Outlaw (EP)

Outlaw is the second EP by Nigerian singer Victony. It was released on 6 May 2022, by Encore Recordings and features producers Ktizo and Tempoe. Production was handled by Ktizo, Tempoe, Blaisebeatz, P.Priime, Dëra, Frank Moses, and Blind. The album housed the singles "Apollo," "Kolomental," and "Soweto."

Outlaw
EP by Victony
Released	6 May 2022
Genre	Afropop
Length	20:35
Label	Encore Recordings
Producer	Blaisebeatz P.Priime Blind Tempoe Ktizo Dëra Frank Moses
Victony chronology
Saturn (2021) Outlaw (2022) Stubborn (2024)
Singles from Outlaw
"Apollo" Released: 11 March 2022 "Kolomental" Released: 28 April 2022 "Soweto" Released: 22 October 2022

Background and recording

In mid-2020, Victony began working on Outlaw, an EP that would showcase his evolving sound and personal growth. The title track, which took the longest to create, was chosen as the opener because, as Victony put it, "it embodies the right emotions for this project" and tells his story as an "outlaw." Tracks like "Chop & Slide" and "Apollo" were born from spontaneous energy, with Victony trusting his instincts despite initial doubts. "Regardless of what anybody has to say, I'm going to finish this record," he recalled about "Chop & Slide." The EP was initially set to feature six tracks, but "All Power" was added last-minute, with Victony saying, "There's just something about it that I love." Although he described his session for "Soweto" as "one of the laziest" he'd had, it became a standout track due to its laid-back vibe and unplanned magic.

Singles

The EP's lead single "Apollo" was released on 11 March 2022. The song was produced by P.Priime. The Blaisebeatz-produced second single "Kolomental" was released on 28 April 2022. The third and final single, "Soweto," was released on 22 October 2022 alongside a Jyde Ajala-directed video. It was produced by Tempoe and got two remixes, one released on 28 April 2023 featuring Omah Lay, and another released on 22 March 2023 featuring Don Toliver and Rema. Rolling Stone ranked it #15 on their list of "The 40 Best Afropop Songs of 2022."

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Pulse Nigeria	7.6/10
Afrocritik	6.5/10
iMullar

Adeayo Adebiyi of Pulse Nigeria praised Victony's Outlaw EP as a solid project, highlighting its melodious nature and strong singing but noting it didn't break new ground, stating, "'Outlaw' delivers on all expectations but doesn't do much beyond that." He rated the EP 7.6/10, classifying it as a "Victory."

Emmanuel Esomnofu of OkayAfrica praised Outlaw as a showcase of Victony's evolving artistry, highlighting his "sonic brilliance" and the project's mix of introspective lyrics and lush beats, stating, "With seven songs he's pulled off a masterstroke of a project."

Chinonso Ihekire of Afrocritik described Outlaw as a "wholesome project" with "strong replay value, feel-good instrumentation, and... suggestive thematic compass," though he noted that it lacked the songwriting depth to elevate it to a classic. He gave the project a rating of 6.5/10.

The team at The Native offered high praise for Victony's Outlaw EP, with Dennis calling it "one of the best projects of 2022" and highlighting its "multi-coloured, multi-layered slabs of excellence" in production. Wonu noted Victony's confidence and organization, saying "there's a different experience with every listen," while Emmanuel emphasized Victony's ability to "sound fresh each time" and praised the EP's balance of introspection and catchy, well-written tracks.

Bomi Anifowose, writing for Digimillenials described Victony's Outlaw EP as a diverse blend of emotional storytelling and club-ready tracks, with highlights like "Outlaw" showcasing his lyrical depth, and "Apollo" praised as an "Amapiano madness." Anifowose noted the project's mix of soulful and vibrant songs, such as "Kolomental" and "All Power," which deliver both introspection and catchy grooves.

Jubril Lawal of The Upper Entertainment highlighted Outlaw as a significant exploration of relationships and mental health, capturing the artist's struggle for authenticity amidst external pressures. Lawal noted that while the album successfully blends club-ready tracks like "Apollo" with introspective themes, particularly in the closing track "Kolomental," he felt Victony could further delve into his personal feelings.

Agwuma Kingsley of Morebranches described Victony's Outlaw EP as a showcase of his vocal talent and lyrical prowess, emphasizing the artist's versatility across the seven tracks. Kingsley pointed out standout songs like "Jolene" and "Kolomental," noting that while the themes were somewhat sparse, Victony's creativity shone through, particularly in celebrating his journey and the grace he attributes to God.

Edwin Quartey of iMullar rated Victony's Outlaw EP 4/5, praising it as a testament to the artist's resilience and growth following a traumatic accident. Quartey noted, "Outlaw is like a musical document of Victony's quest," highlighting the project's emotional depth and diverse soundscapes, particularly in standout tracks like "Apollo" and "Kolomental," which blend personal pain with impressive production.

Track listing

Credits adapted from back cover.

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Outlaw"	Anthony Victor	Ktizo	3:17
2.	"Chop & Slide"	Victor	Blind Frank Moses Dëra[b]	2:48
3.	"Apollo"	Victor	P.Priime Ktizo[b]	2:50
4.	"All Power"	Victor	Ktizo	3:12
5.	"Jolene" (featuring Ktizo)	Victor	Ktizo	2:55
6.	"Soweto" (featuring Tempoe)	Victor Michael Alagwu	Tempoe	2:28
7.	"Kolomental"	Victor	Blaisebeatz	3:17
Total length:				20:35

Notes

• ^{^[b]} signifies an co-producer.

Personnel

• Anthony "Victony" Victor – vocals, songwriter, art direction
• Michael "Tempoe" Alagwu - featured artist, songwriter, producer
• Chuma "Hoodini" Nwokike - featured artist, producer, A&R, mixing engineer, mastering engineer
• Oluseni "IamDJNotorious" Oyinlola (Ktizo) - featured artist, producer
• Chidera "Dëra" Ezeani – producer
• Blind - producer
• Frank Moses - producer
• Marcel "Blaisebeatz" Akunwata - producer
• Deep Music - choir (tracks 1, 3, 5)
• Enoch Akinyele - guitars (track 5)
• Alberto Faraggi Elizalde - guitars (track 5)
• Loren Ewailfo - whistle (track 5)
• Jemedafe "Partyboy" Caleb - A&R, executive producer
• Bolthedesigner - art direction
• Jexways - art direction

Release history

Release history and formats for Outlaw

Region	Date	Format	Label
Various	6 May 2022	Streaming digital download	Encore Recordings