Modern Fantasy is a proper collaborative project in the truest sense, one where both artistic identities are not only present but fully expressed.
By Yinoluwa Olowofoyeku
For Suté Iwar and RayTheBoffin, Modern Fantasy emerges not simply as a collaborative EP, but as a convergence point between two artistes whose creative identities have been quietly shaping the contours of Nigeria’s alternative music landscape. Suté Iwar, widely regarded as one of the pioneers of the Alté movement, has built his career on a foundation of restraint, introspection, and sonic intentionality, crafting music that often exists in the margins of mainstream Afropop while remaining deeply rooted in its cultural fabric.
From earlier projects like Paradise (2019) to the expansive and thematically rich ULTRALIGHT (2023), his trajectory has been one of gradual refinement, leaning into minimalism, emotional clarity, and a diaristic songwriting style that prioritises feeling over spectacle. His work often reads like a journal set to music, capturing fleeting thoughts, relational complexities, and existential reflections with a soft-spoken delivery that has become his signature.
On the other side of this partnership stands RayTheBoffin, a rising producer and artiste whose sonic fingerprints are defined by textured, layered production and a willingness to explore across genre lines. His approach to beat-making blends Atmospheric Alté sensibilities with elements of Hip-Hop, Afro-Fusion, and Jersey club, resulting in soundscapes that feel both intricate and fluid.
Their creative synergy was first crystallised on “THE PLEASURE PRINCIPLE”, a standout cut from ULTRALIGHT, where RayTheBoffin’s production provided a rich, immersive canvas for Suté’s introspective musings. That collaboration laid the groundwork for Modern Fantasy, a six-track project that was reportedly conceived in the aftermath of that album’s release, with RayTheBoffin sending beats that Suté would sit with, reflect on, and transform into lyrical narratives that sometimes feel sharply focused and at other times intentionally meandering, mirroring the unpredictability of thought itself.
Framed around a loose gameplay motif and built almost entirely on RayTheBoffin’s lush, detailed production, Modern Fantasy captures the duo at a moment of clear creative alignment, where individual strengths are not just complementary but mutually amplifying. The EP moves fluidly across Alté and Hip-Hop influences, maintaining a cohesive sonic identity through its clean, atmospheric palette of soft synths, warm basslines, and restrained percussion. This consistency allows each track to breathe while sustaining an immersive mood-driven experience, one that places emotional resonance and narrative texture at the forefront.
Opening Modern Fantasy, “Bad Boy” introduces the EP with a striking conceptual device, a female voice acting almost like a futuristic assistant, calmly ushering the listener into the world that Suté Iwar and RayTheBoffin are about to build. That motif immediately sets a tone of curated immersion that carries through Modern Fantasy.
The instrumental is built on spacious, abstract pad textures and airy plucked synths outlining a simple two-chord progression, while a deep 808 bassline pulses beneath thick kick drums, scratchy claps, and sizzling hi-hats. Transitional elements such as saxophone samples and synth runs give the track a sense of movement without disrupting its calm surface.
Within this space, Suté delivers with his characteristic smooth, subdued presence, his voice unhurried and fluid as he glides between cadences. The performance leans into confident, self-assured expression, directed toward a love interest, with lines like “She never met a bad boy like me/ So she’s never gonna take me lightly/ Said she’s never met a bad boy like me/ It’s a new type of excitement” delivered in a laid-back croon that blurs the line between rapping and singing. Backing vocals are used sparingly but effectively, blending into his delivery to reinforce the track’s seamless, drifting quality, as he moves in and out of rhythmic pockets with ease.
On “Love & Rebellion”, Modern Fantasy continues its minimalist ethos while introducing a slightly more textured sonic palette. Strummed guitar samples sit atop a two-chord progression, layered with subtle tape noise that gives the track a faintly nostalgic, almost lo-fi warmth. The drum pattern is off-kilter, with thumping kicks and flat snares landing in unexpected places, creating a groove that feels slightly skewed but intentional.
Additional elements such as DJ-style sound effects and light guitar accents add a sense of movement, while still maintaining the project’s restrained approach. RayTheBoffin makes a vocal appearance here, his high-pitched, sing-song rap style cutting through with breathy delivery that contrasts with Suté’s grounded tone. Suté himself leans more melodic on this track, structuring his verses around pentatonic phrasing that gives his lines a natural musicality.
On the chorus, he questions the stability and direction of a relationship, singing, “I guess I thought that you would always be there for me/ Girl, I gotta keep on writing out the story/ This time, this time/ Girl, who you calling when the clouds are getting stormy?” The interplay between both artists feels organic, with RayTheBoffin’s presence adding another tonal layer to the introspective core of Modern Fantasy.
“Modern Man” shifts the focus toward introspection and artistic identity, built on a simple but effective instrumental of jazzy electric piano chords, crisp hi-hats, and a warm, rounded kick drum. Filtered synth accents drift in and out, maintaining the project’s atmospheric cohesion. Here, Suté engages directly with perceptions of his artistry, addressing criticism with a calm, almost conversational delivery. Lines like “Oh you think of yourself of a modern man/ We ain’t relating with what you saying … You don’t even rap no more, you sing/ Stuck in your feelings, a fucking shame/ Make us believers in bars again/ But now you Alté with all of them” are delivered without urgency, as if he is simply stating his position rather than defending it.
As the track progresses, the instrumental subtly opens up, allowing his delivery to grow slightly more animated, with underlying 808s supporting moments where his tone carries a hint of rising frustration. The performance remains controlled, however, with Suté choosing expression over confrontation, using vocal inflections and pacing to convey his stance. As the longest track on Modern Fantasy, it allows him the space to explore these ideas fully, maintaining a consistent, introspective thread.
On “Prime”, the EP reintroduces its futuristic framing with the assistant voice returning in a playful laugh, leading into a detuned pad progression supported by both smooth sub bass and a gritty Moog bassline. The percussion is lively, with steady hi-hats, punchy kicks, and light, playful accents that give the track an uptempo but still controlled energy.
Suté responds with a rapid-fire melodic flow, confident and precise as he declares his position, “See I cannot fail/ Broke out the jail that my country made/ Sharp like blade and I passed that grade/ Now they want me dead as the pastor prayed”. The line expands beyond personal affirmation, briefly touching on a broader generational perspective before returning to individual assertion.
RayTheBoffin appears again, maintaining his signature tone and cadence, delivering lines such as “Big checks, all I’m thinking lately / Big plaques then I know I made it / I’m awesome but I’m underrated / Watch this, she gon’ call me later.” The track effectively balances the two artistes’ voices, allowing their shared confidence to drive the energy of Modern Fantasy forward.
“Travelling” finds a groove that sits between Afrobeats and laid-back Hip-Hop, blending rhythmic sensibilities from both spaces. The instrumental is built on subtle percussive hits, a restrained rimshot, filtered chord synths, steady hi-hats, and a smooth 808 bassline, creating a foundation that feels both grounded and fluid.
Suté uses this as a canvas to draw parallels between movement through space and personal progression, delivering lines like “My life feels like/ New location, new homes and vacations, boy I’m too cold/ Brand new station, pockets bleeding pounds and euros/ New style coming, too fast for ‘em / Paid my dues now I’m cashing in / Vegas swag, I’m not gambling”. His flow locks tightly into the rhythm, moving in sync with the drums and finding pockets effortlessly. RayTheBoffin shifts his approach here, adopting a more Afrobeats-influenced vocal style, fully leaning into melodic singing with lines such as “Too many talents y’know / Too many gbedu for my body y’know / I say it’s never enough / I saw the bag I had to follow it up”. This change in delivery adds a new dimension to the track, aligning closely with the instrumental’s hybrid identity.
Closing Modern Fantasy, “Mmmhmm” returns to the project’s core simplicity, built on another two-chord progression with soft bell samples and electric piano chords layered lightly over a more rugged, growling synth. The drum pattern leans into Hip-Hop textures, with rattling hi-hats, uneven kick placement, and a heavy 808 presence grounding the track.
Here, Suté turns inward, delivering a reflective performance that centres on detachment, quiet processing, and emotional restraint. The repeated “Mmmhmm” becomes both a response and a motif, representing moments of acknowledgement without elaboration, a way of moving through experiences without fully unpacking them. The energy dips intentionally, bringing the EP to a more subdued, settled conclusion. In doing so, Modern Fantasy completes its arc, ending not with resolution, but with a calm acceptance that mirrors the introspective tone that has run throughout the project.
At its core, Modern Fantasy is a proper collaborative project in the truest sense, one where both artistic identities are not only present but fully expressed. This is not a case of one artist leading while the other supports, but rather two distinct sonic personalities merging in sync to create something that feels greater than the sum of its parts.
The result is a final product that could only exist through this specific fusion, a meeting point of two idiosyncratic approaches that complement and elevate each other at every turn. That sense of shared authorship runs through the entire EP, shaping its sound, its structure, and its emotional tone.
The production is undeniably a focal point of Modern Fantasy, with RayTheBoffin crafting a sonic landscape that feels singular, immersive, and unmistakably his. The palette is spacey, experimental, and futuristic, with a strong emphasis on atmosphere and detail. Every element feels considered, from the broad strokes of chord progressions and basslines to the smallest sonic accents that enrich the listening experience.
Subtle background details, such as the sounds of vehicles and movement woven into “Travelling,” contribute to the narrative arc without drawing overt attention to themselves. Across the tracklist, there is a deliberate effort to avoid repetition, with each song introducing slight variations in texture, rhythm, and influence, ensuring that the production never feels cookie-cutter.
At the same time, the cohesion remains intact, with a consistent sonic identity tying everything together in a way that perfectly complements Suté’s calm and measured delivery style.
That synergy extends seamlessly into the vocal performances, where both artistes align themselves closely with the production in terms of rhythm, cadence, melodic phrasing, and tonal delivery. Suté emerges as the more seasoned vocal presence on Modern Fantasy, his command of the microphone evident in the confidence and control he brings to every track. He moves effortlessly between flows, selecting cadences and melodic approaches with the precision of someone deeply familiar with his craft.
Whether leaning into moments of quiet introspection or injecting subtle bravado, his vocal choices always feel intentional. There is a depth to his performance, a wide range of flows and stylistic nuances that he deploys with ease, much like an experienced golfer selecting the right club for each shot.
RayTheBoffin, while showing occasional signs of relative inexperience in areas such as enunciation and vocal clarity, brings a style and tone that is distinct enough to hold its own within the project. His contributions never feel out of place, and his unique vocal texture adds an important layer to the overall dynamic. The contrast between his delivery and Suté Iwar’s more polished presence works in the project’s favour, reinforcing the collaborative nature of Modern Fantasy rather than detracting from it.
Central to the effectiveness of these performances is the strength of the songwriting. Suté’s penmanship anchors the project, with a style that blends allegory, subtle poeticism, and diaristic honesty. His writing feels lived-in and reflective, offering insight without striving for overt profundity. There is a storytelling quality to his work, a sense that each line is part of a broader narrative, even when delivered in a conversational tone.
At times, his delivery leans closer to speaking than rapping, but this only enhances the intimacy of the experience. The writing strikes a careful balance, rich enough to reward attentive listening, yet accessible enough to remain breezy and engaging for a more casual audience. RayTheBoffin complements this effectively, holding his own alongside a more experienced writer and contributing meaningfully without ever feeling overshadowed.
From a technical standpoint, the engineering on Modern Fantasy is equally intentional. While there are minor moments where a slightly stronger vocal presence from Suté Iwar might have enhanced clarity, the overall mix is clean, balanced, and thoughtfully constructed. Effects are applied with purpose, enhancing musicality and reinforcing the emotional tone of each track rather than serving as decorative additions. The integration of vocal layers, instrumental textures, and spatial elements results in a cohesive sonic environment that feels both polished and organic.
All of these elements come together to create a listening experience that is smooth, immersive, and quietly compelling. Modern Fantasy is not an album that overwhelms with intensity, but one that invites repeated listens, gradually revealing its nuances and depth. It is a project built on alignment, on two artistes understanding not only their own strengths but how those strengths can intersect to create something meaningful. In that sense, it stands as a clear example of what intentional collaboration can achieve, a refined, cohesive, and deeply satisfying body of work that lingers long after the final note fades.
Lyricism – 1.6
Tracklisting – 1.5
Sound Engineering – 1.5
Vocalisation – 1.6
Listening Experience – 1.6
Rating – 7.8/10
Yinoluwa “Yinoluu” Olowofoyeku is a multi-disciplinary artist and creative who finds expression in various media. His music can be found across all platforms, and he welcomes interaction on his social media @Yinoluu.