:19

6.	CORRUPTED N BLAME ft. Megan Hutchins & IKENGA 𓀝	2:45

7.	NUBIAN 𓈶	4:16

8.	HUSSLE 𓎧	2:35

9.	ⲁϣⲣⲓ Ⲙⲁⲥⲕⲁ ⲁ̄ⲅⲓⲣ	2:27

10.	MELODIC 𓁊	2:54

11.	THOUGHT IT WAS OVER 𓁹𓇦	4:08

13.	“RED“ “RACE“? OR IS IT BROWN? 𓋔	2:16

14.	SOUNDWAVE POETS 𓁟	3:00

15.	GRIOT 1 𓀭	4:39

16.	MILES DAVIS 𓈗	1:21

17.	TRAP TRAPS YOU 𓀒	3:55

17.	MKPEBI 𓂜	3:53

18.	JERMAINE 𓀱	4:36

Credits

released July 14, 2025

AMLAK thank you for making me focused for this project & more to come።

Me besides me is down below።

Producing, Mixing & Mastering, Engineering, & Acting credits go to~
(For 7 tracks out of 18)
Zion Fulton, Megan Hutchins, prodbyreazon

License

License varies by track. See the invidual track pages for details.