{{Infobox album | name = A True Champion | type = studio | artist = [[Rexxie]] | cover = A True Champion.jpg | alt = | released = {{Start date|2021|6|28|df=yes}} | recorded = | venue = | studio = | genre = *[[Amapiano]] *[[Afrobeats#Afropiano|afropiano]] *[[afropop]] *[[alternative pop]] | length = {{Duration|m=40|s=00}} | label = {{hlist|Hitxlab|Dxpper}} | producer = [[Rexxie]] (also [[executive producer|{{abbr|exec.|executive producer}}]]) | prev_title = Afro Streets | prev_year = 2020 | next_title = Nataraja | next_year = 2021 | misc = {{Singles | name = A True Champion | type = studio | single1 = KPK (Ko Por Ke) | single1date = 4 December 2020 | single2 = All | single2date = 25 June 2021 }} }}
'''''A True Champion''''' is the debut [[studio album]] by Nigerian record producer and songwriter [[Rexxie]].<ref name="pulse">{{Cite news | url=https://www.pulse.ng/story/rexxie-set-to-release-debut-album-a-true-champion-2024081812511567373 |title=Rexxie set to release debut album, 'A True Champion' |date=10 May 2021 |newspaper=[[Pulse Nigeria]]|access-date=8 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510155241/https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/music/rexxie-set-to-release-debut-album-a-true-champion/vtbfxyn |archive-date=10 May 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> It was released on 28 June 2021 by Hitxlab and was distributed by Dvpper Music.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/07/with-rexxies-debut-album-dapper-damm-hits-new-milestone/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|title=With Rexxie’s debut album, dapper damm hits new milestone |date=25 July 2021 |access-date=8 July 2022|newspaper=[[Vanguard (Nigeria)|Vanguard]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://earmilk.com/2021/07/10/rexxie-is-a-true-champion/| title=Rexxie is 'A True Champion'| date=10 July 2021| website=Earmilk|access-date=8 July 2022}}</ref> The 17-track album features guest appearances from [[Davido]], [[Naira Marley]], [[Teni (singer)|Teni]], [[Zlatan (musician)|Zlatan]], [[Peruzzi (singer)|Peruzzi]], [[MohBad]], [[Bad Boy Timz]], [[Zinoleesky]], [[Bella Shmurda]], [[BNXN]], [[Oxlade (singer)|Oxlade]], [[Lyta]], [[T-Classic]], Blanche Bailly, [[Sarkodie (rapper)|Sarkodie]], [[Ms Banks]], [[Moelogo]], [[Kida Kudz]], and Midas the Jagaban.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.coolfm.ng/abuja/news/editorial/rexxie-releases-star-studded-a-true-champion-album/| title=Rexxie Releases Star-studded 'A True Champion' Album| website=cool fm|access-date=8 July 2022}}</ref> The album blends elements from [[amapiano]],<ref>{{cite web | url=https://pan-african-music.com/en/rexxie-a-true-champion/| title= Rexxie, A True Champion of Nigerian street music |date=2 September 2021 |website=Pan African Music |access-date=8 July 2022}}</ref> and [[afropop]], occasionally incorporating [[neo-soul]]-influenced percussive rhythms.<ref name="okay" />
==Background== Rexxie began his musical training as a child, playing piano at his father's church in [[Anambra State]]. He started producing music around 2010, initially making beats for friends, before gaining wider attention in 2018 after producing [[Chinko Ekun]]'s single "Able God" featuring [[Lil Kesh]] and [[Zlatan (musician)|Zlatan]]. His working relationships with Zlatan and [[Naira Marley]] began that same year and contributed to the mainstream spread of the zanku sound, leading up to the release of his debut album ''A True Champion''. Rexxie described his sound, which he refers to as "Afro-streets" (also the name of his previous project), as a blend of traditional melodies and rhythmic percussion aimed at the dance floor.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.okayafrica.com/interview-rexxie-steers-his-street-sound-into-mainstream-afropop/282866 | title=Interview: Rexxie Steers His Street Sound Into Mainstream Afropop | date=25 February 2021 | website=OkayAfrica |access-date=8 July 2022}}</ref>
Originally scheduled for release in May 2021, it was supported by the singles "KPK (Ko Por Ke)" and "All". The former is an [[Afrobeats#Afropiano|afropiano]] collaboration with late singer and rapper [[MohBad]], and was released as the album's lead single on 4 December 2020. They performed the song live on AKtivated Sessions on 17 December 2020.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bellanaija.com/2020/12/rexxie-mohbad-kpk-ko-por-ke/ | title=Rexxie & MohBad team up for the Live Performance of "KPK (Ko Por Ke)" on AKtivated Sessions | date=17 December 2020 | website=OkayAfrica |access-date=8 July 2022}}</ref> "KPK (Ko Por Ke)" peaked at #8 on the [[UK Afrobeats Singles Chart]] during the week of 21 March 2021.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/afrobeats-chart/20210321/afrobeat/ | title=Official Afrobeats Chart on 21/3/2021 {{!}} Official Charts | date=21 March 2021 | website=[[Official Charts]] |access-date=21 January 2026}}</ref> The song's music video, directed by WG Films, depicts Rexxie and MohBad in a competitive setting at a race course. The video blends elements of Lagos nightlife and fan culture, with dancers performing steps linked to "marlian culture" and spectators gathered around the artists.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://culturecustodian.com/rexxie-and-mohbad-kpk-ko-por-ke-video/ | title=Rexxie And Mohbad Revive ‘KPK (Ko Por Ke)’ With Energetic Video | date=24 February 2021 | website=The Culture Custodian (Est. 2014.) | access-date=21 January 2026 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224154654/https://culturecustodian.com/rexxie-and-mohbad-kpk-ko-por-ke-video/ | archive-date=24 February 2021 | url-status=live}}</ref> The song spawned a remix with South African rapper [[Sho Madjozi]], which was also included on ''A True Champion''.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://tooxclusive.com/songs/rexxie-kpk-remix-ft-mohbad-x-sho-madjozi-mp3-song/ | title=Rexxie – KPK (Remix) ft. MohBad x Sho Madjozi | website=tooXclusive | access-date=21 January 2026 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240625174424/https://tooxclusive.com/songs/rexxie-kpk-remix-ft-mohbad-x-sho-madjozi-mp3-song/ | archive-date=25 June 2024 | url-status=live}}</ref> On 25 June 2021, he released the [[Davido]]-assisted "All" as the album's second single.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://notjustok.com/songs/rexxie-single-davido-all/ | title=Rexxie Unveils New Single with Davido titled 'All' {{!}} Listen | date=25 July 2021 | website=NotjustOk | access-date=8 July 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240402054851/https://notjustok.com/songs/rexxie-single-davido-all/ | archive-date=2 April 2024 | url-status=live}}</ref> He announced the song's release the day before via his [[Instagram]] page.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://grungecake.com/rexxie-all-davido-announcement/articles/78674 | title=Nigeria’s Rexxie set to release new single "All" featuring Davido| date=25 July 2021 | website=Grungecake | access-date=8 July 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210702040719/https://grungecake.com/rexxie-all-davido-announcement/articles/78674 | archive-date=2 July 2021 | url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Composition== The album built on Rexxie's signature [[Afrobeats#Afropiano|afropiano]] sound, fused amapiano elements with the zanku style within Afrobeats. An early example of this approach was "KPK", released in December 2020, which recorded over 50 million streams across major digital platforms.<ref name="okay">{{cite web | url=https://www.okayafrica.com/rexxie-album-true-champion/ |title=Listen to Rexxie's Debut Album 'A True Champion'| website=[[OkayAfrica]] |access-date=8 July 2022}}</ref> The album opens with "Frenemies," a composition by Oxlade that relies heavily on percussion and uses a brief acoustic solo in the song's closing seconds to reflect on harmful rivalries. On "Boi Boi," Teni delivers a catchy tune and preaches the don't-be-stupid gospel over a keyboard-heavy beat reminiscent of Dr. Sid's "Pop Something."<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://thenet.ng/rexxie-struggles-for-coherence-on-debut-album-a-true-champion/|location=Lagos, Nigeria| title=Rexxie Struggles For Coherence On Debut Album, ‘A True Champion’| date=10 July 2021|newspaper=[[The Netng|The NET]]|access-date=8 July 2022}}</ref> Sarkodie performs two verses in his native language [[Akan language|Twi]] on "Mofoti 2.0," while Naira Marley contributes a chant that shifts the song's tone. "Banger" features minimal lyrics and draws influence from South African club music samples, enlisting assistance from Asake.<ref name="net">{{Cite news | url=https://thenet.ng/netng-review-rexxie-struggles-with-coherence-on-debut-album-a-true-champion/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|title=Netng Review: Rexxie Struggles With Coherence On Debut Album "A True Champion" |date=8 July 2021 |newspaper=[[The Netng|The NET]]|access-date=8 July 2022}}</ref>
==Critical reception== {{Music ratings |rev1 = ''[[Nigerian Entertainment Today]]'' |rev1score = 5.9/10 |rev2 = ''[[Pulse Nigeria]]'' |rev2score = 6.0/10 }} ''A True Champion'' received mixed reviews from [[music critics]]. Jerry Chiemeke, writing for ''[[The Netng|Nigerian Entertainment Today]]'' wrote that "when talking about the continent’s finest music producers, it would be impossible to leave Rexxie out of the conversation," but concluded that the album relied too much on features, lacked cohesion and novelty, and was "listenable, but it could have been ten minutes shorter, and it is hardly memorable," rating it 5.9/10.<ref name="net" />
''[[Pulse Nigeria]]'' writer [[Motolani Alake]] said Rexxie had "written his name into the sands of Nigerian sonic times" and viewed the album as a feature-driven producer project with strong sequencing and hit potential, but concluded that it was too long, repetitive in sound, and "not a spectacular body of work," rating it 6.0/10.<ref name="pulseng">{{Cite news | url=https://www.pulse.ng/story/review-rexxie-a-true-champion-album-2024081816512901873 |title=Rexxie’s ‘A True Champion’ has diverse appeal, you should listen to it [Pulse Album Review] |date=8 July 2021 |newspaper=[[Pulse Nigeria]]|access-date=8 July 2022}}</ref> In a review for ''[[The Native]]'', Dennis Ade Peter stated that showed his range and growth as a producer rooted in street-hop and amapiano, describing it as "a victory lap" and concluding that although "he doesn't utter a word or sing a melody," "he’s the loudest star of them all here."<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://thenativemag.com/rexxie-a-true-champion-review/ |title=A 1-Listen review of Rexxie's 'A True Champion' |date=29 June 2021 |magazine=[[The Native]] |access-date=8 July 2022}}</ref> Tayo Odutola of Earmilk noted that Rexxie used ''A True Champion'' to show his range as a producer across dancefloor styles and collaborations, saying it was "a sonic display of his gifts to the world" and concluding that it showed his "proficiency in crafting world-class audio bangers."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://earmilk.com/2021/07/10/rexxie-is-a-true-champion/ |title=Rexxie is 'A True Champion' |date=10 July 2021 |website=Earmilk |access-date=8 July 2022}}</ref>
==Track listing== All tracks produced by [[Rexxie]]. {{Track listing | headline = ''A True Champion'' track listing | total_length = 40:00
| title1 = Frenemies | note1 = featuring [[Oxlade (singer)|Oxlade]] | writer1 = {{hlist|[[Rexxie|Chisom Ezeh]]|[[Oxlade (singer)|Olaitan Ikuforiji]]}} | length1 = 2:53
| title2 = Boi Boi | note2 = featuring [[Teni (singer)|Teni]] | writer2 = {{hlist|Ezeh|[[Teni (singer)|Teniola Apata]]}} | length2 = 2:47
| title3 = Mofoti 2.0 | note3 = featuring [[Naira Marley]] and [[Sarkodie (rapper)|Sarkodie]] | writer3 = {{hlist|Ezeh|[[Naira Marley|Azeez Fashola]]|[[Sarkodie (rapper)|Michael Addo]]}} | length3 = 3:15
| title4 = Banger | note4 = featuring [[Asake]] | writer4 = {{hlist|Ezeh|[[Asake|Ahmed Ololade]]}} | length4 = 2:40
| title5 = Motherland | note5 = featuring [[Kida Kudz]] | writer5 = {{hlist|Ezeh|[[Kida Kudz|Olukayode Odesanya]]}} | length5 = 2:48
| title6 = KPK (Ko Por Ke) | note6 = with [[MohBad]] | writer6 = {{hlist|Ezeh|[[MohBad|Ilerioluwa Aloba]]}} | length6 = 3:11
| title7 = Back2Back | note7 = featuring [[Bella Shmurda]] | writer7 = {{hlist|Ezeh|[[Bella Shmurda|Abiola Akinbiyi]]}} | length7 = 2:55
| title8 = Birthday | note8 = featuring [[Bnxn]] and [[Moelogo]] | writer8 = {{hlist|Ezeh|[[Bnxn|Daniel Benson]]|[[Moelogo|Mohammed Animashaun]]}} | length8 = 3:04
| title9 = Booty Bounce | note9 = featuring [[Bad Boy Timz]] and [[Ms Banks]] | writer9 = {{hlist|Ezeh|[[Bad Boy Timz|Olorunyomi Oloruntimilehin]]|[[Ms Banks|Thrya Oji]]}} | length9 = 3:06
| title10 = Hobby | note10 = featuring [[Peruzzi (singer)|Peruzzi]] | writer10 = {{hlist|Ezeh|[[Peruzzi (singer)|Tobechukwu Okoh]]}} | length10 = 2:49
| title11 = Zanku 2.0 | note11 = featuring [[Zlatan (musician)|Zlatan]] | writer11 = {{hlist|Ezeh|[[Zlatan (musician)|Omoniyi Raphael]]}} | length11 = 3:23
| title12 = 40 BTC | note12 = featuring [[Seyi Vibez]] | writer12 = {{hlist|Ezeh|[[Seyi Vibez|Oluwaseyi Balogun]]}} | length12 = 3:27
| title13 = Ginger Me | note13 = featuring Midas the Jagaban and [[Zinoleesky]] | writer13 = {{hlist|Ezeh|Florence Bajomo|[[Zinoleesky|Azeez Oniyide]]}} | length13 = 3:43
| title14 = All | note14 = featuring [[Davido]] | writer14 = {{hlist|Ezeh|[[Davido|David Adeleke]]}} | length14 = 2:36
| title15 = KPK (Ko Por Ke) | note15 = remix; featuring [[Sho Madjozi]] and Mohbad | writer15 = {{hlist|Ezeh|[[Sho Madjozi|Maya Wegerif]]|Aloba}} | length15 = 3:14
| title16 = For You | note16 = featuring [[Lyta]] and Emo Grae | writer16 = {{hlist|Ezeh|[[Lyta|Opeyemi Rahim]]|Opeyemi Edebie}} | length16 = 3:46
| title17 = Champion | note17 = featuring [[T-Classic]] and Blanche Bailly | writer17 = {{hlist|Ezeh|[[T-Classic|Tolulope Ajayi]]|Blanche Bailly}} | length17 = 2:58 }}
==Release history== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- !Region !Date !Format !Version !Label !Ref |- |Various |28 June 2021 |[[Compact disc|CD]], [[Music download|digital download]] |Standard |{{hlist|Hitxlab|Dvpper Music}} |<ref>{{cite web | url=https://music.apple.com/ng/album/a-true-champion/1570404627 | title=''A True Champion'' by Rexxie on Apple Music | website=Apple Music | access-date=8 July 2022}}</ref> |}
==References== {{reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:True Champion, A}} [[Category:2021 debut albums]] [[Category:Albums by Nigerian artists]] [[Category:Albums produced by Rexxie]]