Options
by NSG (featuring Tion Wayne)

Album: Roots (2019)
Charted: 7
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • NSG is an East London collective comprising Kruddz, Mxjib, Mojo, OGD, Dope and Papii Abz. Five of the six went to the Arts & Media School Islington, with Mojo joining later. The NSG members are of either Ghanaian or Nigerian descent and their music is a blend of British, African and American influences.
  • This entrepreneurial anthem finds the group declaring their intentions to make a million. A general 9-5 job is not an option. Instead they make their money online through hard grind.
  • The song features Dennis Junior Odunwo, aka Tion Wayne, who delivers a cold verse midway through about his work ethic.

    Tion Wayne spent 16 months in jail for his involvement in a brawl outside a nightclub in Clifton, Bristol. He recorded his verse on the day of his release. Mxjib recalled to Apple Music: "The first day Tion came out of prison, we had a meeting with our lawyer and we saw him there at the office. It was literally a couple of hours after he came out and he told us he was down to link up and make a banger, and we left it at that."
  • The song was produced by AE5, who was the executive producer behind J Hus' debut album, Common Sense. AE5 has helmed much of NSG's catalogue to date, including four of the nine tracks from their debut LP Grown Up.
  • The song was NSG's second UK singles hit following their collaboration with Geko, "6.30," which peaked at #56 in 2018. "Options" represented Tion Wayne's debut visit to the UK singles chart.
  • The "Options" dance helped the song gather momentum. Said Papii Abz: "We dropped 'Options' in November, and then around December and January, the holiday period, we had families doing the 'Options' dance. We had mums and aunties, from all over the world. Loads of videos going round and getting the numbers. It was sensational times."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Album Cover Inspirations

Album Cover InspirationsSong Writing

Some album art was at least "inspired" by others. A look at some very similar covers.

Chris Robinson of The Black Crowes

Chris Robinson of The Black CrowesSongwriter Interviews

"Great songwriters don't necessarily have hit songs," says Chris. He's written a bunch, but his fans are more interested in the intricate jams.

Gavin Rossdale On Lyric Inspirations and Bush's Album The Kingdom

Gavin Rossdale On Lyric Inspirations and Bush's Album The KingdomSongwriter Interviews

The Bush frontman on where he finds inspiration for lyrics, if his "machine head" is a guitar tuner, and the stories behind songs from the album The Kingdom.

Art Alexakis of Everclear

Art Alexakis of EverclearSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer of Everclear, Art is also their primary songwriter.

We Will Rock You (To Sleep): Pop Stars Who Recorded Kids' Albums

We Will Rock You (To Sleep): Pop Stars Who Recorded Kids' AlbumsSong Writing

With the rise of Kindie rock, more musicians are embracing their inner child with tunes for tots - here, we look at pop stars who recorded kids' albums.

Joe Ely

Joe ElySongwriter Interviews

The renown Texas songwriter has been at it for 40 years, with tales to tell about The Flatlanders and The Clash - that's Joe's Tex-Mex on "Should I Stay or Should I Go?"