Album: | The W Experience |
Artist: | Banky W |
Label: | EME |
Release Year | 2009 |
I happened upon this gentleman totally by accident a few years ago. A chance encounter with “Omoge You Too Much” meant I had to get the whole album. Truth is, I have been a fan ever since.
The album cover is great, a black and white photo of a well groomed gentleman, splashed with a hue of purple. Nice and clean. With the CD already spinning, lets plunge into The W Experience.
Track 1: The W Experience ft Muna
Beat:
The album opens with heavy bass kicks and swirling synths and Muna groaning. Someway into the song, the beat gets too clustered with all the elements competing for space. (4/10)
Rap/singing:
Muna basically talks through this one with adlibs from Banky. (5/10)
Replay value and content:
Ideally you want to just skip this and head straight for the real stuff. (4/10)
Track Rating: 4/10
Track 2: Can’t Stop Me ft Skales
Beat:
Bouncy R&B beat with a decent and heavy bass line. Stabbing strings punctuate this one. Decent beat with a decent melody on the hooks. There are interesting variations placed here and there for variety (5/10)
Rap/singing:
Banky sings and does a rap/sing combo on the verses. He rides the beat nicely and stays on point. Skales just sounded like the millions of rappers out there, nothing special to his voice or flow. (5/10)
Replay value and content:
For a “singer” Banky has some decent punchlines and quotable and from a rapping perspective even manages to outshine his emcee label mate. If you thought you could stop him Banky warns you “I’m a beast, I’m a thug, I’m a goddamn predator/ I eat you lames for lunch, Hannibal Lecter”. (6/10)
Track Rating: 5/10
Track 3: Strong Ting
Beat:
Cobhams does a fantastic job here. This beat is banging, the flutes section gives it a different dimension and the kick is deep and heavy to compensate the sparse bass line. The strings are light and blend in well with the rest. There’s even a bonus electric guitar on the chorus towards the end. Nice! (9/10)
Rap/singing:
Banky just sings his heart out on this track, the delivery and timing and voice changes sit harmoniously on the beat. (8/10)
Replay value and content:
This is a love declaration and if you’ve been looking for the rights words express your feelings, take a page off Banky’s book “you di push my button, blow my horn, dial my number...you di do me strong ting.” I totally enjoyed this song! Great effort. (8/10)
Track Rating: 8/10
Track 4: Omoge You Too Much
Beat:
The song starts out with some gated synths and then the synths depart leaving a guitar over kicks and drums. The bass line and other elements are incorporated progressively until the synths return with a high but soft string tucked into the chorus. Again a great effort by ID Cabasa (9/10)
Rap/singing:
This is Mr W at this best, crooning and riding that beat like his career depended on it. Wiz takes this a notch up with his Sean Kingston impersonation. There is a Jamaican spice to this and that is just swell. (9/10)
Replay value and content:
Another love song, but sounding even deeper and smoother than the previous track. Wiz and Banky complement each other well on this track and the ladies will be smiling stupidly to this one, that’s certain. “E don be like say I di craze...” (9/10)
Track Rating: 9/10
Track 5: Lagos Party
Beat:
I wasn’t feeling this bit, maybe the 2 previous tracks had left an impression and Dokta Frabz just couldn’t follow. It’s simplistic at times and then just kind of noisy at other points. (5/10)
Rap/singing:
U may confuse Banky for a crooner, but he does like to throw in a rap or two and he is decent at it. But make no mistake, he sings better than he raps. (6/10)
Replay value and content:
This is an anthem for Lagos folks and they would be bumping this with reason. But the song doesn’t work for me and feels like an anti climax after the two previous tracks. Interestingly it was one of the singles off the album? (5/10)
Track Rating: 5/10
Track 6: Thief My Kele ft Oladele & Waje
Beat:
The beat is laid back with a combination of high synths and swirling strings. The beat is quite nice and at the right tempo for Banky and Co to shine (7/10)
Rap/singing:
2 guests appear here and spice this one just right, Oladele’s flow and voice are distinct and fit the vibe and Waje is just glorious here. (8/10)
Replay value and content:
Interesting concept on this song, Oladele is trying to “thief” Waje from Banky, leaving the latter puzzled. The concept and the performances from the 3 lift the beat. (8/10)
Track Rating: 7/10
Track 7: Tanker ft Wizkid
Beat:
This beat has reggaeton pieces in it but swings more toward ragga, reminiscent of what was pouring out of Jamaica in the mid 90s. The beat varies along the way, just managing to keep it interesting. (5/10)
Rap/singing:
Wizkid returns and plays a more prominent role here, handling chorus duties and assisting with a verse. Banky sings and goes Jamaican on this, spurred on by the reggaeton beat I guess. Banky and Wizkid complement each other well on this track. (6/10)
Replay value and content:
Tanker? Metaphor for a woman’s backside? Interesting, just roaming my streets daily I can see where they are coming from. For the dudes, if you’ve been looking for the chance to get close to that girl, well you know what to do when this comes on in the club (6/10)
Track Rating: 6/10
Track 8: No Be Lie
Beat:
Another bouncy beat, with bass heavy synths and an interesting guitar accompaniment. The beat changes are used interestingly and pull this one through. Definitely one for the clubs. (7/10)
Rap/singing:
Banky rides the beat and does a decent job here (6/10)
Replay value and content:
Another party anthem and definitely better than the previous track. Just dance to this and get carried by that beat. (7/10)
Track Rating: 7/10
Track 9: Follow You Go
Beat:
Cobhams returns and the beat is minimalistic; a flute, a beat drum and some low strings. The bass kick is hammering to compensate for the lack of a bass line. It has been long since I heard finger snaps in a song, but they work well here (7/10)
Rap/singing:
Banky stays on point and makes use of the space left by the simple but effective beat. His voice is softer and just makes you want to get into the mood (7/10)
Replay value and content:
A mellow number for the romantics and this works well. Nothing too original about the content though. (6/10)
Track Rating: 7/10
Track 10: Feeling It ft MI
Beat:
I like this beat’s intro plus the chimes sprinkle some angel dust. I wasn’t feeling the clap though, but the beat still works with all the elements blending in well, one after the other. (8/10)
Rap/singing:
MI co-stars with Banky on this and they both ride this beat nicely. This was the first time I heard MI and He did impress me. He is almost laughing through his verse and that just puts a smile on your face (8/10)
Replay value and content:
MI’s witty lines make this a thoroughly enjoyable song, “Its Baba made, it’s not made in China”. Banky makes some cultural references (Rihanna and Chris Brown before the beating) and keeps this interesting as well. (8/10)
Track Rating: 8/10
Track 11: So Brand New
Beat:
Another laid back beat. I can’t put my finger on it but I just wasn’t feeling the beat. There are some piano licks and guitar riffs in there and those usually get me smiling in appreciation, but I just can’t get into this beat. Must be one of the things (4/10)
Rap/singing:
The beat is chilling so Banky does what he does best; crooning soulfully. (7/10)
Replay value and content:
Banky is talking to a girl who’s been hurt in a previous relationship and is trying to convince her he is the man for her. “You might be old to him, but you’re so brand new”. What girl doesn’t wanna hear that? (7/10)
Track Rating: 6/10
Track 11: Nobody
Beat:
The Muzik Men killed this! This beat had me going crazy with delight. I’m a big fan of rock music and guitar solos and this track has a fantastic guitar solo at the end that always has me grabbing an imaginary guitar and plucking the strings to heaven! The synths dance round your brain and that deep bass kick gets the blood pumping. One of the best beats if not the best on the album. (10/10)
Rap/singing:
Mr W does not disappoint and delivers better than UPS! He is crooning; he is singing and inviting that guitar in. Glorious! (9/10)
Replay value and content:
To be honest this is one of favourite songs from an African artist. I listen to this at least once a week and that’s almost 3 years after the album came out (10/10)
Track Rating: 10/10
Track 12: Why
Beat:
They kept is simple here, a piano and some synths laid over an 808 kick. There’s some girl wailing in the background this lays the foundation for Banky to pose some very questions. (6/10)
Rap/singing:
Banky stays faithful to his singing and he manages to put in the perfect dose of emotion into his delivery (7/10)
Replay value and content:
Banky addresses some serious issues in Nigeria, issues which are just as applicable to any other African country. The concept is clearly inspired by Jadakiss’ song of the same name, but the questions asked here hit closer to home (9/10)
Track Rating: 7/10
Conclusion:
Appreciation:
Thomas Wolfe said “If a man has talent and can’t use it, he’s failed. If he uses only half of it, he has partly failed. If he uses the whole of it, he has succeeded and won a satisfaction and triumph few men ever know”. Well Banky should be a very satisfied man. I thoroughly enjoyed this album and even after almost 3 years the dust has not settled on it.
Replay value:
The album is easily listenable from start to finish and at no point does it start to drag or tire. The guests for the most part, honoured their presence and this is the album that probably put the likes of Wizkid on the map. Enjoy.
Album production: | 7/10 | Album Rap/Singing: | 8/10 |
Album Replay value: | 8/10 | Album rating: | 8/10 |
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