If love had a soundtrack this February, it might just be “That Way.”
African music powerhouses and longtime friends Mr Eazi and King Promise are setting the tone for Valentine’s season with their new single “That Way,” the first taste of their joint LP See What We’ve Done, arriving March 11 via emPawa Africa.
Built for lovers, soft boys, soft girls, and everyone who still believes in intentional romance, “That Way” flips a millennial classic into a present-day Afrofusion confession. Inspired by the iconic boy band era, the track interpolates the unforgettable melody and hook from Backstreet Boys’ 1999 smash “I Want It That Way,” blending its emotional pull with the rhythmic heartbeat of modern Afrobeats.
Produced by GuiltyBeatz and JAE5, two of the architects behind contemporary African pop’s global expansion, “That Way” doesn’t lean on nostalgia for effect. It reimagines it. What was once a pristine pop ballad becomes an Afro-fusion anthem that feels both familiar and fresh, like running into your first crush and realizing you still have butterflies.
“‘I Want It That Way’ used to be one of our favorite records growing up,” Mr Eazi shares. “Backstreet Boys, Westlife, that was our era. When I heard the beat with that interpolation, I knew we had to jump on it. It was just us having fun with something we genuinely love.”
King Promise adds, “Sometimes you hear a classic and you just know you can take it somewhere new. That’s what ‘That Way’ is. Same heart, new pulse.”
At its core, the record is a straight-up love song. No games. No pride. Just devotion. As they sing, “Wetin you dey do me nobody dey come close,” both artists tap into that head-spinning realization that someone has changed your entire emotional chemistry.
The video, directed by Charlie Rees at a private airport hangar near London, nods confidently to the aviation aesthetic of the original boy band era while fully embracing their grown-man heartthrob energy. Beyond the visuals, what shines through is the chemistry. This is not a forced collaboration. It is a friendship that has grown alongside their careers.
Their journey together stretches back to the early days when Mr Eazi was building his sound between Nigeria and Accra and King Promise was finding his footing in Ghana’s evolving music scene. That shared history now culminates in See What We’ve Done, a joint project rooted in musical alignment, emotional honesty, and years of creative trust.
Following fan favorites like “Dabebi,” “Call Waiting,” “Baby, I’m Jealous,” and last summer’s “See What We’ve Done,” the album captures what makes their pairing special: intuitive synergy, global ambition, and a commitment to making African pop records that last.
This Valentine’s season, they are not just giving us nostalgia. They are giving us intention, softness, and grown-up love in afrobeats form.
Millennials across Africa and in the diaspora have the same picture of what the world should look like. We are documenting it in the coolest ways 🤘
