JUNO Award-winning artist TOBi is embracing a more liberated, laid-back side of his artistry with the upcoming release of the second installment in his ELEMENTS mixtape series.
Known for his introspective and lyrically rich sound, the Nigerian-born, Brampton-raised rapper is taking a fresh, free-flowing approach with this new project, one that reflects the pulse of the moment rather than a meticulously crafted narrative. Releasing a project for the first time since his 2023 socially-charged album PANIC, he says ELEMENTS Vol. 2 invites listeners to simply sit back and enjoy the highs and lows of life.
“I just want to give people good music to soundtrack their lives and whatever emotion they’re going through,” TOBi told Now Toronto.
“If you just want to turn up to the songs, or if you just want to, you know, have a glass of wine with whoever’s in your life to some of the music, then that’s what it is.”
A TRANSFORMATIVE VOICE IN CONTEMPORARY MUSIC
The 10-track mixtape also serves as a reflection of both the current state of humanity and TOBi’s personal journey. Amid political unrest, cultural shifts, and personal soul-searching, his music becomes an outstretched hand for connection. Opening ELEMENTS Vol. 2 with “Life is a Jungle,” a song he says was written at 4 a.m. on a sleepless night, the diaristic lyrics are a raw and unfiltered glimpse of his view of the world today.
“Some days I stand up and raise my weary hands to the sky/My teary eyes see a picture that I’m so desperate to change/Hope keep on passing me by,” he flows.
“As people in 2025 you always have to think about what’s going on in your life in relation to what’s going on with people all across the world… what a role that is, to balance all these complex emotions,” he explained.
“And for me, I was thinking about it like, life, to me, feels like a jungle in the fact that it’s rich. There’s a lot of animals and plant species – it is very rich and diverse. But it can also be a dangerous place… and that concept of you got to learn how to navigate and move through it and be present with it.”
BRIDGING CANADIAN TALENT
The project reveals an artist unafraid to speak his own truth, transitioning into the braggadocious head-nodding, “He’s So Good,” where he proudly brands himself as “B-Town’s Finest,” and boasting a name that “rings bells on both sides of the ocean.”
He mentions this song, along with “Who’s Driving You?” featuring Canadian icons Saukrates and Jully Black, are his favourites on ELEMENTS Vol. 2. For TOBi, the latter, which also interpolates their 1999 release “Rally ‘N,’” showcases his intentions to highlight homegrown voices and talent that often go overlooked within the global spotlight.
“These are people I used to listen to when I was younger… that to me, feels special, to bridge Canadian music,” he said.
“I hope other Canadian artists see that and say, ‘Yo, I’m inspired to work with another Canadian artist.’… We’re like one of the hottest countries on this planet when it comes to music. Let’s keep it real, let’s keep it alive.”
TOBi joins many of the entertainment industry’s major talents that hail from Brampton, such as Haviah Mighty, Tory Lanez, and Jae and Trey Richards, all of which he says were just a few stoplights away when they were on the come-up. Though there’s often a negative social stigma that comes with claiming Brampton, he brushes off the slander and reps his hometown with pride.
“They definitely sleep on Brampton… I don’t even really care. Like, people are gonna sleep, right? You just gotta keep doing your thing,” he shrugged.
A SOUND THAT THAT DEFYS GENRES
Along with putting on for his city, he also shamelessly wears his culture on his sleeve, weaving Nigerian roots into the fabric of his sound. Elements of afro-beats are sprinkled throughout the project, but especially surfaces on the upbeat “Changes,” where he sings in his native tongue and reflects on his evolution and the journey of learning to protect his peace. TOBi attributes growing up surrounded by music from songwriters like King Sunny Adé and Fela Kuti as a “full circle” moment in his own musical pursuit.
At the heart of ELEMENTS Vol. 2 is evidence that TOBi’s career glow-up hasn’t gone unnoticed. With four JUNO Awards under his belt, the recognition has been both affirming and grounding. He credits his parents’ unwavering support as instrumental to his success, and says achieving a milestone like the country’s most prestigious award in music only motivates him to go harder.
“Regardless of what it is, just keep using that as fuel… I put out the best project hands down, and I’ll keep doing that. That’s my goal, to put out the best body of work,” he said.
Looking ahead, TOBi remains ambitious. He names two icons as his dream collaboration: the first being fellow Toronto rapper Drake.
“I want to work with Drizzy,” he said. “He’s been having the city on his back for 15 years… a brilliant songwriter. I think that the ability to connect with millions of people is not an easy task.”
He also mentions working with Lauryn Hill would be a dream come true, admiring her soulful melodies and lyrical mastery.
A NEW ERA FOR TOBi IS ON THE WAY
As he continues to carve out his path, the former battle rapper turned award-winning entertainer offers heartfelt advice to aspiring songwriters.
“I think that if you really want to be a songwriter and an artist, listen to good artists, listen to good writers,” TOBi says, listing Stevie Wonder and Muni Long as just a few of the best songwriters the world has seen.
“Listen to the emotion and feeling that it’s evoking and just broaden your palate… if you want to be a chef, you can’t just be eating the same thing all the time.”
In this round of ELEMENTS, TOBi is not only experimenting musically, but completely redefining what it means to be present as an artist. Closing out the project with the compelling “Forgot We Were Seeds,” his second installment already proves itself to be a testament to his adoration for music, his deeply cultural upbringing, and his belief in the power of storytelling, no matter how spontaneous or structured it may be.
ELEMENTS Vol. 2 will be released on all music platforms on Jul. 9.
