Album: | Superstar |
Artist: | Wizkid |
Label: | EME |
Release Year | 2011 |
I was on work leave 2 years ago and trawling through Nigerian forums when I came across Banky W’s “Omoge You Too Much”, I pressed play and wow! I had that song on nonstop replay for days and still bump it once in a while. When Wizkid popped in on the third verse, I did a double take and wondered if Sean Kingston was now collaborating with African artists, then I looked again and saw the song featured Wizkid! That name stuck in my head and I have been waiting for his album ever since and finally got served this year!
Rewind 15 years and I would have loved that album cover, however, this is 2011 and it looks like a candy wrap. The wise ones say do not judge a book by its cover so let’s see what makes Wizkid a SUPERSTAR.
Track 1: Say My Name
Beat:
This is a decent dirty south type song with a bass kick and claps laced with a variety of hi-hats, shakers and that ‘hey’ shout. Downside is it doesn’t stand out and I just wasn’t feeling the kick used. It could have done with a little more bass. (Produced by E. Kelly)
The melody is provided by a number of synths, giving the song an electric feel. An occasional piano melody drifts in an out nicely adding some spice (4/10)
Rap/singing:
Wizkid’s voice and delivery sounds distinctly like Sean Kingston’s and this song is no exception. There is even a point in the song where he does an “every time the beat drops” à la Lil Wayne. These sometime erode his originality. (5/10)
Content and replay value:
As an album opener Wizy is just making sure you know it’s him (in case you didn’t know whose album you are listening to), comparing himself to King Kong and inviting all to say his name. Since I know who Wizkid is I won’t be playing this song a second time. (4/10)
Track Rating: 4/10
Track 2: No Lele
Beat:
Masterkraft did a fabulous intro to this song and this would have been a better way to start the album. This song definitely has a dancehall feel to it with stabs and clashes hammering the drum kick in. The intro sounds like live instrumentation and if that’s not the case then good job by the production team on that drum pattern.
The melody is sparse and dark synths spice up this number. I quite liked this even if it sounds noisy at times (Produced by Masterkraft) (5/10)
Rap/singing:
Wizkid sticks to his usual delivery and thankfully there are no lil wayne impressions here. He rides the beat nicely. However I can hear a lot of autotune on this and that just irks me. (6/10)
Content and replay value:
“Dem say dem no know how this young boy come from ghetto make am” with that, Wizy tells of his rise to fame from the gutter to his current superstar status. This would work for the clubs. (6/10)
Track Rating: 6/10
Track 3: Scatter the Floor
Beat:
I was feeling the production on this beat with the reverb on the claps and the spacey vibe created by the synths floating in the background. The kicks don’t hit hard enough but I guess with the right EQ that could be sorted. Good job by Jay Sleek. (Produced by Jay Sleek) (7/10)
Rapping/singing:
Strangely Wizy’s delivery here just didn’t suit the beat. His voice actually sounds too loud at times and this may be down to mixing issues. (4/10)
Content and replay value:
The lyrical content is passable and this is one you will enjoy on the dance floor after a few bottles of your fav liquor “scattering” through your system. The overall club replay value just edge this (5/10)
Track Rating: 5/10
Track 4: Pakuromo
Beat:
The beat has an African feel to it and this is actually the first song with a bass line and no obvious synths, deviating from the electronic feel of the first 3 songs. Other than that nothing stands out. (Produced by Sam Klef) (5/10)
Rapping/singing:
Wizy stays on point with his flow on this track even though I can hear that autotune creeping in again (4/10)
Content and replay value:
I obviously don’t have a clue what he is saying, but going from the bits of the song in English this is another one for the clubs. Some shouts out close this one (4/10)
Track Rating: 4/10
Track 5: Slow Whine ft Banky W
Beat:
A mid tempo dancehall beat. The synths return, with a bongo setting the tempo and a decent bass line. An average beat lacking a bit of spark. (Produced by Sam Klef) (4/10)
Rapping/singing:
Banky makes a welcomed appearance bringing something different. However you get the feeling that he is not comfortable on this beat and actually changes his flow to suit the beat (4/10)
Content and replay value:
Another club song and more urgent requests for the object of their interest to whine “it”. Overall, this song brings nothing new to the table and if not for Banky I don’t think this has any replay value (4/10)
Track Rating: 4/10
Track 6: Love Me Baby
Beat:
This takes off with a recognisable Just Blaze synth then other synths just whirl around until the 808 kicks pumps its base. The muffled snare doesn’t work well but then again that spacey feel and the drum changes at strategic points lift up beat. There is actually a nice beat switch ¾ into the track and there’s even a horn section at the end. You guessed right I like the beat (Produced by Shizzi) (6/10)
Rapping/singing:
Wizy just pulls this one off even though once again the autotune is too obvious. His flow is slightly off in certain parts though. (5/10)
Content and replay value:
The subject matter changes and this time we have Wiz declaring his love for his baby and letting the lady know all the things he wants to do with and for her. First song to go into my “Naija Jamz” play list (6/10)
Track Rating: 6/10
Track 7: Gidi Girl
Beat:
First R&B track. The 808 is banging but I’m not feeling that clap at all. This has a laid back feel with some chimes sprinkled over the track. There is a high pitched synth in there somewhere but thankfully it stays well in the background. There’s a break in the beat that doesn’t really add much. An OK beat. (Produced by DJ Klem)(4/10)
Rapping/singing:
I actually like Wiz’s performance here. The laid back beat actually allows him to sing and he even drops a few rap bars for good measure. (6/10)
Content and replay value:
This is another “declaration d’amour”. Unfortunately there are thousands of these songs out there and this one doesn’t stand out. (4/10)
Track Rating: 5/10
Track 8: Oluwa Lo Ni
Beat:
The spacey synths are ever present but there is an electric guitar in there that just takes this beat to next level. I love bongos and congos and I am well served here. The beat is interestingly simple but well done and I love the strings and that ‘let’s take it to the church claps’ towards the end. Best beat so far. (Produced by Jay Sleek) (7/10)
Rapping/singing:
With a beat that good Wizy couldn’t go wrong and the laid back tempo lets him express himself better. If anything, I think the slower tempos suit him better. (6/10)
Content and replay value:
“One jeans, one shirt and that same shoe” Wizy give us a glimpse of his life before the superstardom, thanking God all along the way and sticking his tongue out to the haters. Second song to go into my Naija Jamz play list. Best song of the album thus far. (7/10)
Track Rating: 7/10
Track 9: Don’t Dull
Beat:
At first I didn’t know what to say about this beat. Sam Klef is definitely big on stabs and spacey synths. The choice of drums and the drum pattern are interesting, but I can recognise that synth from an earlier song on this album (Produced by Sam Klef) (4/10)
Rapping/singing:
Up tempo beat and we go back to classic wiz. By the 9th track he isn’t sounding too much like Sean Kingston anymore and that in itself is welcomed. He is still off beat in certain places though (5/10)
Content and replay value:
Wizy is flaunting his D&G and Prada outfits as well as his spending capacity “my money and ya money no be mates”. I heat u Wizy! (5/10)
Track Rating: 5/10
Track 10: Tease Me/ Bad Guyz
Beat:
A dancehall beat that’s actually enjoyable and will definitely have the clubs moving. I like the bass line. (Produced by Sam Klef) (5/10)
Rapping/singing:
Did I say he doesn’t sound like Kingston anymore? Well if you play the first few bars here to someone who never heard of Wiz, he’ll tell you that was Sean and not some Wiz from West Africa. Thankfully he goes back to himself soon after that (4/10)
Content and replay value:
This song had me wondering, is it a song for the girls or is Wizy shouting out his buddies? I still do not have the answer to that question. The beat is decent and he should have done a lot better here. (4/10)
Track Rating: 4/10
Track 11: EME Boyz ft Skales and Banky W
Beat:
Take it to the jungle!!! The snare just ruins that jungle vibe though but hey the toms toms are banging and this beat actually makes you wanna go into the bush and do a Tarzan. But that snare!!! (Produced by Masterkraft) (5/10)
Rapping/singing:
Skales and Banky W join the kid here. Skales kicks off the hostilities but I just don’t understand the autotune on his raps. He rides the beat with the required energy and his flow is on point. Wizy comes in and does his usual thing. Banky carries this song and actually raps, something he did on the W Experience! (6/10)
Content and replay value:
Skales has some decent lines but nothing stands out. Wizy actually has some cool lines I guess the presence of his guest starts forced him out of his comfort zone. In case you forgot who the boss is, Banky reminds you “EME so fly, I’m the pilot” (5/10)
Track Rating: 5/10
Track 12: What You Wanna Do
Beat:
Heavy synths lace this beat. It starts off and you anticipate a techno beat, but it has a dancehall drum pattern and it even has that bashment horn section. Techno melody on a dancehall pattern, hmm. The drum pattern eventually switches to techno but not for long though (Produced by Sam Klef) (4/10)
Rapping/singing:
Classic Wizy, nothing new and 12 tracks in, all that shouting is starting to do my head in (4/10)
Content and replay value:
Another one for the clubs and the subject matter doesn’t vary. Wiz is in the mood for celebration so what are you doing tonight? (4/10)
Track Rating: 4/10
Track 13: For Me ft Wande Coal
Beat:
More heavy techno synths but the beat just doesn’t take off. All the way to the end I am waiting for the song to start but it doesn’t. (Produced by Jay Sleek) (3/10)
Rapping/singing:
Mo Hits affiliate Wande Coal steps in and for some reason adopts Wizy’s flow minus the pitch. Hugely disappointed by WC here, was expecting a lot more. (4/10)
Content and replay value:
Wiz is asking some more ladies to whine it for him. Another one for the clubs, but I doubt this will get any rotation (3/10)
Track Rating: 3/10
Track 14: Holla At Your Boy
Beat:
Decent beats laced with what I have come to expect, spacey synths reverberating all round. (Produced by DJ Klem) (5/10)
Rapping/singing:
Wiz goes back to his Sean Kingston impersonation, and this works well with the beat (5/10)
Content and replay value:
This is a song for the ladies and the title lets you know what’s popping throughout this track. I saw the video to this some months ago and my kid brothers love the song. (4/10)
Track Rating: 5/10
Track 15: Wad Up ft B’Prince
Beat:
Another dancehall beat laced with bongos and swirling synths, nothing stands out from this. (Produced by Sam Klef) (4/10)
Rapping/singing:
B’Prince steps in and I can hear that irritating autotune in his voice. Having never heard him before I don’t know if he is an emcee or a singer. His verse brings out both aspects and at least his flow breaks the monotony that I am starting to feel from listening to Wiz for over 90 minutes! (5/10)
Content and replay value:
I can’t figure the message Wiz is trying to send out here. No one knew him back in day; nowadays everyone is hollering “whaddup”. B’Prince’s verse is forgettable at best. (4/10)
Track Rating: 4/10
Track 16: Shout Out
Beat:
Some strange appergator synths pull this beat down. Nothing to write home about (Produced by Q Beats) (3/10)
Rapping/singing:
Wiz does stay on point with the flow and nothing stands out here (5/10)
Content and replay value:
Wiz is basically giving his closing shout outs and telling us for the nth time how everyone wrote him off back in the day. OK wiz you already told us that on 2 previous tracks, we get the picture (3/10)
Track Rating: 4/10
Track 17: Wiz Party (Bonus)
Beat:
Some more synths and that recognisable synth from the Timberland produced “My Love”. Another average dancehall beat (4/10)
Rapping/singing:
What else? (5/10)
Content and replay value:
What else? Title says it all (4/10)
Track Rating: 4/10
Conclusion:
Enjoyability:
William Shakespeare once said “Oft expectation fails, and most oft where lost it promises”. I had great expectations for Wizkid but the lack of variety and his never changing delivery means at 17 tracks this album is way too long for him to sustain my interest. Unfortunately for Wiz his guests are too few and fail to bring that something extra. The best way to enjoy this album is to take it for what it is; a collection on party songs. Don’t put too much thought into it and don’t try to listen to the words.
The highlight of the album for me was the production on “Oluwa Lo Ni” and the low point is definitely Wiz’ content (or lack of it).
Replay value:
A couple of songs I will listen to again and that’s about it. It’s hard to know if this is how Wiz wanted this project to turn out or if it was his label enforcing the artistic direction to be taken, or if this was quickly assembled to cash in on the superstar’s rising popularity. In any case, the end product is not convincing and my just leave many fans disappointed.
Album production: | 5/10 | Album Rap/Singing: | 5/10 |
Album Replay value: | 4/10 | Album rating: | 5/10 |
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