Album: | The Invasion |
Artist: | P-Square |
Label: | Square Records |
Release Year | 2011 |
History with Artist:
In 2006 I was in the UK and one Friday evening we were all gathered playing Pro Evolution soccer and listening to loud music. My mate’s girl at the time screamed for me from the room next door and was excited to show me YouTube videos of some Nigerian twins she had come across. Being a former dancer myself I was impressed and checked out their name: P Square. Fast forward to 2011 and they are probably African urban music’s best exports and ain’t we all just proud of them?
Interesting album cover, the space military style suits are certainly a nod to the great late MJ whose dance moves inspired them in their youth. Been hearing about this album for a while so, sit back, relax and let Africa’s fav twins Invade your brain space for the next hour.
Track 1: Beautiful Onyinye
Beat:
Chimes open the doors to this album. Some delightful guitar licks give way to a laid back beat. This is a typical P Square beat and the tempo suits them best. It sounds like a refined version of the beat used on “No One Like You” (7/10)
Rap/singing:
Truth of the matter is from technical point of view, P Square are not exceptional singers, but they have mastered the art of injecting the right dose of emotion into every song. To their credit they do not rely on obvious autotune to mask any off key moments. And this to me is what sets them apart. And they sound convincing on this track (7/10)
Replay value and content:
If you liked ‘No One Like You’ then you’ll be feeling this joint as this is basically a part 2 of that song. Beats and content are almost identical. Hope this is not an attempt at recycling old songs though. (7/10)
Track Rating: 7/10
Track 2: Chop My Money ft MayD
Beat:
This beat takes off like a euro dance track with some heavy synths, but quickly turns into a typical P Square afro jam. This is definitely one for the clubs. (7/10)
Rap/singing:
2nd track and we welcome our first guest in MayD, a recent addition to the Square Records roster. His obvious use of the aforementioned autotune is a turn off and makes it difficult to appreciate his real ability, but P Square stay true to themselves. There is an interesting use of a voice filter here too. (5/10)
Replay value and content:
The beat carries this one through and should be best enjoyed under the influence of booze and sexy women. Just don’t empty your pockets if you don’t have “plenty naira in your name”. (7/10)
Track Rating: 6/10
Track 3: Asamkpokoto
Beat:
The beat is synth heavy from the get go, and doesn’t sit really well with the African percussions in the back. Thankfully they disappear for the verse and the beat is quite enjoyable. (6/10)
Rap/singing:
The use of a voice filter returns and starts to ask questions. The delivery here somehow is not up to PSquare standards and leaves me a bit disappointed (5/10)
Replay value and content:
Interestingly, the song is quite enjoyable and hilarious. I guess it’s one of those where the whole is greater than the sum of the individual parts. Basically some really irresistible girl is driving them totally bunkers (7/10)
Track Rating: 6/10
Track 4: Do As I Do ft Tiwa Savage & Medi
Beat:
An attempt at a club beat, but the beat just doesn’t work for me. Just aint feeling it (6/10)
Rap/singing:
Tiwa is an incredible singer and her articulation is perfect, she doesn’t disappointment and saves this song from mediocrity. Mr Medi gets a second chance to impress, but besides Tiwa that is a big ask and he fails. (5/10)
Replay value and content:
Personally I think Tiwa was wasted on this song and a collaboration between P Square and Tiwa should be much more better than this. (5/10)
Track Rating: 5/10
Track 5: Forever
Beat:
The beat sounds like it was done on fruity loops and maintains that synth we have already met on previous songs on this album. The clap is too sharp and spoils the vibe (4/10)
Rap/singing:
The boys ride the beat to the best of their ability. And that use of a voice filter returns again! (5/10)
Replay value and content:
This song shows the good and bad sides of P Square. It interpolates (or copies if that the term you prefer) a portion of Harlem World’s “I really Like It” from the late 90s, but the guys use it superbly and it fits in nicely with the song. This another one for the club with the twins promising eternal love to some damsel (5/10)
Track Rating: 5/10
Track 6: Me And My Brother
Beat:
This is a reggae infused jam that will have any weed smokers nodding in appreciation. That reggae guitar sets the tempo and I’m feeling this beat. (7/10)
Rap/singing:
I feel they could have done better on this song as the reggae beat set the platform for great things. (5/10)
Replay value and content:
The beat carries this song through and after about 5 listens I am actually feeling this joint. The brotherly concept works well too on a reggae beat as all true rastas will acknowledge (8/10)
Track Rating: 7/10
Track 7: Jeje ft Waje
Beat:
Put on your dance shoes and start jumping on the dance floor. The beat starts out well but falls flat at the first verse, why they switched it I can’t tell. Thankfully the chorus comes back and I can start jumping all over again (6/10)
Rap/singing:
Waje just blows this song out the partk! If you ever listened to “Ride On Time” by Black Box from the late 80 then you’ll know what I’m talking about. The girl is clearly talented. The brothers’ singing is actually not up to par and disappoint somewhat. (6/10)
Replay value and content:
Euro dance or techno is one of those genres you either love or hate, and I love it, so this song goes into my dance playlist, if nothing just to hear Waje scream “Cooome On!!” Kudos to P-Square for stepping out of their comfort zone. (8/10)
Track Rating: 7/10
Track 8: Bunieya Enu
Beat:
We go back to a classic P-Square type beat, plenty bongos and synths with an afro jam type beat. (5/10)
Rap/singing:
They go back to putting that emotion into their voices and that is needed given the theme of the song. (7/10)
Replay value and content:
Now these guys took a praise song and turned it into a club banger! That in itself is genius and is typical of P-Square; taking parts of other songs and make it work for them. “We thank God Ohh, Baba You too much ohh”. I thoroughly enjoyed this song. (8/10)
Track Rating: 7/10
Track 9: Ole Buruku
Beat:
Nothing stands out from this beat; an assembly of stabs and toy pianos. (4/10)
Rap/singing:
Again nothing stands out from the singing here. (5/10)
Replay value and content:
Wasn’t feeling this song at all and after a complete listen I don’t think I’ll be coming back to it any time soon. (3/10)
Track Rating: 4/10
Track 10: Player
Beat:
The kick is pumping and there is an electric guitar in there plucking away, again there is that change for the verse that is too abrupt and disrupts the mood. Overall, this is a decent beat. (6/10)
Rap/singing:
Now I am totally disappointed by the delivery on this track. They just never got into it and to me that is a big let down. (4/10)
Replay value and content:
This is another one for the clubs and is best appreciated as such, the twins are kind enough to warn you to take your girl away or she’ll be leaving with them. Balling! (5/10)
Track Rating: 5/10
Track 11: She’s Hot ft Naeto C
Beat:
This beat is puzzling; it’s a hybrid between reggae and crunk and finally doesn’t do well as either. (4/10)
Rap/singing:
I’ve been looking to hear from Naeto C, but he comes in too late in the song. However, his rapping is a welcomed distraction on a rather bland beat (5/10)
Replay value and content:
Naeto sparks up a rather dull song with some witty rhymes “next na PhD/ na playa hating degree” but comes in too late to save the day (4/10)
Track Rating: 4/10
Track 12: Fire
Beat:
After the previous track, anything would have been welcomed and wow, they hit us with another dance track that has an African vibe thrown in for spice. (6/10)
Rap/singing:
As is the case when you listen to a whole album at some point you start wishing for something new. An interesting voice filter is used here, just to add that electro feel and it blends well with the song (6/10)
Replay value and content:
There is nothing on content here, just a decent dance track (5/10)
Track Rating: 5/10
Track 13: Anything
Beat:
Another dance track, complete with the necessary hi hats and synths. Nothing special here though (5/10)
Rap/singing:
This up tempo doesn’t particularly suit p square and they sound just ordinary on this track (5/10)
Replay value and content:
Again content is lacking here as it is with most dance tracks (4/10)
Track Rating: 5/10
Track 14: Shake It Down Low ft Muna and Eva
Beat:
Minimalistic beat with some thumping 808s and finger snaps and at the right tempo to let any emcee really shine. (8/10)
Rap/singing:
Muna comes harder than a hammer here and her delivery is spot on. She is even switching flows à la Nicki Minaj! Eva sounds like a young Missy Elliot but that doesn’t take anything from her delivery. I’m impressed by both ladies. The gentlemen however should have contented themselves with chorus duties here; after listening to Muna and Eva, their rapping sounds of place and actually brings down an otherwise great song. (8/10)
Replay value and content:
I’ll be bumping this for days just to hear these ladies rip that mic to shreds, what a way to end an album. (8/10)
Track Rating: 8/10
Conclusion:
Enjoyability:
P-Square have been accused of many things in the past, but some will argue “Imitation is the best form of flattery” and they have learned how to make it work for them. On its own, this is a decent effort, but you just get the feeling that the brothers have gotten to the point where they are sticking to a miracle formula that works. The fact that they produce most of their own songs means the album tends to feel like one extended song.The use of guests was excellent and brought an extra dimension to the album.
Replay value:
You had the feeling towards the end that the album was losing steam but that closer with Muna and Eva is sure to get you out of any slumber you may have been drifting into. I’ll replay some songs but there are definitely others that will see me hit the “skip” button pretty quickly.
Album production: | 6/10 | Album Rap/Singing: | 6/10 |
Album Replay value: | 6/10 | Album rating: | 6/10 |
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