Nikita Kering’ Is Taking What’s Hers on The Lick Back

Kenyan pop star Nikita Kering’ returned with her third project, The Lick Back, a five-track, 13-minute EP released on May 29, 2026. Featuring a sole guest appearance from Sofiya Nzau on its opening track, and production from Vic West, SoFresh, Brim and Cap, the project sees Nikita push her sound across an experimental palette of Afrofusion. The Lick Back is as much a statement as it is a sonic exploration. Across five tracks, Nikita channels the frustration of being underestimated, overlooked and taken for granted into an assured declaration of self-worth. Delivered with conviction and a newfound sense of authority, the EP is for anyone who has ever reached the point of being ignored one too many times.

Intro x Sofia Nzau

The ‘Intro’ features Sofiya Nzau, an unignorable force in global recognition for Kenyan music. From the first note Nikita sings, you can hear her sovereignty as she comes into a new era while Sofia’s Kikuyu vocalizations increase the intensity of the track, sending chills down the spine. This track also includes a rap verse from Nikita, along with vocal chants from Sofia, which creates such a soundscape that extends generations and cultures. With this intro, the superstar assures her dominance and has taken chances that have only served her. This first track, along with the entire project, was produced by the veterans Vic West and Sofresh. These producers have created several hits in Nikita’s discography, and the evolution of sound is evident. 

Niwache

The EP’s second track, ‘Niwache’, was co-written by Grammy-winning Bensoul, and is all you could ask for in an Afro-Pop banger. The vocal delivery is exceptional, as Nikita implements both sneaky ad-libs, agile vocal runs, and melting harmonies. Listening to this song truly feels like Nikita has mastered her sound. Recurring themes in this project are self-reliance and advocating for oneself; ‘Niwache’ meaning ‘leave me’ in Kiswahili, explores these motifs in a way that is gentle but simultaneously bold. A standout lyric on this record is ‘now that you got what you wanted, will you just please let me go.’ Nikita deserves to be ‘let go’ in the sense that she has proven herself time and time again. In a recent Instagram post, she shared a clip of her in class 4 and revealed that she started singing at 3 years old, declaring ‘nothing can stop me from being a musician.’ This is the truth, and we have seen it yet again that she deserves to be recognized as a definitive voice from not just the ocean of talent in Kenya, but the continent of Africa. 

Give Me My Money

This track was delivered as a demand, and with this Nikita gave us the ‘you owe me’ anthem of the year. This track is a perfect example of her profound vocal capacity, as she uses various  vocal techniques including a full 16 bar verse with flawless belting in the background. Nikita deserves our respect for her rapping ability, as she could be compared to other rappers while simultaneously being an exceptional vocalist. The lyric ‘Respectfully follow me, I’m your leader,’ assures us there is not a slight bit of hesitation when she is declaring what is hers. For those feeling too shy to get money back from someone who owes you, this might be just what you need. 

Outside

Co-written with Michael Carpenter, this song takes an unorthodox approach to capture life ‘outside.’ Opening with a captivating, sultry acoustic guitar riff and a tender hook from Nikita, the groove to this track is signature, produced by the Kenyan innovator Cap. In combination with the intriguing storytelling in the lyrics, this is undoubtedly an impressive composition. From a sonic perspective, this is a fascinating blend between bossa nova guitar, afroswing, and a sensual bassline executed as an Afro-Pop record. This is another musically innovative track, as Nikita’s vocal arrangement creates harmonic dissonance, and she effortlessly goes back and forth between inflections. 

Sema Ukweli

Nikita completely changes the pace of the EP with this sensitive ballad. The track begins acapella yet sounds full and majestic. It serves as a fascinating contrast to the other tracks on this EP that see her sound as if she’s commanding an army. A track as sincere as this deserves to be sung in tears, as she would rather know the truth that hurts than remain in confusion. The songwriting is an exemplary request for the truth, co-written by frequent collaborator Joy Ciru, also known as Savinnah, Ted Towett, Micheal Carpenter, and Morris Nasibi. The lyric ‘you only wait for my mistake so I can take the blame’ does not deny her mistakes, but rather suggests she wants them handled with integrity. This explains her assertive tone throughout the project, as she is not releasing anger without reason. This was so delicately executed that it leaves the listener reflecting on ‘The Other Side’ of Nikita, as she continuously expresses the duality in her artistry. In reflection, this outro assures that she meant everything she said throughout the project, and that the truth sometimes has to be taken. 

Nikita Kering’ has indicated she is not leaving her prime anytime soon, as she has created another cohesive, and innovative project that extends the world around her artistry.

Out on all streaming platforms.