After bursting onto the scene with 2020’s “Killing Dem All” and recruiting Seyi Vibez for “Time No Dey” that same year, Balloranking has risen to become one of street pop’s chief ambassadors. His spiritual inclination, aspirational lyricism and authentic portrayal of his surroundings would be housed in his 2021 EP Zero Panic, before 2022’s Trench Kid EP integrated tropical vibes and R&B into his Afropop framework. Centring his emotive iteration of street pop on his debut album Ghetto Gospel, the Dvpper Music signee melodically soundtracks various facets of street life. Balloranking uses the trenches as his backdrop as tales of inspiration (“We Up”) and romance (“Healer”) colour a rhythmic journey. The Surulere native, born Balogun Olamilekan, layers his storytelling with Yoruba expressions that saunter alongside violin strings, jazzy guitar strums, airy keys, velvety trumpets and lush saxophone notes. While these organic infusions lend the album a soulful touch, Ballo continues to augment his signature style with dancehall (“Brand New” and “Dinah”), dubbed-out reggae (“Hustle Hard”) and amapiano’s trademark log drums (“Aje” and “Kefti”).