Like a superhero who diligently saves the day despite numerous turbulences faced, Stonebwoy swooped in to carry the dancehall genre in Ghana to its farthest heights when the genre was becoming stale due to insufficient contributions from the earlier patriarchs of Ghanaian dancehall.
Ferocious with his ragga-style and impeccable voice, his tracks caught the attention of some dancehall factions, whom he would later christen as Bhim Nation. He religiously fed them with six studio albums throughout the years.
However, after a brief hiatus, he reappeared in the last quarter of 2025, hinting at unveiling a new nine-track extended play, “The Torcher EP,” for his fans, ushering in a new era after his last album, “Up & Runnin6” (Up & Running).
READ ALSO:
Narrative
In his earlier days as an upcoming act, Stonebwoy adopted the “Burn it on” moniker, aligning himself with the fire element, which reflected the vigor and fiery manner in which he starts his own songs and songs where he’s featured as a guest artist, leaving no stones unturned with his verses. So, it’s no surprise that he’s heralding “The Torcher EP,” whose artwork depicts a caricature of himself spitting bursts of flames out of his mouth, with a golden floating crown atop his head.
A full-circle moment, signifying the sigil of a flaming star who has predicted his own journey amidst blood, exasperation, envy, and tears. He is a sonic jack-of-all-trades who sells merchandise, including reggae, highlife, and most importantly, Afro-dancehall to the world.
Production
The new project depicts Stonebwoy’s mastery of switching from dancehall songs to afro-fused bops and conscious songs, carefully laid on lush productions from Nigeria’s Phantom (Samankudi), Ghana’s most sought-after producer M.O.G (Torcher, Susuka, Xosetor), and frequent collaborators Street Beatz (Send Dem A Prayer) and Mix Master Garzy (GidiGidi), who lit the match with instrumentations while Stonebwoy traced the flames with his rich vocals and elated consciousness.
Standout Tracks
“Don’t know how long it take man fi reach yah. Man ah torcher, dem see inna me eye and know man ah torcher.”
Stonebwoy inflects in Jamaican Patois alongside the uplifting rhythm, recounting the genesis of his career to his current impervious phase. There was a burning hunger, an unquenchable fire, and a desire to share his gift with every ear. Now a trailblazer, his success taunts those who underestimated him on his come-up. He opines that they’ve conspired to put out the flame of the torchbearer, which is an impossible feat. “Torcher” is a beautiful record crafted to appease dancehall fans, who derive motivation from Stonebwoy’s lyrics.
On “Send Dem A Prayer,” Stonebwoy relays a wholesome sermon-like message to the ears of the falsely accused, urging them to remain steadfast, positive, and bear no grudges against the ones who seek their doom. He preaches that, although allegations surround him, he still remains humble and never harbors ill will towards the accusers. “See me ah pray for me enemies though they want my failure. The more dem no want to see me rise, I still send dem a prayer. Peace be unto my haters.” The chorus can be likened to Jesus’ biblical principle of turning the other cheek (Matthew 5:39) when slapped by another. Stonebwoy inspires listeners to respond with kindness rather than retaliation, with a ragga backed by drum percussions, rippling guitar riffs and sax.
III. Gidi Gidi
The tracks “Torcher” and “Send Dem A Prayer” form a cohesive sequence with “GidiGidi.” The former discusses Stonebwoy’s success and inner fire, and the latter advocates for restraint in the face of adversity, both songs featuring a mellow mood and soulful beats. However, the dynamics shift in the next track (GidiGidi), which adopts a scatter-brain beat. “GidiGidi” is a popular Ghanaian term describing chaotic situations or aggression.
“Don’t see me like a fool because I don’t do gidigidi,” to wit, don’t see me like a fool because I don’t resort to aggression. Here, Stonebwoy declares he’ll scorch those who mistake his leniency for weakness. A jab to his nemesis (You know who) in the dancehall fraternity, known for his loudness and aggressive behaviour over the years. The explosive appeal of the beat just does something to you when the song comes on. You just have to move to it! GidiGidi is a top song.
Samankudi
Ah yes! There’s enough fire to go around for everyone, including the ladies. You just have to wait for your turn. Samankudi is an afro-fusion groove, written from a ‘bad man’s’ prism where Stonebwoy focuses on the “pretty tings” on his radar with an intimate expression, beckoning them to come in for a romping experience. Samankudi bears a raw, unfiltered vibe, showing a more explicit side of the Torcher.
Deeper
Stonebwoy closes the project with “Deeper,” a spiritual anthem that advocates for a deeper connection with divinity, confidence, and perseverance in the face of obstacles. The track features a cheeky line, “My property no go lock for EOCO,” seemingly addressing his arch rival’s fracas with the crime institution. “Deeper” is a gentle wind blowing over the debris after a wildfire has completed its obliteration, making it a perfect curtain call to end a show.
Rating
“The Torcher EP” stands at a good 6.5/10 rating. I commend the project’s brevity, given the tendency in today’s music industry to pack albums, mixtapes and EPs with numerous tracks for the sake of quantity. The only songs that didn’t quite make the cut were “Outside Lifestyle”, “Susuka” and “Xosetor.” This isn’t the Bhim Nation President’s best work yet; rather, it’s him scratching the surface, giving fans a sneak peek of more greatness to come.