Recently, I stumbled across S.O. while bumping some new rap tunes. I originally gave the song a listen as it featured CHH stud Canon, but after I added it to one of my playlists, I quickly came to realize that the Nigerian born and London raised Seun "S.O." Otukpe was legit and worth checking out some more. After a little research, I found that the Lamp Mode Recordings artist has some mixtape releases, that he did a track with Lecrae a few years back, and that he has a brand new EP, titled These Things Take Time.

The first of the six-track ensemble is titled "All I Got," and it had me thinking Usher Raymond all day. I mean this guy can spit raps when necessary, but he definitely has a smoothness to his vocals that are amazing. Not only is it prevalent in this song, but "I See You" had me drawing the same comparisons as the artist croons a typical love song. Up next is the track that features Canon, and the song drives home the idea of going hard for God. It's a solid rap joint that all rap fans will dig. The following track features smooth vocalist Christon Gray and the two collab in a way that doesn't really follow any musical rules. It's honestly one of those all-over-the-place songs, but it somehow works, and the end product is a unique track that any fan of R&B will fall in love with. Up next is "Fall," where S.O.'s London accent is a little more pronounced while rapping, which I dig. He flows on a message about examining ourselves and not jumping onto social media, which is something that seems to be happening more and more every day. In closing, "Parkers Verse" is just three minutes of non-stop spitting rhymes. S.O. just goes off to end the EP speaking, "I'm in it for the long haul though time's ticking. I just wanna hear well done servant when I'm finished," and drives home the point of this release.

This EP is full of great things, and the title of These Things Take Time leaves me hoping to hear more from Seun as he continues his journey. If you dig hip hop or R&B, this is definitely worth your while and I plan on checking out whatever he does in the future.

- Review date: 11/21/16, written by Kevin Hoskins of Jesusfreakhideout.com