There’s a difference between chasing relevance and defining your own lane. Smartzee, the Beninese artist who once stormed the French charts with his explosive collaborations, chooses the harder — and ultimately more rewarding — path on LEGACY, his striking new album out now.
If you remember Smartzee only from his massive collaborations with Nâdiya (“Et c’est parti” still has enough adrenaline to fuel a stadium), LEGACY will shake those memories loose. This isn’t nostalgia. This is an artist reintroducing himself on his own terms, burning away the shine to reveal fierce ambition, scars, and survival.
LEGACY hits with a force that feels earned, not engineered. The production is real and rhythmic — a sharp contrast to the polished hooks of his earlier fame. Smartzee turns his lens inward, capturing the aftermath of early success and the gritty resilience it takes to stay standing when the spotlight dims.
Tracks like “Back Down” (produced by Rujay) showcase this perfectly. Over a bruising beat, Smartzee lays out the parallels between hustling in rough neighborhoods and navigating the shark tank of corporate life. It’s an anthem for anyone who’s been counted out and kept swinging anyway. Meanwhile, “Walk This Way” (produced by Anywaywell) cuts deeper emotionally — a defiant, gut-punch reflection on growing up under pressure and reclaiming your voice when the world wants to script your story.
But LEGACY isn’t just about struggle; it’s about survival with soul. “One in a Million” and “All of Me” see Smartzee tapping into vulnerability without losing his edge, crafting songs that feel lived-in rather than performed. Every line carries the weight of someone who has tasted both heights and hard landings — and chose to keep climbing.
Rather than treating this album as a comeback, Smartzee makes it a declaration. He’s not here to chase a second wave of fame. He’s here to plant a flag. LEGACY stands as a record not just of where he’s been, but of the battles he’s still willing to fight — for creativity, for authenticity, for meaning.
With LEGACY, Smartzee reminds us that some artists don’t fade away; they evolve into something more powerful.
