WANDE COAL – MUSHIN 2 MOHITS

Naija’s Listening E.A.R. (Essential Album Rating)
A strong review of Naija albums
06/06/2009 Oyebowale ‘oyeakd’ Akideinde

GENRE: R n B
LABEL: Mo’ Hits Records
Year of release: 2009

1. I Know U Like It
2. You Bad ft D’banj
3. Se Na Like Dis
4. Kiss Your Hands ft Ikechukwu
5. Confused ft D’banj
6. Se Ope
7. Now It’s all gone ft D’Prince
8. Bumper to Bumper
9. Who born the maga ft K-Switch
10. That’s wots up
11. Bananas ft Dr Sid
12. Taboo
13. Jehovah

Bonus Tracks
14. Ololufe
15. Ten Ten ft Mo’ Hits All Stars
16. My Grind ft Mo’ Hits All Stars

His ‘angelic’ vocals have blessed hooks for D’banj, Naeto C, Ikechukwu & of course the Mo’ Hits All Stars’ Curriculum Vitae album (the biggest benefactor from his soulful singing). Yes it’s the Blackest Of Them All from the Mo’ Hits Crew – Wande Ojosipe (uh?? Did u really think his surname was Coal). In 2007, we heard our first Wande Coal song, ‘Ololufe’, a powerful & soulful love song. The whole Naija community realised that this former Choir Boy was ready to be the next big thing in Naija’s R n B. 3 years on after being signed to Mo’ Hits in 2006, a debut album finally surfaced. Make you follow me review W Ceezy’s MUSHIN 2 MO HITS.

The opener “I Know U Like It” throws us off a little from what to expect from this album. The beats are nice sounding like Naija meets UK Garage but the actual song doesn’t show off his vocals and it makes him kind of laid back riding out Don Jazzy’s rhythmic beats. It leads into “You Bad” a club jam for the DJs’ playlists. It’s a true Hiphop track made for the ‘Lepas’ & ‘Orobos’ with its catchy hook “C this lepa, lepa to bad o / orobo, orobo to Bad o”. The track features an almost invisible D’Banj who gets fully draped by Wande on this track (well done WC, it’s a feat most people don’t accomplish). With a lot of average lyrics, there is a memorable 1st verse – “U be hunter, u continue hunting/ and dats 1 thing will lead to 1 thing/ and dat 1thing will lead to something/omo I dey gbadun how u no dey fronting/straight to the point, u no get time 4 long thing” which showcases his versatility. “Se Na Like This”, the next track comes as a bit of a surprise as it sways off the game-plan into a clear narrative message of the present situation in Nigeria and the hopeful future. A Kid’s voice gets smacked on, which becomes that little conscience which keeps knocking on our souls.

Then the gem of a track, “Kiss Your Hands” which features IkeCHUKWU. It’s Wande ‘falsetto MJ’ Coal on Don Baba J’s finest work on the album. The track makes you wanna ‘moon-walk’ again. Ikechukwu spits some bars which unfortunately get swallowed in the instrumentals giving you 2nd thoughts if this track was fully mastered. All in all, the track is a collector’s mp3 item.

“Confused”, a filler track is an upbeat track with a 90’s feel and the Standard D’Banj verse. Then it’s back to the playground with my favourite track “Se Ope”, a simple track that shows Wande’s versatility once again & Don Jazzy’s ability to transform a child’s sing-along song into an awesome track. It touches on how you should praise God for what you have been blessed with, nothing is too small. “Some can sing but have no beats, some have beats but cannot sing, WC can sing & has Don Jazzy’s beats”. Then comes the disappointing Jagged Edge-inspired “Now It’s All Gone” track with D’Prince’s average verse.

“Bumper 2 Bumper” is your typical Club Anthem & is a certified banger among the radio stations’ countdowns. The switch to Juju beats during the song is pure genius (Take a bow Don ‘Timbaland’ Jazzy). “Who Born the Maga”, I personally like because it showcases a re-invented K-Switch (On CV, he was rapping) with a Jamo-flow. Imagine him & Pype on the same track.

“That’s Wots Up” is a nice song with a good hook that grows on you. “Taboo” is another Club Anthem and has been in rotation since last year and we just love seeing ladies dancing ‘Alanta’ to the vibrating beats with the ‘Kileyi! Ileke’ catchy hook. On “Jehovah”, we have a very well thought out track that gives Thanks to God. It is a beautiful Piece; just try listening to it in traffic on your way to work to fully appreciate the track.

With 13 + 3 Bonus tracks, Naija’s new falsetto King (YES! someone finally takes the crown off Dizzy K Falola) pushes Naija RnB to new abstract heights thanks to Don ‘Na who do the beat’ Jazzy. With so many praises heaped on Don Baba Jay, I started thinking that the album ought to have been called ‘Thank You Don Jazzy’.

But can you really blame Wande Coal, Don Jazzy comes through again as he has done on his previous works …but this time fusing modern hiphop beats with ‘Ijinle’ (Motherland) rhythms allowing WC to switch between languages without the listener even realising it.

Outstanding Tracks: Se Ope, U Bad, Kiss Your Hands, Bumper 2 Bumper, Jehovah, Ten Ten
Disappointing Tracks: Bananas, Now It’s All Gone, I Know U Like It

VOCAL DROPS Rating System
VERSATILITY: 8/10 (Falsetto magic)
OPINION (Personal): 7/10
CREATIVITY: 7/10
ACCEPTANCE: 7/10
LYRICS: 7/10
DELIVERY: 8/10
RHYTHM: 8/10
ORIGINALITY: 8/10
PRODUCTION: 9/10
SKIP FACTOR: 8/10

THE VERDICT: 7.7/10
With a much anticipated album, Wande & Don Jazzy create the perfect ‘safe’ chemistry for another successful Mo’ Hits album. Though some pieces of this album have been influenced by International Artists (uh, MJ), WC displays energy and versatility lacking in Naija’s music industry. Lyrically, it doesn’t deliver as expected but it’s a strong debut album that is way better than what is out there. Let’s hope it kick-starts WC’s promising Career and we look forward to a more creative and lyrical masterpiece from him.

Wande Coal represents the Great African R n B Hope and with more work + Don Jazzy’s production, he should become World Renowned.

This album MAKES THE iPOD.

MY M.I. ALBUM REVIEW GETS PUBLISHED IN THE NIGERIAN TRIBUNE

At last my work gets noticed. Yesterday, my review on M.I.'s album got published in the Nigerian Tribune (well it's a start). Watch out for reviews coming your way

BTW Thanks Efe ...I owe you big

MI – TALK ABOUT IT
Naija’s Listening E.A.R. (Essential Album Rating)
A strong review of Naija albums
25/05/2009 Oyebowale ‘oyeakd’ Akideinde


GENRE: Hip Hop
LABEL: Chocolate City
Year of release: 2008
1. An Outrageous Intro (skit ft The President)
2. Anoti ft Gabriel
3. L Boogie Intro (skit)
4. Short Black Boy
5. Teaser ft Pype
6. Talk about It ft Leony
7. Safe ft Djinee
8. Random Guy Buying (skit)
9. Blaze ft Jesse Jags, Ice Prince & Blaise
10. Area ft YQ
11. Fast Money Fast Cars ft Wizkid
12. A Short Discussion (skit)
13. Money
14. Forever
15. Jehovah ft Eben & Lindsey
16. Hustle
17. Thank You’s & Ova Ish (skit)
18. Crowd Mentality



The Album is called TALK ABOUT IT so let’s talk about this 13 track scorcher which includes 5 unforgettable skits that this lyrical & very versatile short black boy who lives in Jos, Plateau State delivers along with his brother Jesse Jags (let’s not forget now, Kraft also produces a track)

The Naija Hip-hop scene was getting stale with the same old ‘bum shaking’ & ‘dollar making’ tracks. Along came an artist like no other willing to change the game; very versatile …we 1st heard him on his single – Crowd Mentality from his 1st album – Pyeri Boy (Yes boss, this is his sophomore album) sounding like a revolutionary ready to shake up Naija’s Hip-Hop scene. We waited patiently for him and he didn’t disappoint with his much anticipated album.
Jude Abaga better known as ‘M.I. (Mr Incredible)’ turns the game upside down; not your typical Naija emcee, MI is a true story teller with an effortless laid back flow, smart delivery, punch-lines and crazy rhymes.

After his brief skit with Mr President asking if ‘we go feel am’, M.I. explodes into the hard beat-driven “Anoti”. This UNBEATABLE track goes hard from the moment the beats drop, introducing himself before he spits bars with the opening lines “They call me MI with a brand new jam/brand new song/brand new feeling I can’t go wrong/It’s the incredible Mr/fast & fury coming thru your transistor/Saw this sista…” and proceeds to deliver the rhymes in a manner that is unparalleled in Naija Hip Hop today. His style shifts and changes on the drop of a dime and he works his breath control effortlessly "I got the magic static/I got the chrome automatic/so systematic/you ready/for this so melodic/neurotic/chronic/so supersonic/bionic/u could get on it ". He doesn’t slow up after “Anoti”; instead he proceeds to accelerate his craft on each and every track. He lays it all on the line on “Short Black Boy” that’s laced with a soft bumping beat which allows you to hear delivery after delivery of his lyrical depth; combines effortlessly with Pype on the ragga infused “Teaser” to spit more venom “Hello mamacita/You’re a sexy chicka/I’m a gal teaser/so babe let me please ya” and takes it home on “Talk about it” where he talks about the ish, crows about our Government along with Leony.

He then decides to integrate all the current Naija hits into one head-nodding “Safe” where Djinee practically laces on his melodious voice to make this track an instant classic; drops Party tracks for the DJs “Area” ft YQ and “Fast Cars” ft Wizkid. With an album this good, he can’t but give thanks to his Creator in the sweet sounding “Jehovah” which features Eben & Lindsey

Talk about It would probably take forever to discuss each track (even the skits are good), what is even more astonishing is that I didn’t skip a single track. With a wide range of featured artists (The popular Djinee & YQ to the less known Pype & Ice Prince) who don’t crowd the album but rather complement the album giving the tracks they are on, special tune-ups. MI uses his creative genius to take us on a journey of narration only found amongst the US artists (Slick Rick, Jay Z, Biggie, Nas, Rakim & Mos Def). Mad props to him; never thought I would be comparing a Nigerian artist to my fave emcees.

And what would a lyrical emcee be without the perfect production? MI, his brother - Jesse and the Executive Producer – Audu Maikori are able to create a sound haven in Chocolate City that captures the essence of MI’s being without the use of big-name producers for sure shot hits (with the exception of the Kraft-assisted “Fast Money Fast cars”). It’s a “risk” to create an album with this much anticipation without the big names, but the producers do much more than just hold their own as they support this short black boy’s style extraordinarily well.

Outstanding Tracks: Anoti, Area, Teaser, Hustle, Safe, Short Black Boy
Disappointing Tracks: None



VOCAL DROPS Rating System
VERSATILITY: 9/10
OPINION (Personal): 9/10
CREATIVITY: 8/10
ACCEPTANCE: 5/10 (unfortunately only about 30% of the Nigerian Population is into Hip-Hop but I expect about 20% or more to be converted once they listen to this album)
LYRICS: 9/10
DELIVERY: 10/10
RHYTHM: 9/10
ORIGINALITY: 9/10
PRODUCTION: 7/10
SKIP FACTOR: 10/10



THE VERDICT: 8.5/10
MI isn’t ahead of his time, it’s what the Game’s been yearning - the day that someone will take Naija Hip Hop upon their shoulders and heave it into the next level, fear not because the future is here and he comes in the form of Jude Abaga known to us as M।I.

This album is an instant CLASSIC. Only sore point is the CD Jacket which is just like the rest of Naija Jackets …Cheap & Tacky. Guess he decided to play safe with that one.