Seven tracks, under 15 minutes, all of it written and produced by one man. Nigerian-American artist Mannywellz just released his new EP ‘Small Chops’ via Vydia, and the whole thing moves with the ease of someone fully in command of his sound. Listen here.
The project blends R&B and soul while digging into love, vulnerability, and emotional connection. Mannywellz handled every piece of it himself, the writing and the production both, and the result feels intimate and complete despite its short runtime.
He named it after the popular Nigerian appetizer assortment, and the concept holds. ‘Small Chops’ works as a sonic starter ahead of his forthcoming full-length album. This is the final EP in this chapter of his journey, a taste of what comes next.
The EP brings in fellow Nigerian artists Wale and Lekan, and it traces romance through its many stages, from infatuation and desire through reflection and longing. Mannywellz fuses soulful songwriting with rich production and cross-cultural storytelling, and the songs glow with feeling and craft.
The release builds on real momentum. His recent visual for “How It Feels” featuring Wale crossed one million views in just two weeks. His 2025 single “Holy Father” started sketching the sonic world that became ‘Small Chops.’
There’s a deeper story here too. Mannywellz is a DACA recipient who moved from Nigeria to the United States at age nine, and he’s woven that immigration journey into his art. He advocates for Dreamers and fellow undocumented immigrants, and he contributed to the Grammy Award-winning ‘American Dreamers: Voices of Hope, Music of Freedom.’
The numbers back the buzz. A spot on BET’s Next Up, a placement on Billboard’s U.S. Afrobeats Top 100, and more than 100 million streams worldwide. His collaborators include Tems, Pink Sweat$, Odeal and Eric Bellinger, and his work has landed in Complex, The FADER and Rolling Stone.
Track List:
“Do You”
“How It Feels” feat. Wale
“Holy Father”
“You Are From God”
“Cry On You”
“Zeze”
“Wow”
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