Featured

It’s All Love And Romance In Wizkid “Made in Lagos” Album – Review

Published

4 years ago

November 4, 2020

Like we never expected it, Wizkid dropped “Made in Lagos” album barely twenty-four hours after his last tweet about the album on October 28, 2020. The album released on 29th October 2020 was served having passed through the ‘Wizkid college’ for two years where it graduated with distinction.

It’s nothing but love, romance, and all the naughty stuff you could ever imagine from the Wizkid part of Lagos. His critically acclaimed fourth studio album “Made in Lagos” is a definition of how matured the Nigerian superstar has grown to be. To a host of his fans, the 14-tracks body of work is made for the ‘grown and sexy’.

Ayo ‘Wizkid’ Balogun, a 30-year Nigerian afrobeat superstar partners with his family and friends as he’ll regard them to present a beautiful piece of art. Ayo takes a U-turn away from the ‘gbas gbos up-tempo vibes’ which he partially sidelined on the release of his third studio album “Sounds From The Other Side”. It is therefore worthy to note that all songs on MIL are below 105 BPM (Beat Per Minute). This only hints at the soul-soothing cool vibes encapsulated in this project.

“Made In Lagos” is not just another body of work from the Nigerian but one he considers so dear. According to the singer, the album is meant to express his views and how wonderful his story has been as a young Nigerian whose fame was bred and nurtured in Lagos.

Though Wizkid failed to tell the dark stories happening in Lagos as well as failing to capture the recent happenings with regards to the high rate of corruption and the recent cry against police brutality, he ended up giving us a body of work that tells the love, romance and partying part of Lagos.

“Reckless” is a slow-paced afrobeat vibe with a touch of reggae. Wizkid talks about his love for family and living a reckless life void of clout and social media.
One of the hot songs on this project is “Ginger”. Aside from the fact it featured Nigeria’s African Giant, Burna Boy, it has this cool afro-fusion vibe. The switch towards the end of the track makes it even more beautiful.
Wizkid teams up with his ‘longtime’ friend, Skepta in “Longtime”, a groovy tune that offers addictive melodies.
To me, “Mighty Wine” is one of the few tracks in the album that’s danceable and could flexibilize any stiff waist in the club. It’s a spiritual tune.
A Damian Marley, and Wizkid collaboration is featured on this album. “Blessed” is an emotional track with soul-soothing melodies that is capable of brightening up the day of any living soul.
Just as expected, Wizid keeps “Smile” just after the joint with Damian. The first single from this project “Smile”, features American female singer, H.E.R who joins Wizkid to seduce a smile out of our cheeks. It’s a beautiful track with production credits to P2J.
To render another love-making song, Wizkid employs the magical voice of American songstress, Ella Mai in “Piece of Me”.
The lack of a conscious track on this project could be a major flaw but the fantasies Wizkid created in “No Stress” need to be applauded. The way he portrayed lovemaking in this track is sexy.

Despite how much hatred you have for R&B, you are bound to fall in love with this magical love song from Wizkid. “True Love” reveals the magnanimity of Wizkid’s rare talent. The wonderful piece of art as produced by Juls featured Projexx and Tay Iwar.
The chords in “Sweet One” really gave me goosebumps. The trumpets came just when needed to complement the drum kicks. Wizkid’s vocals are extremely addictive.
“Essence” by Wizkid and Tems is fire. I could connect with the inner beings of these two acts. Nothing much to say about this track. It’s just too powerful.
Finally, Wizkid and Terri are on a track again. These two gave us a magical hit track in “Soco” with help from Spotless and Ceeza Milli back in 2018. The new one tagged “Roma” was produced by Blaq Jerzee and it’s a typical afrobeat vibe.

Nigeria’s very own London partners with Wizkid in “Gyrate”. The track is just cruise and effortlessly performed by Wizkid.
The last track on this album is titled Grace”. It sure is a representation of Wizkid’s acknowledgment that only God’s grace could have taken him from the streets of Surulere to the world.