LV Special: 8 Nigerian Disappointing Albums (LP’s) of 2016
Everyone hopes to be top of their class, but the reception of one’s work is not exactly a science. The art of the music album, though on a decline, seem to have flowered in 2016: there were more LP and even more EP albums than in 2015. And even if the single can still single-handedly ensure the fate of musicians, the album still maters.
That said, many albums fell short of expectations this year. Here at Lovablevibes TV, we write not to castigate artistes but to reflect on 2016 and some dour moments in our experience of music.
Ice Prince, Jos to the World
On Jos to the World, Ice Prince’s third LP album, there are no songs about Jos. One word best describes this album: uninspired. The songs on this album don’t cohere to form a unit of new thought. We have heard it all before—songs about new wealth, booties and bottles—Ice Prince moved out of the hood (Jos) with big dreams and his big dreams have come true. He sings in his typical drawl of dancehall reggae and rap that doesn’t aspire to much or even address issues about his adopted hometown, Jos, which hasn’t healed from the pillage it suffered.
Oba Orin, Jaywon
Jaywon occupies that middle-level space where artistes are known but not well known; their songs are mild hits but not popular enough to be matched with their faces. Calling oneself ‘king of music’ like Jaywon did on this album is a self-absorbed proclamation. He is relentless on his claim to continuity. From his days with Essence on Facebook Love to his protracted stay with Kennis Music, he has been scratching at the surface of relevance, so how did the kingship come about? The music on this album is middle-level too, it is remarkably familiar but hardly distinguishes itself.
J Martins, Authentic
With fifteen tracks and a deceptive intro, the highpoints on J Martins’ Authentic album are few and far between. The album sounds monotonous, which is expected since J Martins not only wrote, arranged and produced all these songs, he also takes mixing credits. Nevertheless, the idea of authenticity which the album title plays with seems to be a rabbit out of a magician’s hat – these songs at best move highlife music sideways, not forward.
Lil Kesh, Young and Getting It (Y.A.G.I)
The tracklist of Lil Kesh’s album is arranged so that for every column of new songs, an old hit is included. After several listens to Y.A.G.I, it is clear that there is a difference between making single hits and doing an entire album. In this sense, Young and Getting It is the compilation album; a bundle of songs yoked together but united for being relevant to the early career of a young rapper called Lil Kesh. Lil Kesh might know how to make a song hit, but he hasn’t quite learnt how to make an album beat.
Duncan Mighty, The Certificate
Give Wene Mighty, the certificate for doing “for us by us” like J Martins by playing multiple roles on his fifth album. But also hold him accountable for the folly that results. This album could as well be called an inferior spin-off of his previous albums and nothing can be as unfortunate as a musician who plagiarizes himself. Yes, the voice is still sultry and high-pitched. Yes, the references to South-South Nigeria are still as relevant, but the music is stilted.
Reekado Banks, Spotlight
When Don Jazzy and his cohort of producers put Reekado Banks against the light, an umbra ensued. Reekado Banks is a competent vocalist when compared to his contemporaries (notably Kiss Daniel) but Spotlight hardly packs songs with wow effect. In spite of his vocal abilities, Spotlight hardly matches the anticipated rating for Mavin’s finest male vocalist.
Yemi Alade, Mama Africa
The name, Mama Africa, for Yemi Alade’s sophomore is a misnomer. What about the subtext: The Diary of an African Woman? I can tell you for free that this album isn’t quite a diary, talk less of being that of an African woman.
A lot has changed since Yemi Alade began to make toadstools of her hair but her music hasn’t changed; it still insistently bites its own tail. Even on Mama Africa, Yemi Alade is still looking for her Johnny.
Burna Boy, On a Spaceship
There is a gulf between Burna Boy’s sophomore and his first album which already is a classic. Conspicuously, Leriq was missing on this second project, perhaps the paramedics called him. To my mind, On a Spaceship offers fractal segments of Burna’s person for appraisal. The execution of this reflective album leaves so much to be desired. It is a far cry from where Burna Boy was coming from.