An Album by Retji
Black Rocks references the rocky and mountainous terrain of Plateau State, the mineral rocks in African land, and how the descendants of this mother land have natural resources in their DNA.
It is about the growth of a seed to a tree with fruits, rooted in the soil of African heritage and the lived experience of the diaspora. It is a personal journey of identity, ancestry, healing, and liberation told through 12 thematic tracks. The album is a genre-defying blend of afrobeats, hip-hop and gospel, with the aim of amplifying an afrocentric worldview. Each song is part of a larger story, from seed (growth) to warrior (resistance) to land (reclamation) to free your mind (liberation).
THE SEED
Beginnings, heritage, and ancestral rooting
An ambient soundscape and spiritual prelude to the album. The Seed represents the invisible beginning; a meditation on becoming, rooted in stillness, darkness, and divine potential. It invites listeners to sit in silence before growth begins.
THE TREE
Growth, Strength Through Deep Roots, Pan African Unity
A powerful return-to-roots anthem that celebrates depth, ancestry, and spiritual grounding. “The deeper the roots, the stronger the tree” sets the tone for reconnection with heritage and African unity, from Jos to the pyramids of Giza. The track is rooted in groove and wisdom, with a saxophone solo evoking soul and healing.
WARRIOR
Spiritual warfare, resilience, and resistance
An explosive declaration of identity, resistance, and ancestral pride. Warrior merges personal resilience with socio-political commentary, invoking the legacy of the Nok civilization, spiritual warfare, and modern Middle Belt resistance. A soundtrack for those who walk boldly with purpose, even in the face of threats.
SOJA
faith and endurance
A faith-fueled call to spiritual endurance. This gospel anthem fuses Hausa chants, Afrobeat rhythms, and call-and-response energy to create a sonic march for the soldiers of God. With its repetition of “Ba gajiya” (we are not tired), SOJA uplifts listeners through praise and perseverance.
FT LANGTANGMAFIA
RAIN
Blessings, divine favor, and perseverance
A poetic downpour of ancestral affirmation and lyrical finesse. Rain weaves punchy bars, introspection, and heavenly melodies into a celebration of divine timing and creative flow. It connects legacy to present purpose, with each drop of rain symbolizing blessing, breakthrough, and spiritual nourishment.
LAND
FT RKM
Colonization, reclamation, and connection to land
A bold reclamation of heritage, territory, and truth. Land is part protest, part sermon, a piercing reflection on colonization, exploitation, and indigenous sovereignty. It critiques imperialism while asserting ownership of land both physical and mental.
AIR
Mindfulness, spiritual clarity, and healing breath
A healing breath in the middle of chaos. Air is a sonic practice in mindfulness and self-awareness, using breath as a metaphor for resilience. With raw honesty about trauma, poverty, and global Black struggle, it becomes a space for grounding, stillness, and spiritual clarity.
HARVEST
A soulful love song rooted in growth and divine timing. Harvest builds on themes of planting and reaping, now turned toward intimacy, commitment, and devotion. With gentle sax and heartfelt lyrics, it’s a celebration of emotional alignment and shared destiny.
Love, Longing, and Fruits of the Spirit
FT KRISSKILLZ
Desire, romance, and emotional entanglement
CLOSER
A sensual and conflicted Afro-fusion track exploring romantic tension, temptation, and emotional boundaries. Closer balances humor and vulnerability as it portrays a lover who just won’t let go, and the internal conflict of desire versus discipline.
BOUNDARIES
PROTECT YOUR FRUITS
An assertive declaration of self-worth and emotional clarity. Boundaries blends hustle energy with firm “no’s,” rejecting entitlement and emotional exhaustion. With sharp verses in English, Pidgin, and Hausa, the track affirms spiritual grounding, personal discipline, and the price of growth.
FREE YOUR MIND
Liberation, positivity, and mental clarity
A joyful, sax-laced celebration of freedom that is mental, spiritual, and cultural. With Hausa greetings, cheeky charm, and Afrobeat bounce, Free Your Mind is both a mantra and a vibe. It closes the album with confidence, clarity, and gratitude, reclaiming joy as a radical act.
“Black Rocks is about the soil that raised me, the spirits that protect me, and the truth that moves through me. It’s an offering, a soundscape for those who’ve had to fight for their voice, for their land, for their peace. These songs are both war cries and lullabies, meditations and motivations. They come from the middle belt of Nigeria, filtered through the fire of personal experience, and returned as sonic healing.”
— Retji
