‘Family Meeting', a song off Bloody Civilian's explosive debut EP Anger Management, is an anthem for every black sheep of a family that has been called to a family meeting for chastisement. (Bloody Civilian is a name inspired by her growing up in the northern part of Nigeria where military violence is abundant. What's in a name!)
Because of her defiance, Bloody Civilian's family meets all night to talk about her. "Family meeting is all night. I'm the problem child. I know you don't trust me," she sings.
But why?
She doesn't go to church, a grave sin in her family. Bloody Civilian gives them a suitably hot retort. "Even God rested on the 7th day" (so, what's all the fuss about)? But her self-righteous aunt and worried mom want to return her to God. She keeps screaming "You should know me by now". They refuse to listen to her but instead, dress her down.
In the second verse, a day after the dress-down, she dresses up to visit her boyfriend to elevate her dampened spirit. Her boyfriend reads her mood and asks her "What's up". Bloody Civilian doesn't respond, she doesn't want to kill her vibe. But implores her boyfriend to fuck her (because good sex with a lover is a mood booster).
After another night of a blistering family meeting, Bloody Civilian plots on 'How To Kill A Man’—perhaps her boyfriend. She gives vivid details of her plot with defiance lyrics and vocal interpretation. "You have to do it when he is down, not sober (oh)". What if the man starts to shout? "Omo na to slap am (oh) / Take him to the backyard (oh) / And give him the dagger (oh)." (Omo, this girl anger dey boil like heater o.)
What would she do when the people are talking, and the police lurk around? "Last, last na to give them (police) 4k". (Chai, Naija police are too cheap o, shikini 4k for a murder case.) And when the police leave, she would twerk on her victim's grave for a job well done. (Omo, this girl is cold-blooded and blazingly hot. Even Rihana isn't this bold in 'Man Down'. Walahi, this song is a perfect soundtrack to Oyinkansola Braithwaite's debut novel My Sister, The Serial Killer—"I got many problems, ask my sister, ah-ah".) If her family knew about her plot, they would have dragged her to a pastor for deliverance. But she perfectly keeps it to herself.
Perhaps the errant boyfriend learned about Bloody Civilian's plot to murder him, he tenders a 'Mad Apology'. She tells him to "put that shit to rest" because she gave him everything but he fucked up instead of staying by her and love her blind. But the boyfriend keeps calling her phone, asking her "How far na". This annoys Bloody Civilian so that she declares to him 'I Don't Like You'.
What brings all the aggression?
Her boyfriend calls her a loser, a Lucifer, and claims that she sleeps around with his friends. "And I never fucked with Abdullahi / I never fucked with James," she sings, also explaining that her boyfriend can’t give her hypertension all the same (God forbids she adds boyfriend wahala to family drama).
Is she hating on her boyfriend?
"If I hate on you, let fire burn me now," she swears. "If my mind [is] on you, let thunder strike me down." Even if the boyfriend's brain is "co-dependent", she has no problem with that. But she is not his friend, again. Never, again. Chai.
After all the family drama and boyfriend wahala, Bloody Civilian tries to escape in the haze of marijuana smoke on 'Escapism' but she is scared that her ancestors are watching her (at least she still get people wey she dey fear). The country's economic crisis also worsens her situation. Bye, bye… off she goes to another party in 'Come From' and immerses herself in the purple sky of codeine.
The defiance that runs through this album—her exceptional vocal interpretation, which perfectly complements the defiance expressed in her lyrics—showcases Bloody Civilian’s determination to challenge societal expectations and fight for individuality. Her ability to infuse each word with conviction and emotion creates a connection between us and her—whether it's through the aggressive grit in her voice or the vulnerable nuances, she captivates us and leaves an indelible mark.
With this explosive release, Bloody Civilian establishes herself as a fearless and noteworthy artist who demands to be heard. Anger Management is a powerful representation of her unyielding spirit, refusing to be silenced or restrained, a must-listen for those seeking music that ignites the flames of rebellion and empowers the spirit.
Anger Management is streaming on all platforms.