Allen: Up-and-coming iLoveMakonnen on the verge of breaking into mainstream scene

Makonnen Sheran, better known as the artist iLoveMakonnen, makes poppy music, but from the viewpoint of the streets like a modern-day Curtis Mayfeild. That mixture of musical elements is ever-so-relevant in his self-titled iLoveMakonnen EP.

Makonnen is not a rapper, but rather a Contemporary R&B singer similar to that of The-Dream’s Billboard hit “Shawty is a 10.” iLoveMakonnen’s singing style is slow and the way he rhymes his lyrics would make one think of him as an emcee.

The song “I Don’t Sell Molly No More” resembles the street background of Sheran’s life. It sounds like a conversation Makonnen Sheran has between a buyer and himself with lyrics like “I got the gas and the coke/I don’t sell molly no more.”

iLoveMakonnen does a great job mixing in those few hit-seeking tracks that could turn him into a pop star.

“Club Goin’ Up on a Tuesday” is one of those hit-seekers. The song is like any other modern-day pop song, with a catchy beat. The club goes crazy for the musician whenever his or her song plays and in this case, it is Sheran’s.

Sheran also does the world a favor by writing some songs that revolve around the word of love and highlights his love interests.

This type of song writing makes an appearance in the sixth track of the album entitled, “Sarah.”

If a person looks through musical history, a majority of love songs are centered around a girl named Sarah. Rather than doing a cover of another song, Sheran creates his own Sarah.

He doesn’t get too far off the “Sarah train tracks” with lyrics like “You know you was my favorite girl/I always think about you girl/I wonder where you are in this world.”

iLoveMakonnen’s chance of fame is close to happening.

He has been featured on songs like Trinidad James’ “H.O.M.E.” and Rome Fortune’s song, “Friends Maybe.”

The iLoveMakonnen EP should catapult him farther into the mainstream’s eye.