BEHIND THE STITCH: ALANI
June 21, 2024
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Seyi Vibez has once again proven why he remains one of the most compelling figures in Afrobeats, delivering a gripping, high-octane visual experience with the music video for Shaolin. Directed by the iconic TG Omori–marking his triumphant return to music video direction after a health hiatus–the video is a dark, intense spectacle that pulls viewers into a world of power, struggle, and raw energy.
From the very first frame, Shaolin feels like a different breed of music video–gritty, eerie, and utterly immersive. There’s a distinct ojuju Calabar horror vibe, with characters donning full-body white paint that evokes an unsettling yet captivating energy. The entire visual experience feels like a fever dream, transporting you into a dystopian, almost post-apocalyptic setting where strength, survival, and rhythm take center stage.
TG Omori’s signature cinematic brilliance is on full display, combining strikingly bold colors with seamless, dramatic transitions. The camera work is intentional–each movement enhancing the intensity of the video. There’s a thrilling unpredictability in the sequencing; just when you think you’ve seen it all, you’re hit with another jaw-dropping scene. One of the most talked-about moments? A group of four men, in an almost superhuman feat of strength, balancing a whole vehicle on their shoulders. It’s the kind of visual madness that keeps you glued to the screen, wondering what could possibly come next.
Seyi Vibez, in his usual electrifying presence, is the perfect vessel for this kind of chaotic brilliance. His energy in Shaolin is infectious–raw, untamed, and effortlessly commanding. Every frame he appears in reinforces his status as a street king, blending an undeniable stage presence with the thematic grit of the video. Whether he’s leading a charged-up dance sequence, standing firm in eerie solitude, or caught in the depths of moody contemplation, he embodies the essence of the track.
The video’s martial arts-inspired elements add another layer of depth to its storytelling. Hooded figures move like shadow warriors, their presence lending a sense of mystery and heightened tension. There’s a balance between power and grace, chaos and control–an aesthetic that perfectly mirrors the pulsating, high-energy beat of Shaolin. The music itself is built on the emerging hyper-fast-paced Mara sound, and the video amplifies that unrelenting momentum, never slowing down, never giving you a chance to look away.
Given the sheer creativity and audacity of this video, it’s no surprise that many are already calling it the Video of the Year, a bold claim, considering we’re only in the second month of 2025. But it’s hard to argue against it. Shaolin doesn’t just complement the song, it elevates it, intensifies it, and transforms it into something more than just music. It’s an experience, a spectacle, and a statement.
TG Omori and Seyi Vibez didn’t just create a music video; they crafted a visual event, one that will be talked about, analyzed, and revisited for months to come. And if Shaolin is anything to go by, the rest of 2025 has a lot to live up to.
