Boy Alone

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Boy Alone is the debut studio album by Nigerian singer Omah Lay. It was released on July 14, 2022, by Keyqaad and Sire Records, and a deluxe edition came out on June 15, 2023. The standard edition features Tay Iwar and Justin Bieber, while the deluxe edition features Ozuna and Aitch.

Key details
- Genre: Afrobeats
- Length: 37:51 (standard) and 54:42 (deluxe)
- Producers include Niphkeys, Tempoe, Semzi, Orlandoh, P2J, P.Priime, Tunesfactory, Harv, Sammy SoSo, BGRZ, Debox, and Avedon
- It follows the 2020 release What Have We Done (an EP)

What the album is about
- Omah Lay began recording Boy Alone in 2021 during a difficult emotional time. He used the project to express his mental struggles and a shift away from the carefree energy of his earlier work.
- Core tracks that reflect this mood are “I’m a Mess,” “Understand,” and “Soso.”
- He took 18 months to finish the album and says he often overthinks parts of it. The title Boy Alone is also his father’s name and represents staying true to himself.
- The deluxe edition adds new songs to show the other side of his journey from darkness to light.

Reception
- The standard edition received strong praise and is seen by many as one of the best debut Afrobeats albums. Critics highlighted its emotional depth, strong melodies, and honest writing, while noting Omah Lay’s growth as an artist.

Singles
- From Boy Alone: “Understand” (July 8, 2021), “Attention” (March 4, 2022), “I’m a Mess” (July 22, 2022)
- From the deluxe edition: “Soso” (November 30, 2022), “Soso (Remix)” (May 18, 2023), “Reason” (June 17, 2023)