How Joeboy’s New Song ‘Smh’ Sampled a Tamil Song
Nigerian Afropop artist Joeboy. Photo: Courtesy of the artist
If there’s one thing that’s been established about Nigerians, it’s that they have a liking for Indian cinema, television shows and of course, the music. That can explain why a tuneful Tamil song from the 2000 show Krishnadasi finds its way into Afropop artist Joeboy’s new song “Smh,” produced by Tempoe.
The buoyant song samples a sped-up version of “Neela Nilave,” particularly the hook sung by veteran South Indian singer Srinivas and composed by D. Imman, nostalgic for many who grew up on early 2000s Tamil T.V. Joeboy explains, “It’s actually a sample from an OG Indian soap opera song, and Tempoe was really confident that it would have a nice bounce to it. As soon as I heard it, I liked it instantly, it was different, you know? A unique and unexpected sound and i’m glad we were able to make magic out of it.”
Understandably, it’s generated some interest from Indian fans to hear Joeboy, who has previously put out hits like “Baby” (2019) and “Sip” from his 2023 album Body & Soul and hopped on a remix of CKay’s “Love Nwantiti.” While he’s already gone on to release his new song “Taxi Drive,” Joeboy feels there’s more to be unlocked with “Smh.” He says, “The response so far has been amazing, but trust me, this is just the beginning. The song’s full potential is yet to be unlocked, just wait and see, you will say I told you so.”
Joeboy, who grew up watching Bollywood movies, says he’s often drawn to the melodies that Indian music brings. “There’s just something special about the songs and the energetic dance moves,” he adds. He’s also been following “a bit of Indian hip-hop lately” and is open to collaborations to build on the “unique vibe” that Indian hip-hop has.
At the same time, Joeboy has to focus on his own label, Young Legend, which recently completed a year in existence. “Running a label is serious work, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s something I’ve always prepared myself for, and seeing our growth has been really rewarding. We’re keeping it pushing, and I’m proud of how far we’ve come. I’m also really excited and positive about what lies ahead of us,” he says.
In the run-up to his upcoming album Viva Lavida coming out in March, there’s also his Lavida World Tour starting in April, traveling through Europe, Australia and the U.K. Joeboy calls the prep “intense but exciting.” He adds, “I’ve been putting in the work, training my vocals, learning to play the keyboard, and just making sure I’m in the best shape for the tour. It’s all about giving the fans the best experience possible, and I’m so ready to hit the stage and connect with all my fans around the world.”
India is part of his plans, too. “I’ll be in India sometime this year,” he says.
Watch the video for “Smh” below.
