We Plug To You... Wizkid - Superstar (Album Review)

If you're Nigerian and/or into African Music and except you are living under a rock somewhere far away in Yemen or something then I can bet with all that I have (which is not much by the way) that the name Wizkid is not unfamilar to you. Poster boy of the EME family - the stable that birth Nigerian R&B crooner Banky W and also houses emerging Nigerian emcee Skales - finally releases his long-awaited and highly anticipated debut album titled Superstar.

Such an apt title for our very own "Justin Bieber/Chris Brown" and yes maybe I'm stretching the comparison just a tard bit but you can't deny the easy comparison that they are all very young cats who have taken their respective music scenes by storm in recent times. A young Fela as the "superstar" says on his twitter profile perhaps or maybe a young 2face Idibia? I have to honestly say that I am yet to find a suitable comparison, which is testament to the fact that Wizkid - real name, Ayo Balogun - is in a league of his own.

The buzz started slowly but unlike other artists that fade away or burn out before they've even begun, he kept people wanting for more and more of him - the clamour stemming from very stellar features on tracks with everyone from M.I, Jesse Jagz, Olamide, Kel, Ice Prince and so many more. His first single "Gidi Girl" was released and I have to be honest and say I was slightly disappointed. My expectations were much higher than this release... Soon after that, came the controversial hit song "Holla At Your Boy" and I as with quite a few others began to see the makings of Wizkid - the superstar. That record was soon followed closely by the instant banger "Tease Me/Bad Guyz". "Don't Dull" was subsequently released and it went on to rock every Gidi party from Nigeria to the UK to the US, leaving almost no one on their seat, to bring 2010 to an end.

It might then surprise you to hear that I was still not a fan of the kid. He seemed to be holding back just a little bit, and I thought he might be a little lazy with his verses, choosing to let the beats and musical backdrops of his songs do most of the "work". Still I looked forward to this album. To whom much is given much is expected and it was obvious that it was his time to shine.

The first song I got the privilege of listening to and definitely my favorite song on Superstar is the Shizzi-produced "LOVE MY BABY" (yes I had to put this in capital letter). This song just makes you happy and this is coming from a cynic on love such as myself. I found myself wishing I was getting married the next day with Wizkid singing this song while my husband and I danced away. The first thing that grabbed my attention was the instrumentation and I can imagine that a live rendition of this song will be quite EPIC with just drums, piano, a guitar and great backup singers. Banky W harmonizing on this song was the perfect complement. Not one to overhype, listen below to a sweet little extended snippet of the song...

"Love My Baby (Extended Snippet)":

The next song you are about to listen to - "No Lele" - I also like because of the instrumentals. I'm not sure if there was indeed a drummer during the recording sessions but if there was, they need to be really commended because they went all the way hard and hats off to producer Sunny 'Masterkraft' Nweke for this record. While Superstar is largely a party album guaranteed to have you dancing from start to end, Wizkid still manages to infuse two really inspiring songs that motivate & praise (watch out for the other one - "Oluwa Lo Ni"). "No Lele" is a song about survival and overcoming and I can particularly relate to it right now plus those drums patterns are just divine! Listen below

"No Lele (Extended Snippet)":

"When them tell you say, you no go fit, my sister make you tell them say No Lele"

Speaking of party songs, one particular record on Superstar is in my opinion one of the select songs that will be sure to have clubs going mental this year, the song is titled "Pakurumo". I suggest to DJs to start their sets with this song, end it with this song and make sure to play it a couple times in between throughout the night. Before I go on, I have to say that producer SAMKLEF deserves a standing ovation for his work on this song. He goes hard and the combination of Samklef and Wizkid is money everytime kinda like DJ Khaled and Rick Ross; Dr Dre and Eminem; Timbaland and Missy (OK you get my point). I must confess that I'm also slightly biased towards this particular song because he mentions my sister's name in the song (Hi Tolani), check it out below.

"Pakuromo (Extended Snippet):"

"They way you whine, whine, you blow my mind, mind"

Overall, this album is a very stellar debut effort from Ayo Balogun aka Wizkid and highly recommended here at WPGM. Other notable tracks on the 16-track Superstar include the Banky W-featured "Slow Whine", "For Me" featuring Wande Coal, "Wad Up" featuring D'Prince, "Scatter the Floor" and "What You Wanna Do".

I would have liked that rather than include old singles like "Gidi Girl" and "Holla at Your boy", we got treated to some new tracks but alas one can only wish plus remove the four previously released songs and we still have twelve brand new songs and sixteen solid tracks in total on Superstar (bar "Gidi Girl" which is alright but not on par with the kid's best) and in my books that makes for a 100% + "10/10 Shikena" album. As an aside, I would have also loved to see Skales on one or two other tracks on the album but I am sure his time will soon come and we will be compelled to do a similar feature on him when that time comes.

Ok so we can't just tease you with snippets and leave you feening for more, that wouldn't be fair so peep one of the many other stellar songs that did not make it on the Superstar album, this one only barely making the cut as a bonus track - the recently "leaked" "Wiz Party".

"Wiz Party":


It's also definitely a Wiz Party this Summer as Wizkid and the entire EME family come here to the States for a tour starting June 24th in Washington DC. Make sure to check their website for tour dates at a city near you.

Wishing the album was out already, aren't you? Yes ladies and gentlemen, VERY SOON you can get Superstar from your local vendor and stores and for those of us outside Nigeria, you can get your hands on the album via the online store at Not Just OK

Till Next Time...

Peace Love & Good Music

Neefemi 

We Plug To You... FOUR KORNERZ

As an artist, if you have talent and you've got the "swag" to go with it then that's a double whammy, right? Now quadruple that and you've got four times your attention's worth in these featured artists. Over the course of time, "boy groups" from the Commodores to Boyz II Men have always had the ability to have effect of sorts on their listeners and while it would be premature to draw comparisons with those legendary groups and this here featured act, allow me to bring to you an evolution of the "boy group" in this new generation. They go by the name: FOUR KORNERZ - four biological brothers coming together to make good, inspirational music.

The London based-quartet is led by eldest brother Charles Deji Juba (lead vocals) and made up of TJ (keys/vocals), Vidal (drums), Daniel (Electro-vocals). A multi-award winning band already, Four Kornerz are set to release their new single "Superstar" next month (May 2). The single will serve as the band’s first officially release since their 2007 debut album 'Soulectric' and by all accounts, it sounds to be well worth the four year wait for some new music from the group.

Four Kornerz definitely had the ladies in mind when they wrote their new song - the bass heavy uptempo and catchy "Superstar" - which proclaims that they (females) are superstars and encourages all the females out there to believe in themselves and reach for the top. Coming from a set of cool dudes like Four Kornerz, I bet that their female listeners will certainly believe their message. Listen below:

"Superstar":

"...Love is gonna take you around the world, gonna give you more than diamonds & pearls, you gotta believe...Baby, you're a superstar...."

The lead vocalist, Deji delivers his trademark soulful vocals while the rest of the guys do their thing with the music giving it a "doowop" swing, making you move to the music as the message sinks in. Deji says of the song:

"the song was inspired by a lot of things. A large part of the story behind this song is based on the unrealistic body-type expectations mounted (on) us in today’s popular culture. The lyrics are more specific to women as I think the pressures on them are more extreme from things like size zero, cellulite and botox. However, both men and women can embrace the universal message in the song; Celebrating how awesome and wonderful you are".

"Superstar" is produced by Scsi who is part of the Four Kornerz production team and draws influences from the Soul artists of the Motown era as well as more modern chart toppers like Bruno Mars and Jamiroquai.

Preceding this new record, Four Kornerz independently released their debut album 'Soulectric' (2007) which featured gospel and inspirational songs as "Clap Clap" and "Gonna Make It". "Clap Clap" is a very danceable song with more upbeat instrumentation led by lush keyboard chords, drum kicks and soulful harmonies. Deji impressively goes jazzy with his scatting skills. The Neo-Soul elements of this song's musical ornamentation and accompaniment are very evident. The lyrics tell you to dance, so does the music.

"Clap Clap":

"Anybody wanna praise Him with me, Clap Clap your hands, you must move your feet to this"

On the other hand, the Control S-Club Mix of "Gonna Make It" has a distinctively uptempo Electro-Funk/Boogie vibe to it and with it being a club mix, that's quite understandable. The message of this song is very clear and quite compelling despite the record being a club dance track. "Gonna Make It" addresses and challenges the perception of self and how image does not determine one's success, that you're "gonna make it" no matter what others think or say about you. The lyrics were stylishly rushed but distinct and well delivered.

"Gonna Make It":

"...I'm gonna make it somehow, Just watch me now, can't hold me down..."

Adeptly inspirational in content, Four Kornerz uniquely create their music with an appealing electro-digital edge to it as you will have clearly heard on the songs above and FourKornerz are definitely topping my list of favorite Gospel artistes coming out of the UK. I am particularly drawn to their eclectic musical creativity and sound. It's Gospel yet fun, it's playful yet deep.The personality and message of their songs show through effectively and fits in perfectly with a mainstream mix. Four Kornerz music is boundary-less - you can play their music on the radio, at a party, in church or in your car. You enjoy it all round - it is spiritually effective, physically active and soulfully uplifting. Get their upcoming album to understand what I mean. I guarantee no regrets whatsoever!

Furthermore, Four Kornerz as a band are equally as sublime in their recordings as they are performing live! The band will feature new songs and a sneak-peek into some brand new material from their forthcoming project at their London concert taking place next Wednesday 27 April, 2011 along with supporting acts - emerging songstress Dionne Reid and popular Gospel artist Guvna B. On the night, fans will also have the opportunity to download a free exclusive Four Kornerz track.

“We are taking a different approach towards the Four Kornerz brand. It’s not just music but a whole creative process which will see us enter into other fields like a digital graphic novel which will accompany the Superstar release. More on that little venture soon.” - Deji (Four Kornerz)

Four Kornerz Live in Concert takes place on Wednesday (27 April) at 229 The Venue, 229 Great Portland Street, London W1W 5PN with the show kicking off at 7pm. Tickets are £10 (+ booking fee) in advance and more on the door. For more information and to book your tickets, visit: www.fourkornerz.com

Tosinger