There are a lot of artists who have embrace the bright, romantic R&B side of Afrobeats, but one artist who’s mastered the dark, depressive end of that spectrum happens to be Llona. First making a striking impression with “Comforter” in 2022, the singer showed he had all the equipment—his malleable voice and emphatic delivery—to make a grief-stricken song that sounded satisfying at the same time. That melancholic sound rings through his follow-up releases. “Hbp” is lighthearted and its remix, which adds Nigerian popstar Bella Shmurda, sees the two revel in lessons about defiance amidst life’s sour occasions. Amidst the chaos he’s powering through, the Homeless begins on a solemn note. Floating over the gentle, atmospheric synths of “Still Scared”, Llona lets flash a snapshot of his fears but quickly turns them into fuel for confidence. There’s some thudding energy atop resounding percussion on “Can't Breathe”, while the high-octane “Another Day” features glimpses of his raw, intense delivery. Across the album’s 12 songs, Llona sings like he’s haunted by memories he wants to discard, and he’s found a formula to overload every track with wounded emotions. With its soft layers of vocal harmonies and earwormy, nostalgic ’80s R&B, “Stranger” finds Llona finally closing the lid on a collapsed romance. Shepherded by plush production and an unmissable standout hook, Llona sheds the woeful introspection on the ecstatic “Forgive Me”. Replete with emotionally transparent songwriting, Homeless is a promising debut that functions as a showcase for a vulnerable artist who’s found solace in his sound signature.