So my man ODC (aka CJ Stevens) from back in my rhyme slinging days in the university had been on my case about this new artist he’s now managing called Suranu. I’d heard…in fact still have on my laptop a track he’d done with the dude before and in my present recovery mode…not going anywhere fast I downloaded the album and gave it a listen.

It’s a mixtape, the second in 3 years by Suranu, who this time is being motivated by Erving Ejango, his alter ego. No doubt about it the kid can rhyme flawlessly. And with a tight supporting cast of managers and producers the Life + Times Of Ervin Ejango is a decent effort. A brief bio on Suranu can be found “here”.

Favourite tracks: From the mixtape the tracks “Charlie What Da Happen” featuring Maytronomy and Jesse Jagz and “Oversabi Girls” are being heavily promoted. But personally the tracks suiting my taste which are all round complete and are constantly on repeat on my present playlist are “Here We Go Again” featuring Charlie X, “Not Good Enough” featuring or sampling Ellie Goulding’s cover of a song called “Heartbeats” and “Angels” featuring or sampling Lissie’s “Everywhere I Go”.

“Here We Go Again” is a tight jam reflecting on a painful break up and promising to turn a new leaf to restart a relationship. With an excellent chorus Charlie X co-stars to murder the beat. “Angels” literally takes you to heaven and back in a hip hop Adele-like chant chariot, while “Not Good Enough” acknowledges one’s inadequacies but resolve to strive on a soft rock meets hip hop background.

Rating: My rating for the album on a scale of 5 is 3.5

Album Details

Original Release Date: October 2012

Genres: Hip hop

Production: Charles "Charlie X" Ita, Emmanuel "Ekelly" Nwosu and Makan "Sizzle Pro" King David

Track list:
1. Intro
2. Here We Go Again ft. Charlie X
3. Still I Raise ft. Maya Angelou
4. Misunderstood
5. No Solution by Yemi Alade
6. Unconsolable ft. Zee
7. Oversabi Girls
8. Love Me x 3 [Tiwa Savage Cover] by Danny Gomez
9. Awa Ni ft. Minus2
10. Innocent
11. Catharsis
12. Going Down ft. Charlie X
13. Not Good Enough ft. Elli Goulding
14. Zambuluwai ft. Rexx
15. State Of Mind
16. Raw ft. Butta
17. Time ft. ODC, Mr Hudson
18. Little Brother
19. Push ft. Rexx, Sean Stan
20. Angels ft. Lissie
21. Charlie What Da Happen ft. Maytronomy, Jesse Jagz

Links: Download the full album here: http://www.hulkshare.com/bcdswswxmk8w

Sample:

Listen to “Here We Go Again” featuring Charlie X

Listen to “Not Good Enough” featuring Ellie Goulding

Listen to “Angels” featuring Lissie

On December 30th I updated my Facebook profile thus: “A tale of two over hyped sophomores: Asa’s “beautiful imperfection” and M.I.’s “MI2”. Just bought the former/proceeding to play for what should be an uncountable number/… (Of times)”. Sadly it wasn’t to be.

Asa returns three years after an outstanding debut with an album that in my opinion has very few real beauties and by her standard a lot of imperfections. As they say repeating a great feat is never easy.

Some of the changes responsible for this include the production. On her debut “asha”, her chemistry with her erstwhile producer Cobhams Asuquo was orgasmic. Till this day “Jailer”, "360", "Bibanke", "Subway", "Fire on the Mountain" and "No One Knows" are still on heavy rotation on my playlist. Benjamin Constant stepping up to be sole producer on this LP just didn’t do it for me.

I kind of get the feeling her artistic direction and style was directed at being more western mainstream like; exemplified by the lead single “be my man”. There’s also a slight rock feel to some of the songs. Well when a foreign label takes on a Nigerian act for this length of time I guess it’s sooner or later expected.

Despite making a string of guest appearances on other Nigerian artist songs in the past few years she kept to her no guest appearances/features stance on BI (beautiful imperfection), to belt out in over 40 minutes the kind of album a lot of people might not be big on but will still go ahead and play in the office to kill the dead of silence and appear like some mature minded music listener.

The songs not being overtly Naija themed like in asha I like to feel this album lost the local touch or identity. Despite hardly understanding much of the Yoruba when it was used particularly in “bimpe” I still stand by this opinion. Perhaps one of the things that does really tickle my fancy in BI is the album sleeve art work. Simplistically really cool and for an admirer of natural hair wearing chicks I couldn’t but be impressed.

Favourite tracks:
You’ll have to listen to this album yourself to form your own opinions being that I’ve not made much of an effort to dissect the songs individually but an opinion I can make for you is that “may be” and “baby gone” are the absolute stand out tracks of BI. “May be” is melodiously socially conscious while “baby gone” is a heartfelt ballad about lost love.

Rating: My rating for the album on a scale of 5 is 2.5

Album Details

Original Release Date: October 25, 2010

Genres: Soul, jazz

Label: Naive

Production: Benjamin Constant

Track list:
1. Why Can’t We
2. Maybe
3. Be My Man
4. Preacher Man
5. Bimpé
6. The Way I Feel
7. OK OK
8. Dreamer Girl
9. Oré
10. Baby Gone
11. Broda Olé
12. Questions

Links: More info on the album available at http://www.asa-official.com/2010/10/beautifull-imperfection/

I’ve known Fishé online for ages and since he sent me this album via courier I’ve had it on constant replays on my playlist. Fishé (Pronounced FEE-SHAY) whose real name is Andrew Mosheshe was born over 25 years ago in the small German county of Fulda; raised in Warri a town in his home country of Nigeria and now living in the United States since 2004. Fishé, the son of a doctor and a teacher, who read English and Literary Studies from Delta State University Abraka, can thus be rightfully said to transcend continental boundaries. Armed with a unique and instantly identifiable Nigerian accent, and not phased by his botched one year deal with L.A based indie label Random Records Inc. on which he released his 2005 six track “Moment of Truth” E.P, Fishé is out with his follow up: "Straight Outta Africa"!

Album Details

Original Release Date: May 2007

Number of Discs: 1

Format: Explicit Lyrics

Label: Fishé Music

Production: Don Perinion, Knoxz, RoTone, Hendog, Peter Lindahl, Alexis Isbell, the Apprentice and Tone.E.See.

Guest appearances: Paige Rasmussen, Miss Keke, Sinister XL, Double Negative, Write Words, Kess, Knoxz, Mad Sabre, Younger Angel, Oboi and Nat Kendall.

Track list:
1. Intro (alphabetical slaughter)
2. Git sum (featuring Paige Rasmussen)
3. How come (featuring Knoxz, Mad Sabre, Younger Angel and Oboi)
4. Africa (featuring Paige Rasmussen)
5. Party (featuring Paige Rasmussen)
6. Away from home (featuring Write Words)
7. Ladies (featuring Miss Keke)
8. Move it (featuring Paige Rasmussen)
9. Skit (voicemail)
10. Cali (featuring Sinister XL and Double Negative)
11. Hip-hop 101
12. In da building (featuring Paige Rasmussen)
13. Fight the power
14. Naija (featuring kess)
15. What’cha gonna do
16. Outro (featuring Nat Kendall)

Favourite tracks: my favourite track on the album is unarguably “”africa”. I also feel “what cha gonna do” and “move it” big time. On the title track “africa”, we’re led on a musical journey to the acknowledgement of the beauty that is the continent of Africa to dispelling the false notion of Africa only being a backward entity to reiterating the wrongs that were the days of early western colonization and the slave markets that came with it. At the end of the song we get to hear the name drop of great African/black leaders and heroes that’ll undoubtedly instill pride in any listening African ear and unbridled admiration from non-Africans. “what cha gonna do” is basically an expression of Fishé bragging right as one of the best Nigerian rappers in diaspora. Starting with a typical Nigerian chant and drum beat the songs is lovely all through and can’t fail to get one dancing lightly. “move it” has the melodic Paige Rasmussen on the hook a partnership which also worked well on “africa”. It’s a typical bounceable song, with lyrics to boost the artiste’s ego and beats to get people moving it on the dance floor.

Criticism: The much I can say is that the album becomes really nice after frequent listens but it could be better so as to make it an instant attraction. If it had more Nigerian flavour it’ll be sure to do better in the Nigerian market. Fishé’s flow is very tight, and his straight Nigerian accent is actually a very good and unique thing considering that we’re in a world of fakers. All in all I’m moved to agree with him that he’s one of the best on display and every line he spits makes me wanna press on replay.

I also guess I agree with the album’s official release statement: “"straight outta africa" comprises the original essence of Hip-Hop’s foundation, from the super-lyrical, to using it as an ample tool for the spread of knowledge and awareness, to just something to have fun with and vibe to in the clubs or in the comfort of your home or ride.” The diversity of this work is set on display with UK Grime track “how come” to the G-Funk sound of the track “cali”. You can also get that Southern Crunk flavor from the track “ladies”, a dose of Afro Hip Hop on the song “naija” as well as the regular east coast feel and an occasional flash of dancehall raga. This variety with a spice of everything else and laced with a couple of conscious joints stems from the use of producers from all across the regions of the United States to the shores of the U.K to Nigeria itself.

Rating: My rating for the LP on a scale of 5 is 3.5

Sample: Listen to “africa (featuring Paige Rasmussen)”

Links: More info on the album available at www.fishe.us and http://myspace.com/fishemusic

Contact info: email: afroshady@hotmail.com, fishadys_bck@yahoo.com or afroshady@yahoo.co.uk

Note: This post is used for the purpose of cultivating interest in the featured musician. It is more of a promotional tool rather than an illegal file sharing means. However, if you are an artist or a label represented here and you would like your music removed let me know and it will come down immediately.

“Don’t hate” is the sophomore effort of Kaduna born, Abuja based rapper OD (Overdose), who without doubt is one of the illess punch line emcees this side of the Niger. With the folding up of Paybacktyme records where his debut album was released, dude pitched tent with KD World Records to release his first album in five years.

Album Details

Original Release Date: 2006

Number of Discs: 1

Format: Explicit Lyrics

Label: KD World Records

Production: Mostly by Jamix, with Mista Seth, G-Lynx, Callen (Jeremiah Gyang) and OD himself contributing.

Guest appearances: Sasha, Terry Tha Rapman, KB of The Trybesmen, El Dot, Modenine, Black Solo, AT and Sound Sultan.

Track list:
1. Intro
2. Don’t hate featuring AT
3. Take it all
4. Groupie luv featuring Terry Tha Rapman
5. No be today featuring Sound Sultan and Pherowshuz
6. Get down
7. Here wiv me featuring Sasha
8. Run far away featuring Black Solo
9. FCDA radio (skit)
10. Tha hottest in tha building’ featuring KB
11. Don’t hate (remix) featuring Modenine and El Dot
12. Skit
13. Every day featuring Terry Tha Rapman
14. Tha game featuring G-Lynx
15. Go Slow featuring Black Solo

Favourite tracks: On every listen “don’t hate” (the lead single and album title) invokes some really gritty hardcore hip hop feeling in me. On the dark sounding track OD tells his critics that despite what they may think he’s comfortable with his foreign like rap style. It’s got a nice rhyme-along chorus featuring a one-two with AT, his pal from way back. “Every day” gets continuous repeats on my deck. It’s a satirical song depicting the party, materialistic and womanizing like theme of many contemporary songs by Nigerian hip hop artists. While on “tha game” OD lets out some steam on the current state of hip hop in Nigeria, ably complemented by G-Lynx (the producer) on the chorus who gives the song a nice soft rock feeling.

Criticism: The songs that did it for me are “don’t hate”, “every day” and “tha game”. While most of the others follow the tight-punch-lines-on-an-uninspiring-beat-with-a-lackluster-chorus pattern. The FCDA skit was completely unnecessary. After several listens I’m of the opinion that OD didn’t do enough to shut up his critics because despite having full artistic control of the album most of the songs still turned out bland. On a different artistic level the CD’s jacket design wasn’t too bad.

Rating: My rating for the LP on a scale of 5 is 2.5.

Sample: Listen to “don’t hate” featuring AT

Links: More info on the album available at http://www.africanhiphop.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?p=78885#78885

Contact info: +2348050370746, dukeargon@yahoo.com and http://www.myspace.com/dukeargon

Note: This post is used for the purpose of cultivating interest in the featured musician. It is more of a promotional tool rather than an illegal file sharing means. However, if you are an artist or a label represented here and you would like your music removed let me know and it will come down immediately.

Dare Art Alade!

To be real with you I used to playa hate on the guy. I was like dude wants to use his charm and fame to sell records. Saw his well attended album launch on TV and I was like fuck it, he doesn’t deserve it. Yeah I’d heard a few of his songs but still wasn’t tripped, it’s until I saw his stage performance at the African Movie Academy Awards in Bayelsa State that I was won over. Excellent stage presence/performance and the songs weren’t bad either. After that I didn’t need much persuasion, I copped son’s album like it was drugs. After enough listens I can say the boy definitely has talent...plus a wonderful voice.

Being the son of one of Nigeria’s late musical greats Dare had a solid music foundation. Sang in the choir, started performing at shows early, worked on the radio and participated in an African reality-TV talent show: Project Fame. Finally some months back he came out with his 17-track debut from the stable of his Storm Records family. One thing to note about Dare is that although he sings he does so through a variety of genres. Rhythm and Blues, Hip hop, Fuji, Jazz etc nevertheless the album has a general theme of love, inspiration and dance. Production wise the tracks were laced mainly in Nigeria and South Africa.

Personally the tracks that appeal to me are (in no particular order): escalade, original Naija 1, fuji 1, sijioni, escalade part 2 and Youngman 1. “Escalade” is a soulful ballad that talks of a young man's desire to have a meaningful relationship with a lady regardless of his small cash flow. On “Original Naija” he’s simply saying he’s proudly Nigerian till the grave. “Fuji” is a certified party track expectedly with some fuji flavour. “Sijioni” is a love song to that special girl; the chorus is taken in some South African language and the verses in Yoruba and English. On “escalade part 2” along with some featured artists he’s saying something like this: “if you don’t like me because of my low cash flow, then to hell with you”. “Youngman” which was recorded years ago basically says yes I’m young and I’m African but best believe that I’m musically skilled.

On the down side, the album had a little too much variety. Reggae, Jazz, Hip Hop, Rhythm and Blues etc. it’ll really benefit him if on his next album he tries to be the master of one trade and not the jack of all. Also he seems to have been bitten by the Nigerian remix craze. Having two versions of Fuji with the only difference being the featured rapper is kind of dumb. The same thing applies to “Youngman”. Why remix it a second time with just a new set of rappers? What’s the point? The first version with El Dee and KB was just ok. The “original Naija” remix without the rap was to fill up space abi? But the thing that really ticks me off about the album is that it isn’t well mastered. Some of the songs are of different volumes and adjusting your radio while playing the CD can be annoying. After all said and done I give the album three and a half stars out of five.

Listen to “escalade”. More info on the artist and album available at www.dareartalade.com

Note: This post is used for the purpose of cultivating interest in the featured musician. It is more of a promotional tool rather than an illegal file sharing means. However, if you are an artist or a label represented here and you would like your music removed let me know and it will come down immediately.

Paul Play on one of his former album covers.

After learning from Laide of the exschoolnerd's Xanga fame that “forever” by Paul Play Dairo was her and her boyfriend’s official song I kept my ears on alert. I finally heard the song on radio, fell in love with it, consulted with the gods and before you knew it Paul Play Dairo’s third offering since he blew up in 1999 was mine.

The songwriter, producer cum musician and son of the late Nigerian music legend I.K. Dairo must have been up to two things prior to recording the album. Firstly he must have been listening to a lot of Brian Mcknight, Carl Thomas and some old school Hip hop joints from the early nineties. And secondly he must have been like “to hell with the critics who said you can’t score unless you come in a traditional genre while singing in vernacular or pidgin”. That’s because unlike his former albums which had a fair share of Highlife, Juju, Ragga and Nigerian flavour on this album he was strictly Rhythm and Blues with one Hip hop track for effect. What more if not for the guest raps and the accent you probably wouldn’t know the album was Nigerian. Dude just did what was on his mind, the end product of which is a nine tracker released under the playgroundentertainment label (which includes two remixes) with a general theme on love.

Propelled by the smash hits “angel of my life” and “forever” (both of which have remixed versions) which are sure to send any listener into a love frenzy Paul Play shows with this album the depth of his talent in song writing and production. The voice is also great and couples are warned that after a night of hitsville, babyville often follows. As can be expected a few of the songs contain rap verses, Paul Play even dropping some himself in “crying in the rain”. The track “playground anthem” is the exception. It’s a rap song with Playground Entertainment’s own artists: Ruff Rugged and Raw having the rap honours and being on point while Paul takes the chorus. It’s a perfect Hip Hop song and along with “forever” it’s my favourite on the album. This ain’t really a biggie but for Nigerian standards the album design was tight.

Talking about the cons of the album I must say that for a producer an album with just seven tracks is quite pitiful. The two remixes on the album also sucked. They weren’t much different than the originals, just a minor instrumentals adjustment (to make it party worthy) and a change of rap verses. Seems it’s the latest Nigerian fad…oh dear. On the whole though the album rocks for me, on a scale of five I’m giving it four stars.

Listen to “forever” featuring Alibu and B Rite. More info on the artist and album available at www.playgroundentertainmentng.com

Note: This post is used for the purpose of cultivating interest in the featured musician. It is more of a promotional tool rather than an illegal file sharing means. However, if you are an artist or a label represented here and you would like your music removed let me know and it will come down immediately.

My man zero from africanhiphop.com said in one of his threads that a lot of us don’t do enough to support our local artists by buying their albums. I admit I’m guilty of that, so to set things straight I’ve copped some albums. Marvellous Benjy’s “take control”, Resonance’s “Chinwe Ike”, Massai’s “last man standing” and Bouqui’s self titled album. And now I think it’s only right that I drop little reviews.

Marvellous Benjy (take control)

Take control by Kennismusic’s latest signing Marvellous Benjy is a dance hall/ragga album. Liking some of his past and present stuff I bought it, but after feeling it I admit I’m quite disappointed. Minus the two great songs “swo” and “just a little” featuring Luccy along with their remixes (in both cases I prefer the originals) the other songs in the album didn’t really appeal to me. And for a producer/artist releasing a mere seven tracker (minus skits, intro, outro and remixes) is really poor. In a scale of 5 I’m giving it 3.5 stars. I wonder why Black Face wasn’t on the album, in the past they’ve done some good things together.

Play “just a little”

Resonance (Chinwe Ike)

Resonance is a rhythm and blues/hip hop gospel duo made up of a half-caste girl and a guy (a couple perhaps). The chick does the singing while the guy does the rapping. They’re very popular in the South East where their hit song “chinwe ike” is receiving massive air play. And for real that song is the shiznit, it belongs to the class of great Igbo gospel song’s like “ibu Chineke” by Kennismusic’s Slam. It’s the kind of song that makes lukewarm guys like me love gospel music. And did I mention they are (or were) UNN (University of Nigeria, Nsukka) and UNEC (University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus) representing. On to the criticism: an eight tracker album is really poor. And I think the CD would have been a whole lot better if it was filled mainly with her singing. She’s got a soft, sweet, angelic voice. The raps by the guy and other guest artist were just of the banal type...unimpressive. Truly she’s the active partner (makes Resonance what it is) while he’s the sleeping one. That said, in a scale of 5 the album gets a 3.5 rating from me.

Play "chinwe ike"

Massai (last man standing)

Massai a fourth year Law student is another UNEC guy. And like most albums by Nigerian youths “last man standing” his debut album is all hip hop. If you like 2shots and Biglo you’ll definitely like Massai, who with a thick Igbo accent raps mainly in Pidgin English with heavy use of Igbo vocabulary. The album is generally comical, has got party tracks (“onye kwulu oto…” and “hey hey hey”), social-conscious tracks (“in ten years”, “dance 4 mama”, “rite attitude”), a really good breakup song (“you left me”) and an overdose of girl-themed songs (“story to tell”, “oyi m”, “landlord pikin” and “this na UNEC”). By the way my boy Kenieflex is featured on “in ten years”. It gets a 4 star (out of five) rating and it's definately worth the price.

Play “you left me”

Bouqui (album is self titled. Bouqui is pronounced Bukky)

Nigeria lacks really good female rappers. A lot of those in the lime light don’t really deserve to be there. If they were guys they’d be in the wack or infant league (also true for female footballers). But after seeing so much Bouqui buzz online I decided to cop the album in hope of a miracle. To be honest I was quite impressed but someone should have told me that she’s a gospel artist! Unlike a lot of other debut artist it seems Bouqui had a lot of studio time (female artist always have a lot of benefactors), because minus the skits et al the album Is a 14 tracker! The down side is that there are one too many beat and chorus samples and the skits et al weren’t really worth it. My favourite tracks are “roll like that”, “major problems” (the beat reminds me Mase's "i really like it") and “dead man walking” (has a Dr Dre like beat which the Xzibit of the “restless” era would have done good justice to). Minus this three the other tracks are about average to me. On the whole the album gets a three star (out of a possible 5) rating.

Play "major problems"

All this listening and reviewing makes we want to go record. But I’m not motivated to write these days and in my present state I’m not ready for studio sessions.

Bouqui. Voice...nice, songs..not bad, looks...definately a knock out

Note: This post is used for the purpose of cultivating interest in the featured musicians. It is more of a promotional tool rather than an illegal file sharing means. However, if you are an artist or a label represented here and you would like your music removed let me know and it will come down immediately.

Hype does one thing: it makes u wanna see what all the noise is about. and that's what happened with Modenine and I. I’ve heard peeps be like "this nigga is the shit in Nigerian hardcore hip hop circle". and man after finally listening to his CD (if if u see it: cop it...get it. spread the love) I’m beginning to feel the same way. honestly this rapper is fucking tight. his punch lines and metaphors are one in million. they're very much above what could come to the mind of an average Nigerian MC. no doubt Modenine got me when he said:

I kill paper when I pen punch lines with murder ink/
every cipher in my lyrics makes you scratch ur head and think/I wish I wrote that...
(from "orisuna basement freestyle" track 17)

now who the fuck said that to make it in the Nigerian music scene u must come African and use the local flavour and pidgin English thing? well to me that ain't shit. all that matters is that u come out tight in whatever style u use. and that's what Modenine has done. very unlike most acts out there the self proclaimed lyricist flows largely with a foreign accent and style, plus he swears. true to the hardcore feeling his beats are complex and involve some sampling (sampling is like what Kanye West does when he puts an old school feeling into his tracks. it's a sort of mixing).

my favourite tracks in the album (in descending order) are:

1) head ft Baron and Terry tha Rapman
To me that's one hell of a freak song, just like Snoop Dogg's "don't tell". u should put it on when u wanna fuck (smiles). cool smooth beats with pimping lyrics. check the chorus:

don't lie everybody knows u like (head), so be a cheerful giver/
don't be shy we've all heard about your (head), you look like a brainy diva/

2) elbow room ft Callen
damn I love the orchestral feeling of this song's chorus. added with tight flows by the Ninestein, the song's a hit.

3) small boy
funny song. it's one of the only songs you'll hear Modenine rapping in Pidgin English. but the production is poor. and that's because a rock feeling was added to it to make it different from the original in Modenine's debut: the nine files. u can listen to the original at: paybacktymerecords.com

4) 419 state of mind part 2
This song really captures the current phenomenon like Six Foot Plus's "millennium bugging" did in it’s time. all those sick of Nigerian scam emails will relate to this.

5) you can't fuck wit dis
a bounceable-party sort of track. I like the Hausa used at the end. makes we wanna theorize that Hausa is good for hardcore, Igbo for funny songs, and Yoruba for party.

on the critic side I think Nine has got an ego problem. a lot of the tracks on the album were just plain bragging tracks, where he's tryna proclaim his tightness and supremacy. a more mixed themed album might have been better. and Mode why u ain't hola at Six Foot Plus and Callen in the "hola back outro"? just asking though. also some of the beats could have been better along with better production.

on the whole the album's really worth ur time and cash. all em hardcore freaks might be quick to proclaim Modenine Nigeria's Nas.

shit, I can't believe I’m on this track talking about (head)/yo peace I’m out/
(terry tha Rapman in "head")...shit I can't believe I’m on the net talking about (Nine)/yo peace I’m out/

Stanclef might be Modenine's number one fan, but I’m a sucker for Terry...I don dey kolo oh!

Modenine. Call him a rapper or an MC and he’ll tell u that he’s a lyricist