Desire (The Album) by Iyanya : The MOBs Take.

MOB.

The music fanatic that I am, Iyanya’s album (like countless others) naturally became a must have for me as soon as it was in the market, and who could fault my ‘desire’; the sh*t had spun 3 HIT singles already! So, with great expectations, I took the plunge as soon as I got the opportunity to gratify my anxiety about 2weeks ago. Here is what I found… summarily.

Track 1: Badman ft M.I
A couple minutes into the track and it’s obvious “Badman” is just another song for the haters. Lool! I mean, I thought we agreed to leave that ‘’genre’’ to Timaya. The lyrics are not different from all the other “hater” songs you have heard. There was nothing fresh or exciting. The song didn’t leave room for M.I to be incredible, and he wasn’t.

Track 2: Ekaette ft tekno
Next!

Track 3: Gasegbe
Next!

Track 4: Marry me
Next!

Track 5: Flavour
Nice beat by dtunes. Banger.

Track 6: Limbo
Next please!

Track 7: Whine ft MayD
The way you whine again? Come on... Next!

Track 8: Jombolo ft flavor
LOL! Next!

Track 9: Some more ft yung L
This beat seized my attention from the get-go like a real banger should, creating the perfect chance for inyanya to kill it, but, not on this track. For me, this song started when yung stepped in. big up!

Track 10: Your waist ft emma nyra
We all know this one. Another banger!

Track 11: I gat it
Whew! Much needed break. Honestly, this is the song I have listened to the most and for all the right reasons too. Inyanya came super-correct, from the intro, with a strong vocal performance which he sustained all through the track; and Emma nyra’s backup vocals made it even more heavenly. ‘’think that I’m a player but imma change the game for you’’ now that’s some effort right there. Shout out to Mr. chido by the way, good job.

Track 12: Somebody
Groovy! That’s all

Track 13: Little things
Expectedly, I was really hoping to hear what those’ little things’ are, but brother won’t tell. Iyanya’s storytelling ability on this track was quite underwhelming and his lyrics were strewn with trite words and phrases. I don’t like!

Track 14: Sexy mama ft wizkid
The ONLY problem with this song, to my mind, is a notepad! What…! kiyamosa.. kiyamosa.. kiyamosa.. werewere.. werewere.. werewere.. I’m tired!

Track 15: Kukere
HIT music. Don’t disturb! Please allow me finish my polished etighi steps. Jam!

Track 16: Your man ft vector
Definitely not one of vectors most inspired moments. Again, this is a very weak song by any standard.

Track 17: Drowning
Need I say more? The song title says it all. Thanks to TY mix for trying to save the day.

Track 18: Kukere rmx ft dbanj
My thoughts on this track at the time of listening to this album were no different from my initial thoughts when this remix hit the airwaves. This track was a catastrophic misadventure; considering that kukere (original) was a blistering commercial success already; and Dbanj buttresses my point so eloquently.

Bonus Track: Bust my brain
After listening to 18, mostly frustrating, songs; I think I qualify for a bonus, not a bonus track though. No thanks!

TheMOB’S Take:
“Desire” strikes me like an album that was hastily and lazily put together, without much thought and definitely no pervading guiding theme; even the track titles are so bland and uninspiring. I mean, this is the same guy who cheats death last year by not getting on the ill-fated Dana flight; a talented artiste whose influence in the industry was fast waning until he made an amazing come-back with kukere. Yet he ‘pens’ an outstanding 18-track album plus one bonus track and we hear nothing of his experiences in there; nothing of the man. Where is the underdog story? That’s sad.

Finally, I believe “Desire” is a compendium of mostly fast-food music; yet I refuse to believe that Iyanya is a fast-food music artiste. Please Iyanya, dig deeper next time and give us some of that good ish we know you’ve got. This track you’re on only leads one way: oblivion. Until then, you have our full attention. Long live music… good music.

PS: don't take my word for it.
Cop the album: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/iyanya/id360504820

The WholeSkale Detour: The MOB's Take

                    I write this with so much pain in my heart, but this too had to be said. Few weeks ago, I was somewhere just chilling, away from the ‘notorious’ Lagos heat, when the radio came abuzz. The dial was on Wazobia FM I believe, and my man Skales’ new song (new at the time) was on air; Denge Pose. “What a title!” I thought to myself. It was my first time hearing the song, and to put it VERY MILDLY, I didn’t think highly of the song and consequently tuned out mentally. A couple of minutes later the male OAP’s voice rang out; however, I wasn’t attentive enough to identify who this OAP was; but to my surprise, he starts to chat with Skales, who had apparently been a guest on the show that day, ostensibly to promote his “new works”. Naturally, I now listened in to the chat a bit more attentively. At a point during the chat, in answer to a question about his “new sound” as typified by most of his new music including Denge Pose, Skales said: “you know, we dey try diversify…” at that juncture, I zoned out again; only this time, I never returned to the show. There was no reason to return. I was running a whole gamut of unpleasant emotions concurrently.

First I was mad, then sad, then disappointed, then bitter, then a wave of some other emotions I still cannot capture in words, before I settled for pity. Yes, pity; pity felt like the right one. I felt pity first and foremost for myself for having the misfortune of watching, again, another great music talent tottering on the precipice of oblivion, for lack of proper guidance. Then I felt pity for Skales who must be having a hard time with his music career; (compared to where that nigga was headed, he is struggling) then for
Nigeria that may never enjoy the fullness of the talent that I KNOW resides in Skales; maybe not in that precise order.

Let me take a moment to tell you about the Skales I used to know. I believe i first met him back in 2008; before E.M.E and all that glitz that seem to make people forget where they were headed. The most striking thing I remember about that Skales was that the kid was HUNGRY. He was always cheerful, always willing to work, always on the move and His passion was indomitable.

I was leaving Cubes after my lunch that fateful day in 2009, when I bumped into Skales at the entrance to the restaurant. We caught up for a bit then He told me he had just returned from Jos and that he had with him the joint that will change things. I’m always up for listening to new stuff so I obliged him. Boy!! From the first 30secs I knew “Heading for a Grammy” was a special jam. It had that most special ingredient I look for in an artiste or song; conviction.
Skales wasn’t the first Nigerian act to dream of coping a Grammy, nor indeed the first to let us know of such lofty private fantasies through their music. Indeed, He was the youngest, at the time, of many
to make that now hackneyed claim. However, something in me believed that that young boy who had the presence of mind to compose and perform such a fantastic joint had whatever it would take to make that elusive dream a reality. I was SOLD.

He went on to release the song and performed it across the nation with that same conviction from which the song had sprung out. The radio community loved it (he couldn’t afford Payola.just PURE
LOVE), people were requesting and his buzz shot up. He even went on to win some competition Airtel (ZAIN at the time) & Nigezie put together years back (I hope I remember well). Everyone knew this was different; music for a reason, music from the heart. When E.M.E stepped in, I was genuinely happy for the young man. He deserved it. Good funding, huge industry clout and a young problem like Skales? I thought it was game-over, was I wrong? A video wasn’t even made for this epic work; apparently the label had other radical plans. I think they felt the need to create another Starboy. It would appear that Skales agreed to this plan, after all it guaranteed the “Goodlife.” They broke the golden rule: “if it aint broke don’t fix it.”

The Skales I met at Cubes is very different from the one I now see and hear. That purpose is missing. Also that Skales had just one single, one world class single, “Heading for the Grammy.” I mean, the title alone says it all, doesn’t it. Yet, beyond that title, the song itself described a vision; a herculean mission even, but the voice of the artiste, though young, was as convincing as it was purposeful. At least, I believed it. On the contrary, the Skales I hear today has over 20 singles! You read correctly, 20 singles! With titles like Komole My baby, Wetin I want, Enter the action, Mukulu, Take care, Denge pose and so on (I do have a list of 22 but lets save time). I don’t know if its just me but, I hear no vision, no mission,
no DIRECTION, no passion, and certainly no conviction.

Hey, Lets park for a second. Of course you expect an artiste gifted like Skales to have had plenty materials over time. My problem with this is that some of those songs should have come in a single project (Mixtape. EP, album whatever) It’s toooo much as independent records (singles). It’s not a good look. So does it mean he stylishly dumped his album on us in bits? If that’s the case you know what it means. It didn’t “sell”.

Unfortunately, the above picture is a recurrent decimal in the Nigerian music scene, indeed globally too. Every now and then we find a great artiste emerge from the lonely valleys of anonymity to the great heights of international stardom, buoyed solely by the strength and character of their music, only for them to get to the top and then “diversify.” The underlying logic behind this thought pattern, I would never be able to understand, never. I mean the logic that says; “what takes you to the top is unable to keep you at the top, so diversify when you get to the top.” Logic doesn’t get any illogical than this. I mean, who flies an airplane into the sky on aviation fuel and decides to maintain its altitude with PMS? This shit beats me all the time.

Don’t alter the formula. Improve on it. A lot of great musicians have suffered and are still suffering for this mistake.
It had to be said. Peace!
MOB.

Words Arent Just Enough (The Album) by Waje: The MOB's Take

             

                 Quite predictably, I had very high expectations of Waje’s self-titled debut album before I gave it a listen. The bases for my optimism aren’t a mystery by any stretch of the imagination. First, Waje is one of those acts that have truly paid their dues as underground artistes in the industry and I believe she is maturing gracefully like fine wine. Also, Waje has a “twin sister” in the industry that released her sophomore album earlier to great reviews, so I naturally expected nothing less than a certain QUALITY of MUSIC. Finally, I actually do believe Waje can sing! So, did Waje disappoint me? Let’s find out.

Oko mi (Del-B)

This is a good song, though not particularly striking for me. Lovely beat by Del B.

Onye ft Tiwa Savage (Spellz)

This is a very good song no doubt; but I would rather that both of them did something more carefully arranged, more vocally demanding and dramatic like a back and forth thing on a song. This song sounds like one of those "we really should do something together" sort of songs. I'm just saying that it fell short of my ‘inordinate’ expectations of such a rich collaboration between two talented artistes. It’s a good song still.

Ijeoma (E-kelly)

I LOVE THIS SONG!!!! This song right here is a morning prayer to your God saying "it shall be well with me and anywhere I step my foot shall be blessed." I like the energy and positivity this song evokes. My ibo soul can't help but be touched by this one. This is indeed a beautiful song.

Fine girl

Yes I rolled my eyes when I first saw this title. I sorta already knew what this song will be about. It's always expected for a diva to get all "girl power" and "ms independent/survivor" on her album, but this is a nicely written one. Towards the end of this song Waje bites a little from lynxxx's Fine Lady song and I loved it. That being said, can the real fine girls please stand up?

Grind Ft BurnaBoy (leriq)

This is definitely one of my best songs off this album. This right here is a collabo that WORKS. Leriq came through with intention and precision on the beat. This song keeps reminding me of the first time I heard BurnaBoy's "firewood" joint; I knew instantly it was only a matter of time before the kid blew up. This is one song I would love to see a video for. Shout out to Waje and the Aristokrat family for this one.

Time na money (Sizzle Pro)

This one goes out to all the time wasters. This track is written and produced by Sizzle Pro, and he was given credit for it, now that’s what I’m talking about! I think Waje did justice to the song with her mesmerizing vocals as expected. Good job.

I wish (Pappy Jay)
Just thinking of what to write about this song drives me mad with excitement. I am in love with this song. This is a beautifully written song coming from a sincere place. This song is a total package; it has simple but profound lyrics, emotion-laden delivery (not overdone), and a beat that is in agreement with the song and the spirit of the song. Shout out to pappy jay for this unassuming masterpiece.

No be you (cobhams)

Waje is in her “Mariah Carey mode” on this song and it is absolutely breath-taking. This is the “goose bump evoking” track of this album. I'm not so hyped about some of the lyrics of the song, but if you love to hear a great singer really sing her heart out, then you will love this one.

Higher (Cobhams)

This song comes with a strong message and a stern delivery to drive it; awesome arrangement too. This song really starts rocking from the bridge for me. Good one.

Black & White Ft Eva and Phyno (e-Kelly)

This is my BEST SONG on the album. I fear I’m not able to sit through a live performance of this song without passing out. See how Eva addresses her brief stint with Trybe records amongst other things. Please feel free to call this an ex-manager's bias but that girl got steel and skill for days. Phyno shows us another side; brilliant flow. Commercially, it might not be the brightest of ideas to make a video for this song but I believe it will be a refreshing one for TV. This is my personal jam! Ekelly...... Daalu!

Only you Ft M.I (Produced by M.i)

Wait! Isn't that Gtom's voice I hear on this intro? Anyways, this is yet another ”chicken soup for the soul" music from M.i's kitchen. I like this one. These two have amazingly seamless studio chemistry. Yeah I know, I’m Captain Obvious.

Na the way RMX ft Sarkodie & Jmartins

Sarkodie..... Sigh. Why is he blowing hot and cold on this song? I heard the original version of this song months ago and I loved it. Sweet music. This is a very Important song on this album. Wedding things :D

This is also where the album ends for me. Save 8 minutes and make it a 12 track album. Perfect!!

The Mob's Summary:

Words Arent Just Enough. just one line that tells you the album title and name of the act. this might seem simple but it was the first thing I loved about the CD. somebody somewhere is thinking. this album helps me to appreciate even more, the effort these female acts put in to stay afloat in the business.


Album art? that was love at first sight for me. it stood out beautifully on the shelf.photography, colour theme and simplicity of the design all on point. while I might not have given a passmark to all the songs on the album, one resounding element I hear in every song is the voice of a woman singing for her life. I hear a woman singing from her heart like its all she has got. i hear a diva that will be here for a long time. this album makes you a believer of the Waje gospel.

I don't think this album packs a lot of that debut album fire but for a "long time coming" album, the project packs a great deal of effort and thought, it makes the wait worth it. some features on this album I don't quite agree with (Tiwa and Sarkodie) but I love the modest line up. it leaves room for Waje's subsequent albums to have grander and richer features. that is how a long-term artiste thinks.


Act now!! Cop this album because indeed, Words. Arent. Just. Enough.
https://itunes.apple.com/ng/album/w.a.j.e-words-arent-just-enough/id641003806

Once Upon A Time (The Album) by Tiwa Savage: The MOB's Take

             

            I grabbed a copy as quickly as I came across one. Anyone who has been paying attention to my idle rants must know that I have mad love and respect for Tiwa Savage. However, I became, not uncommonly, apprehensive after I discovered the album had a whopping 21 tracks!!! Nonetheless, as I slotted it into the player, I was fairly certain it would be a journey worth the 150 naira fare at least. So was it worth it? I’ll let you be the judge of that for yourself. Meanwhile, here are the songs that stood out for me; they are also the ones that are closer to fitting into the "Once Upon A Time" album title.

Track 2. Wanted (Tiffany Fred & Warren "OAK" Felder)


After the unnecessary Track1, it was refreshing to ease into this song. The sample (Welcome To Jamrock) is a killer. Tiwa skillfully drags us into the world of a fugitive and back with her meticulously laid vocals. This song propped up my hopes and helped me win Tiwa some new converts. I love this jam, but the song that comes after, ileke, is a spoiler.

Track 5. Olorun Mi (Sauce Wilson)


This is indeed an emotion-laden song that almost moved me to tears. Tiwa just has the apt words to create whatever feel she so desires, or so it appears. This song is for the ones we have lost; it just makes you start to miss someone. I could listen to the bass line of this song as a separate track all day. I LOVE IT!!! Shout out to Sauce Wilson.

Track 8. Love Me, Love Me, Love Me (Richard King & Harmony Samuels)


This was a brilliant follow up to Kele Kele Love. This song sealed Tiwa's place in the business. I fell in love with it from the first listen. I mean, with the brilliant production and Tiwa’s perfect delivery, I couldn't be more convinced that the girl had it. The most interesting thing about this song for me is the songwriting. It’s amazing how Tiwa is able to tell her story and paint a beautiful portrait in our head with remarkably simple rhymes. Her professional touch on this song is undeniable. Lovely!

Track 12. Shout Out Ft Iceberg Slim & Sarkodie (Spellz)


Is it my ears or this beat actually sounds like a byproduct of Banky's Good Good Loving? Well, this is a nice and easy song, laidback party joint cooked up by Spellz (aha! He made the Banky song too). This is something in the mold of Beyonce's PARTY ft J.cole. Iceberg slim came through with the right type of flow for this song but I couldn’t help wondering: so this is the same guy that wanted to battle M.I? *insert sigh here*. Honestly, I don't get what Sarkodie was doing or saying on this track. Tiwa was lovely and I just wish Pepsi would make a bright and happy video for this song. It's refreshing!


Track 13.  Written All Over Your Face (Tiffany Fred $ Warren "OAK" Felder)


This is an excellent production and a masterfully executed sexual and sensual song. The song writing and arrangement of this song is flawless, and Tiwa is much at ease working it. In fact, ladies and gentlemen, this is officially my best track off this album because of the many things I could do with this song. First, I want to watch Tiwa perform this song with a mic stand, rocking a black dress, and standing on an unassuming stage with a dark-bluish background at The Staples Centre. Sheer bliss! Also, I want to have lil wayne on the remix of this song, preferably at the start, make a superlative video, upload strategically on Youtube and take over the world.  And talking about Youtube, I expect to see a lot of covers for this song; ladies you better take advantage.

Track 14. Get Low (Sauce Wilson)


You see, I don't know if Tiwa Savage is a better "singer" than the other girls but I sure know she is the more PROFESSIONAL RECORDING female artiste of the bunch. Can you hear Tiwa's back ups? Her delivery on this song makes me want to kiss her through my speakers. This diva knows a lot of tricks about the art of singing and recording. This song is about how her man treats her right and caters to her needs, but tonight, it’s payback time and he's going to get it!! This song makes you envy her man... Lol! When you here lines like: "You always put me on a pedestal…" you know this woman just has the right words. I'm in love with this song. Everything is on the mark.

Track 19. Thank You (Don Jazzy $ Altims)


The fact that the drummers were starting to have too much fun ripping the drums apart wasn't enough to ruin this track for me. I liked this song from the first 10 seconds. Don Jazzy $ Altims provide a very melodious highlife tune for Tiwa to praise God with. I honestly don't get the noisy drums though, great song still.

Track 20. Without My Heart Ft Don Jazzy (Tiffany Fred, Warren "OAK" Felder)


My best Don Jazzy collaboration yet; the Don delivered a champagne performance on this one. The song actually feels like a real collabo, notice Tiwa's lyrics again, simple and classy. I LOVE THIS SONG.

Track 21. Kele Kele (Harmony Samuels)


Away from hype and the other things people like to believe, this song is a huge part of the reason Tiwa Savage is where she is today. Kele Kele love is a truly amazing song. Great beat, great lyrics, great singer (track3 - ILEKE couldn't have done this for her). There couldn't have been a better way to introduce this amazing songstress to us.






The Mob’s Summary


This album is titled Once Upon A Time, so, who would blame me for being expectant? Isn't a story supposed to come after that phrase? Well, perhaps not. However, I think the tracks are poorly arranged and the sound just keeps changing, giving the album a rather cluttered feel. I hear 9 awesome songs hanging with 12 others (some of them great songs) that had no business being on this project. Also, I hear a lot of "diversifying" on this project, a lot of formula altering too. For example, Folarin isn't a bad song; in fact, it has more effort than a standard Nigerian "Afro beat" (LOL!) club song will require, yet, this song doesn't cut it for me because I was hoping to hear Tiwa Savage on the track but I did not. That song is a deliberate attempt to make "what will sell" music. It got me wondering: did the Kele Kele love and Love me, Love me, Love me style and standard not work? Sure it did; so why is she "diversifying" and altering the formula already? Why is she downgrading to impress people who already love her to death? I don’t get it. Meanwhile, if this song represents wande coal's music mindset at the moment, then someone needs to press the “reset” button as he co-wrote the song.



Finally, I feel like Tiwa's best songs on this project are the ones with Tiffany Fred, Warren "OAK" Felden, Sauce Wilson and Harmony Samuels. So why did she not proceed to finish the album with them? They seem to know how to create the right ambience for Tiwa to create and shine. I am of the opinion that if this album had comprised the 9 tracks I talked about only, it would have been a very strong contender for album of the year anywhere on the globe. Wholly, this album leaves much to be desired.



NOTE: This summary takes nothing away from the brilliance of the above highlighted tracks; so you’ll be doing yourself a world of favour by copping this album.


https://itunes.apple.com/ng/album/once-upon-a-time/id669699449