Dokta Frabz's Death: 7 Times The Beat Architect Amazed Us With His Beats

 

On Saturday, news broke out Nigerian beatsmith, Dokta Frabz is no more. While details on how he died is still sketchy at this point, it’s sad the industry has lost one of its contributors.

Due to poor documentation at the time, it’s hard to know the extent of Dokta Frabz’s work though many alleged he was once a part of Mo’hits at some point. Dokta Frabz also produced a large chunk of Omawunmi and Naeto C’s debut albums within that period but it’s also hard to know which songs he produced off those records.

The ones he however got credited for, you could feel his production playing a major part in the song’s success. Tracks like Wizkid’s “Joy” were propelled by the simple production pattern Dokta Frabz preferred to use with his deftness at the Piano, his major strength.

Here are seven times Dokta Frabz amazed us with his beats.

1. Wizkid — Bombay feat. Phyno 

It’s 2013. Wizkid is moving from the tropes of motivation that formed the bedrock of his debut, Superstar. He’s reveling in stardom, one where he gifts stellar verses and still as a young gun, he’s reinventing his sound signature.

On his sophomore, Ayo, Dokta Frabz was instrumental to working on that sound formula, fabricating three songs. One of those was, Bombay, an experimental yet tactical track fashioned by Wizkid to appeal to his Eastern Nigeria fans. Phyno is recruited, and on this flute-y driven beat created by Dokta Frabz, both Wizkid and Phyno obsess emphatically about the wonders of ladies’ bums.

2. Banky W — Lagos Party 

In 2010, Banky W had the whole city gyrating to this record. Lagos Party was that shining dime on Banky W’s 2013 project, The W Experience. And it was Dokta Frabz laying the sonic foundation.

Yet again, his deftness at working those delightful melodies presents itself, this time juiced with simple percussion, thereby freeing Banky W to glide on effortlessly with his smooth, gentlemanly vocals.

The feel of Lagos Party makes it a versatile record—playable at carnival parties, club parties and owanbe parties.

3. Dagrin – Nla feat. Lala

Oh man, the first minute of this song is a total smash. Appearing on Dagrin’s evergreen album, CEO, I wonder why it’s overlooked as one of the gems on the album.

Dokta Frabz sutures a ‘80s soul sample with slow kick drums, giving potency to Dagrin’s freewheeling rap. His rap is varied, accentuated with his usual laughter addition. But it’s the beat that’s amazing.

The beat has a pulsing feature, leading you on, compelling you to listen further and catching up with Dagrin’s booty praise.

Can I use the word amazing for this beat?

4. Dagrin — Thank God feat. Omawunmi

Listening to this track again after some years hiatus, it made me remember two things—One, how there are more than three, four impactful tracks on the CEO album and how this particular track was the most played motivational song that year. You’ll play this song and you’ll want to cry. Yeah, that was the efficacy of this track.

Man, Dokta Frabz specially made this track. The affecting melancholic feel this song has isn’t noticed until Omawunmi elevates the sphere with her arresting vocals.

And when Dagrin rides in with his usual interjecting laughter, he delivers summed up chapters of his early life and struggles he’s encountered.

It’s all hoisted up on the subject of being relatable and resonating with the pains of the fellow man on the street. When he’s through with the first verse, it seems a huge load has been lifted off his troubled heart.

All these won’t have been possible without the presence of Dokta Frabz’s creation.

5. Durella – Enu O Se

I wonder if some people will remember the period between 2008-2009 when Durella had the “Zanga” on lock with a spree of tunes.

An exciting one from that bunch was Enu O Se. Fast tracked by Dokta Frabz, this was far from the regular melodious tracks he produced. The percussion is fast paced here but even in the difficulty mode this beat is presented in, Durella adjusts, showing us he’s the king of the Zanga.

For some unknown reasons, this song went viral. Wondering why? The chant-y chorus was enough reason for it to become a mainstay on the streets.

6. Wizkid — Joy

There aren’t many Wizkid tracks that have an evergreen feeling on you on first listen. Joy is one of those beautifully written songs in the vault of Wizkid records.

Starting off with a hoarse trumpet intro, Dokta Frabz’s input heralds a fierce, song-ready Wizkid. He’s expressive from the onset, telling a story of the joy his mother felt at his birth.

Joy is one of Dokta Frabz’s dynamic productions as when Wizkid dishes his second verse, Frabz is serving up konga drums to go along, replacing the trumpet as the main carrier.

7. Seyi Shay — Murda feat. Patoranking and Shaydee

The dotting melodies serves as the perfect foundation of Seyi Shay’s expressive lyrics and excited flow. Dokta Frabz’s technique here is minimal, only employing piano melodies and muffled percussion.

Simple as the production might be, it exalts Patoranking’s reggaeton style and Shaydee’s rhythmic flow.

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