Njeri’s debut album is finally here, and it’s safe to say that it is truly a “drug”. “D.R.U.G.S” or “DEAR. ROMANCE. U. GOT. SWEET” is a project that has been long awaited by Njeri’s ever growing fan base since the release of her  “want you” single and her “dimensions” EP in 2021. 

The 9 track album - released on Friday, May 13th - features a team of rising producers taking the 254 by storm. Executively produced by Michael Carpenter and supported by Emzy, FK, Josh Ngethe, and LIL SIRR, the production of each track is sonic evidence of the passion, talent and hard work that birthed this album.  Featured artists also include Mi$tak and Albeezy, both Kenyan singers and rappers who did not fail to inject their own flavour into the tracks they featured on.

Listening closely, Njeri strategically utilises language that intricately likens romance to drugs, which is the album’s recurring theme. We are taken on a journey of self-growth, beginning  with “Love” where Njeri tells of a love gone sour, singing, “I loved you without limitations but that became my one lamentation”. As the song transitions into the second track of the album, “Under A spell” ft. Mi$tak, one can’t help but acknowledge how said love can be addictive which leads us to “Ecstasy” ft. Albeezy. Here Njeri portrays the realisation that “love” can be destructively addictive and the only remedy is walking away from it as heard on “Withdrawals” and “Keep me waiting” ft. Albeezy which is the closing chapter of this drug-like relationship. Njeri then turns the leaf with “Happiness”, a ballad reminiscent of a relationship that wrings you dry which is deeply portrayed when she croons, “You used to be my muse/But now you’re just old news/Wish I could erase you from my mind.”

If you thought you couldn’t fall more in love with the creative choices made on the album, Njeri samples Tamia and Fabulous’ classic bop “Into you” but does not shy from adding her magic which makes the track fresh and unique to her sound. This song cements the pivotal moment in the journey we’ve been taken through with each song. It is a resurrection of some sort and a beautiful segway into “Good Trip”, a self love anthem; in her words “as cliché as it sounds…love yourself first” and her wisdom seamlessly transition us to “Love again” which is the perfect ending for the album, it is a rebirth.

There is an unmistakable balance between the lyrics of each song and the transitions that create a seamless flow from beginning to end. Texture has been added by the real-life samples placed in between the tracks which effortlessly create vivid visual imagery. The placement of the samples function as the fade out / fade in sequences between movie scenes and while listening, one can almost see everything unfold.

Njeri gives us her all with her vocals, layering and harmonies and with each track, we are taken to the moon and back. She doesn’t shy away from going the extra mile and that truly  makes this album special. Njeri proves to us once again that the Kenyan music industry is nothing less than extraordinary, and she truly deserves all of her flowers and then some.

Listen to D.RU.G.S. here.