Following the release of “The Chairman”, the highly anticipated
third album of Jude ‘M.I.’ Abaga’s, listening to the album exudes how strongly
his shocks – talent and doggedness – have been able to withstand the bumpiness
of his absence from the music industry.
In all, the feature of veteran and wave making artistes like Tuface,
Sound Sultan, Olamide, Patoranking, Ice Price, Oriste Femi et al in the 17
track album aren’t the spice to loving the album but the perfect blend of the
right artistes with the right tracks which is the icing on the cake that would
make music lovers Talk About It for a
long time to come.
Beenie Man and Patoranking, as well as Wizkid and Seyi Shay’s
feature in Wheel Barrow, Enemies, Mine and Always Love respectively made the
short black boy explore outside his comfort zone – rap music – to radiate his
music genre dexterity, also not having lovers of Reggae and R & B music
genres left out.
With a 3 minute summary of the challenges experienced in the
country, ‘The Beginning’, which incidentally is track one and the only skit in
the album amusingly portrays how the unfriendly education system in Nigeria discourages
many people from pursuing not just their educational objectives but fulfilling
their dreams. Notwithstanding, the track also recognises the power of tenacity
in being successful against all odds.
If one wants the best of native content delivery, the feature of
Olamide and Phyno respectively would make one excited like having all the money
in The Middle of a Bullion Van. Both tracks respectively
had a creative blend of Yoruba and Ibo with English language.
And just before I forget, MI’s hook in the track “Shekpe” which
features Reminisce has a creative remix to the nursery rhyme “there are 10
green bottles standing on the wall…” Listening to the hook would have one
reflecting beyond 10 years back to remember the lyrics of 10 green bottles.
What more can I say, The Chairman is indeed an album worth the
long wait.
Written by Kehinde Taiwo
