Name of Musician: Wizkid
Name of Album: Made In Lagos Deluxe
Genre of Music: Afro-pop, Afroswing, Afro-fusion, Highlife, R&B, Reggae
Producers: P2J, Blaqjerzee, London, Legendury Beatz, P.Priime and Kill September
Length: 9 songs
Features: Buju, Tems, Terri and Justin Bieber
Label: Starboy, RCA, Sony
Release Date: August 27, 2021
Initial Response: According to Wisdom Duru of Afroconomy, the album “represents tremendous growth both artistically and personally for Wizkid.” He further praised the original album for its sonic cohesion and diversity in collaborators, dubbing it “an escape with the love of your life.
Also, Motolani Alake the music editor for Pulse.ng confirmed this undeniable fact on this deluxe project “The album also aligns with Wizkid’s rebrand in his ‘graceful years’ as ‘Big Wiz.”
What I know about Wizkid: His real name is Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun. He is a Nigerian singer and songwriter. He began recording music at the age of 11 and managed to release a collaborative album with the Glorious Five, a group he and a couple of his church friends formed. Wizkid signed a record deal with Empire Mates Entertainment (E.M.E) in 2009. He rose to prominence after releasing “Holla at Your Boy”, the lead single from his debut studio album Superstar (2011). “Tease Me/Bad Guys”, “Don’t Dull”, “Love My Baby”, “Pakurumo” and “Oluwa Lo Ni” were also released as singles from the Superstar album. In February 2014, Wizkid became the first Nigerian musician to have over one million followers on Twitter.
In 2016, Wizkid achieved international recognition following his collaboration with Drake on the global hit, “One Dance”, which reached number one in 15 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. He signed a multi-album deal with RCA Records in March 2017.
Wizkid became the first Afrobeats artist to appear in the 2018 Guinness World Records for his contribution to “One Dance”.
Wizkid’s contributions to the Nigerian music industry have earned him several achievements, including the Grammy Award for Best Music Video as a lead artist on Beyoncé’s “Brown Skin Girl” his first-ever Grammy Award.
His song “Essence” became the first Nigerian song to chart on the Billboard Hot 100.
What’s his background: He was born on 16 July 1990 in Surulere, Lagos. He grew up in an interfaith household with twelve female siblings. His mother is a Pentecostal Christian and his father practices Islam. Wizkid attended Ijebu Ode Grammar School. He grew up listening to King Sunny Ade, Fela Kuti, and Bob Marley.
In a radio interview with Tim Westwood in 2012, he said his father has three wives.
Overall theme of the Album: Love
How do I describe it: This album is a follow-up to his global sojourn tale, Made in Lagos and Sounds From The Other. I must commend him for working on the flaws on his previous works Sounds from the Other Side and Soundman Vol. 1. On the original album, he promotes culture and globalisation, and positivity, with the album ranging from themes of love, peace, good energy, and grace. He implemented the use of saxophones and guitars on Made in Lagos and on this deluxe package he further explores and experiments with a range of genres that are originally not on his playbook. He dares to express his dexterity and to prove his prowess as the “Poster Boy” for Afrobeats.
The lyrics: They are nice, they all revolve around peace, good vibes, pure energy, and rest of mind for the body and soul. I believe that this album will get much airplay. Also, the original album is already doing well in the music charts in Nigeria and global charts like Billboard 200 and Billboard World Albums charts. The lyrics from this body of work could be understood and you do not need to take your time to harness the messages in them as they speak deep truths to life and love.
Here are few examples
“Anoti”
VERSE 1
She like it fast and slowly (Oh, ah)
Sometimes she dey confuse me
Mi never leave her lonely
Mi never leave her lonely
And I dey turn up when she need me
She like, “Kojoro mi jo”
She say she don’t want no one o but me
So I give ya what you need (Yeah)
[Chorus]
Turn up your body, make you feel alright
Flying di kele wey go cool my mind (Qué paso?)
I wan do anything I want tonight (Woah, woah)
Make we do anything we want tonight
Turn up your body, make you feel alright
Flying di kele wey go cool my mind (Na so na)
I wan do anything I want tonight (Woah)
Make we do anything we want tonight
“Mood”
[Chorus: Buju]
I’m in the big mood
Girl I dey feel you
Something wey come cooli my body tell me will you do
I’m in the big mood
Girl I dey feel you
Something wey come cooli my body tell me will you do
Make we go dey sempe
But some liquor dey do me jeje
Get somethings wey dey bother my head, I swear
Naa you dey cool my stress, oh yeah
Make we go dey sempe
But some liquor dey do me jeje
Get somethings wey dey bother my head, I swear
Na you dey cool my stress, oh yeah
[Verse 1: Wizkid]
I’m in the big mood
Girl I dey feel you
I know say all cost pass money but as e wan do
I’m in the big mood
Girl I dey want you
Na only you wey fit cooli my body nobody but you
[Pre-Chorus: Wizkid]
Every night I go dey rock your body o
Baby girl we go dey no solo o
Nobody fit tell me to leave my baby o
Bend every night e fit turn to baby o
Me and you when you wake up, girl you splashing on me o
Girl look like sweat all on me o
Like the design you be dripping on me o
Maybe that’s why I no fit leave yeah
Tracks that stand out: Essence, Essence Remix, Mood, Anoti, Grace, and Steady
Tracks that don’t: Well, it is hard to say because all the tracks on this album are amazing and each has a story to tell about elements of love, lust, peace, good energy, and fulfilment. It shows the growth of Wizkid as a true artist, who has evolved with the times and continues to trill his core fans and all who care to hear about the wealth of his craft.
Why: The album projects the best work of Wizkid so far, it portrays the current state of his mind and how he just needs peace, love, good vibes, and positivity in his life.
How does this album compare to others in this genre: This album does not compare to any of his previous works because it is a transformation from the Wizkid of Nigeria to the Star Boy of the world. It is safe to say that the original body of work would be a classic in the times to come and this deluxe package will help that affirmation come to pass.
My overall ratings and why: I will give this album nine over ten. The best word to describe this project is wonderful. Its production is original and appropriate to convey the paradigm shift of his style of music. The original project was targeted at the emotional growth of all, as we all needed peace, love, hope, and good vibes after the #EndSARS protests last year. According to Wizkid “It has been beautiful to see Nigerians around the world coming together to protest against police brutality,” he said in a press release last year.
Now, this deluxe album does not have the usual themed hit bangers that Wizkid is known for, it will achieve commercial success even though it necessarily would not be to the credit singles but due to the work’s growth and collective success.
This deluxe project has cemented him as one of Nigeria’s greatest cultural ambassadors and placed him at the pedestal of Nigeria’s global Afrobeats movement.
I urge you to take out time to enjoy these homely inclined sonic tracks of ‘Made In Lagos Deluxe’ which are ultimately about love.